Meet Lara Schliebs

Getting to know our Chief People Officer

Meet our Chief People Officer, Lara Schliebs. Lara discusses leading with empathy, creating an inclusive and innovative culture, and why it’s so important to invest her efforts in a company she truly believes in and aligns with.

What impact do you hope to make in your role?

People are at the heart of all businesses, especially ours. Without people, we don’t have a company. What excites me most is that Shell Energy recognises this and has given me the opportunity to represent the people function at the executive level. 

As a Chief People Officer, my goal is to empower our people and help them reach their full potential. I aim to continue building an inclusive, innovative culture and prioritise employee wellbeing, ensuring people feel a sense of purpose and passion in their work. 

Leading with empathy, I strive to understand and support the unique needs of our people. I’m passionate about driving meaningful change through diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee development programs, and innovative HR practices. Ultimately, I want to help build a resilient, people-centric organisation that delivers career-best moments and thrives in the face of challenges. 

In this role I work on impactful programs that will shape our business. The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives and drive strategic initiatives is incredibly motivating. 

Shell Energy is a very purpose driven organisation – how does what we do align with your own values and purpose? 

We should enjoy what we do every day. I want to take pride in my work, and while I could do my job in just about any business, it’s crucial for me to work for a company that shares my values. I want to be a part of a company that not only succeeds but also makes a positive impact on society.   

What Shell Energy does impacts people everywhere, especially when considering the energy transition. This is our future. If I’m going to invest my time and effort, it must be in a business like this, one that I truly believe in and that’s committed to making a difference.  

What is the most important leadership trait for you and why?

I believe the most important leadership trait is genuinely caring about people and understanding how to support them to be their best. Successful businesses thrive when leaders truly care about their employees, customers, and colleagues. This care translates into having genuine and open conversations, understanding personal and professional needs, and supporting people to excel. 

Great leaders focus on people, aligning their team’s goals with the business’s objectives. They inspire and motivate their team by understanding what the customer wants and working together to deliver on those needs. It’s not just about technical capability; it’s about having a passion for people and thinking through the lens of what each person needs to succeed.  

Leadership can be hard to get right. It’s about trying our best every day to be a better version of ourselves, for yourself, and for those around us. By fostering an environment where individuals feel valued and supported, leaders can help their team achieve great things for the business, the community, and themselves. 

How does the People and Culture team contribute to successfully delivering on Shell Energy’s strategic ambitions? 

I mean that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? We start by understanding the company’s strategy and then determine what is needed from a people and culture perspective to ensure we deliver on this. We focus on getting the right people in the right roles, doing the right things. We ensure this alignment from a people perspective and make sure that, from a communications perspective, we are truly engaging and inspiring our employees about their roles, the business strategy, and our future direction. 

What makes Shell Energy unique?

We combine the entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller business with the stability of a large multinational corporation. This blend is the best of both worlds. We have an energised, passionate team dedicated to making a difference for our customers and the world. Unlike a startup, we benefit from the robust backing of Shell, which provides a sense of stability that isn’t always present in a small business environment. This creates a culture of genuine, hardworking individuals who are eager to make a difference, supported by the security and resources of a global leader.

How do you foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture?

Workplace culture is very important. Most people can sense if a business has a poor culture, and this can create a revolving door of employees. Our people choose to work here because of the colleagues they interact with and the culture they experience daily. We are supportive, friendly and approachable, and we are united in our passion for making a positive difference in the energy transition journey.  

We foster culture through our leaders and by providing frameworks including our events calendar, learning and development programs, and marking days of significance. These initiatives are all focused on encouraging and creating a positive environment with a high level of connection and inclusivity.   

With our Shell colleagues in Australia and globally, we excel in recognising days of significance such as International Women’s Day, NAIDOC Week, and Shell’s annual Safety Day, and it is something we are continually working to improve and make them more impactful. I haven’t seen these important days executed as well in other organisations.  

Any advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

One piece of advice that has always worked well for me, and that I encourage others to follow, is not to be limited by your specific role. Think broadly about the entire business and how your role can positively impact others. When contributing to the business, don’t just stay in your lane; consider how you can collaborate with others to get things done. If there’s an issue or a problem, lean into it as if it’s your own. Talk to people who can help resolve it. Identifying issues is easy but solving them takes real skill.   

One of the things I’m most proud of is how our team works so collaboratively with other teams to bring about changes, implement new programs, and more. This collaborative ethos is something I value greatly in my work. If you’re proactive, doing your best, and solving issues, success will follow.