In this episode of The Charity Changemakers Podcast, Adam Stacey speaks with Mary Comont, Director of People at UCCF: The Christian Unions.

Mary shares her “squiggly” career journey – from volunteering with a sailing charity as a teenager to roles in fundraising, project management, and HR – culminating in her current senior leadership position.

She reflects on the importance of values-driven work, why HR should be seen as central to organisational strategy, and how creative, people-centred recruitment can bring in passionate, values-aligned candidates who may not tick every box on paper. Mary also discusses the challenges of leadership, the role of faith in decision-making, and why servant leadership and putting people first are key to lasting impact.

Key themes in this episode

• Building a squiggly career in the charity sector

• Taking opportunities and valuing transferable skills

• Creative hiring and people-centred recruitment

• HR as a strategic driver, not just administration

• Servant leadership and putting people first

• Resilience, perspective, and support in leadership

• How faith and values guide career decisions

• The privilege and pressure of leadership roles

If you’re interested in career development, HR leadership, and values-driven leadership, this episode with Mary Comont provides both inspiration and practical advice.

Connect with Mary Comont

• Mary on LinkedIn

• UCCF Website

• UCCF on Facebook

• UCCF on Twitter

• UCCF on LinkedIn

• UCCF on YouTube

🎧 Listen to the podcast here:
The Charity Changemakers Podcast

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