Leader Spotlight: Clara Buckingham, Chief People Officer

Welcome to the next edition of J&J Global Fulfilment’s Leader Spotlight series, where we sit down with different members of the team, reflect on their careers to date, gain insight into where they see the business and industry going over the coming months, and learn more about them as individuals outside their roles.

How did you get started in the industry?

How did I get started in the industry? Well, I’ve worked across a lot of different industries, to be honest, such as retail, publishing, and logistics. I’ve always been drawn to places with a fast pace and strong potential. I actually started in logistics way back in my early twenties, so I obviously really like fulfilment!

About five and a half years ago, I was considering my next challenge when someone reached out about a company called James and James Fulfilment, which was founder-led back then. I’d never even heard of them at the time, but they were on a real growth trajectory and at the point where they needed someone to come in and create and lead a new people strategy and transform our employee value proposition.

That sort of challenge is really what excites me – I love coming in where there’s huge potential and helping create the kind of workplace people want to be part of. So that’s how I landed here.

What originally attracted you to J&J?

What originally attracted me to J&J was its potential. When I first heard about the business, I could see it had something really great going for it. It was scaling fast, and the bones of a great culture were already there. I saw an amazing opportunity to help shape and grow something truly special,

What really drew me in was that I could make a difference – build the people strategy, embed the culture properly, and protect it as we grew. Culture can so easily get lost when a business is growing quickly, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

At the start, it was a bit more difficult because I would sit in on interviews, and we would actually have a separate culture interview in addition to the hiring manager running through the skills, etc. Now we don’t have to do that because the culture has been sort of infectious and viral; the more people you hire into that environment, the easier it is to find the right people!

What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?

Honestly, it’s a bit of a cliche, but no two days are ever the same. I feel like I’ve worked for so many different businesses in the last five years because things move so quickly here.

One day, I could be immersed in strategic work—whether it’s board-level discussions, shaping people strategy, or working on remuneration and benefits, or connecting with the team in the US. The next day, I might be rolling up my sleeves and supporting the team on the ground. I’m fortunate to have an incredible team around me, including talent and people managers, wellbeing specialists, and more. They handle a lot, but I like to stay close and jump in wherever I’m needed.

It’s a real mix of work and activity, with some unexpected things thrown in too. And that’s what I love, it keeps me sharp, engaged, and constantly developing my skills.

Have you learnt anything new since being at J&J?

Where do I even start?! I’ve learned so much since joining J&J. Every single day brings something new, and that’s one of the reasons I stay. It’s not a “keep the lights on” role; it’s constantly evolving.

I love working and helping to make sure everyone reaches their potential, especially with the younger team members. I’m passionate about generational differences, how they work and what they want—it’s always so interesting. Even the language they use is something I learn about every day. There’s no hierarchy here and we have such a welcoming and inclusive environment.

What do you enjoy most about working for J&J?

It has to be the way we support and look after people. I’m really proud of the way we make decisions here and how fair and human we are as a business.

We have a very commercially strong business, but it’s one that’s very ‘people first’. Our engagement and eNPS scores are really solid, and that is a testament to our leaders here and everyone who works in the business.

Where do you see J&J going in the future, and the overall industry?

For J&J, the future is all about getting bigger, better and more global. We’ve already been on such a growth journey, but there’s a lot more ahead.  It’s about reinforcing our mission, staying agile, and making sure that no matter how much we grow, we can stay rooted in being a people-first business. That’s really what will keep us ahead.

What do you consider your biggest career achievement or standout moment to date?

I’m very passionate about women, and very pro ‘female success’. I’m a single mother, and I’ve raised my children, and the success of my kids is really my standout achievement. The people they have grown up to be, and their academic success, is bigger than any career highlight.

Aside from J&J and the eCommerce industry, what else interests you?

Outside of work, I live quite rurally and really value my downtime. Wellbeing is really important to me, and the gym is my go-to place. I love walking the dogs, spending time with my mates, travelling, and just being around my family.

Although I don’t have one massive passion or something I’m an expert in, like skydiving or anything wild, I do like to stay grounded, keep active, travel when I can and just really enjoy the simple things in life. It’s all about balance!

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