From Stage Dreams to Boardrooms: How Lesley Maxwell Built a Career in HR and Now Champions Grassroots Business Growth

When Lesley Maxwell first imagined her future, she pictured herself under bright theatre lights, pursuing a career as an actress. But life had a different stage in mind. A short-term role at a diving company in Aberdeen, assigning offshore projects to divers, sparked an unexpected career path in human resources. More than 35 years later, Maxwell is a respected HR leader, consultant, and founder of SkyeStar HR, with a reputation for guiding companies through periods of transformation and growth.

Lesley Maxwell, SkyeStar HR

Now a member of Nexus.scot, Maxwell brings her deep expertise in workforce management, organisational change, and leadership development to Scotland’s global business community. Her story is one of adaptability, resilience, and an enduring commitment to helping businesses get the “people part” right.

Building an HR Career From the Ground Up

Maxwell’s entry into HR was almost accidental. While working in her early administrative role, she discovered an aptitude for people management, compliance, and organisational planning. Encouraged by colleagues, she pursued formal qualifications with the support of Grampian Housing Association, who sponsored her professional exams while she worked as an office manager.

Her academic journey took her through a Master’s degree in HR Management and a postgraduate qualification in employment law at Robert Gordon University. With this strong foundation, she carved out a career that would span housing, energy, care services, and consultancy, always with a focus on helping businesses align their people strategies with their long-term goals.

Leading Through Change at Sasol London

One of the most defining chapters of Maxwell’s career was her role as Head of HR at Sasol in London, a global energy and chemicals company.

At Sasol, she managed an international workforce representing many nationalities during a period of intense organisational change. Within just three and a half years, she steered the HR function through four leadership transitions, each requiring new approaches to communication, trust-building, and team cohesion.

Lesley also introduced a Women's Forum for our female employees to come together in a safe space and discuss career highs and lows and for mutual support, particularly as the business was going through so many changes. This Forum was a great success. Two of her professional women took up the helm.

Maxwell also spearheaded a major office relocation project, moving the organisation from a three-floor setup into a streamlined, function-driven single floor.

But perhaps her most notable contribution at Sasol was introducing the Discovery Insights Psychometrics tool to the leadership team and then throughout multiple teams. This innovative approach helped senior managers better understand their own personality styles and those of their colleagues, unlocking a new level of collaboration and mutual respect.

“It completely changed how the leadership team worked together,” she reflects. “Once they understood the differences in how people approach problems, they became far more effective at leading the wider organisation.”

Her tenure also involved travel to South Africa and Germany to engage with global stakeholders. When Sasol underwent its final strategic restructuring, Maxwell oversaw the redundancy process before moving on to establish her own consultancy.

SkyeStar HR Grassroots Consulting With Impact

Unlike many seasoned HR executives who prefer boardroom-only roles, Maxwell thrives on rolling up her sleeves and working at every level of a business. Her consultancy, SkyeStar HR, reflects this philosophy, offering tailored HR solutions to multinational corporations, family-owned firms, and startups.

One standout project was her work with a family-owned care company in Aberdeen. Maxwell conducted a full HR audit, implemented a robust performance management system, and guided the company to a perfect 5 out of 5 inspection rating—a remarkable achievement that highlighted how smart HR practices directly improve outcomes for employees and clients alike.

“I’ve never been afraid of getting back to basics,” she explains. “Sometimes the most powerful changes come from the fundamentals, policies, performance reviews, communication systems, that bigger companies often overlook.”

Advice for Startups: People First, But Plan Carefully

Having worked across both corporate and grassroots environments, Maxwell has developed a clear philosophy for startups and first-time employers.

Her number one piece of advice? Patience and planning.

“Hiring is one of the biggest decisions a startup can make,” she says. “I always encourage founders to slow down, review their business strategy, and make sure they have the right policies, employee value proposition, and financial planning in place before taking on staff.”

She warns against the temptation to hire friends or family members without careful thought. “It can complicate relationships and cloud business decisions. If you do bring in people you know, I recommend using psychometric testing to understand personality differences and working styles, it can prevent a lot of conflict down the line.”

Maxwell also stresses the importance of matching personalities to roles. Analytical individuals, she notes, often thrive in logical, detail-oriented tasks, while outgoing personalities are better suited for business development. Getting this balance wrong can put a startup’s reputation at risk, something no new business can afford.

“In those early days, one bad client or employee experience can have a huge impact. That’s why it’s critical to build the right team from the very beginning.”

Maxwell’s career has also been shaped by her collaboration with leaders in diversity and inclusion, most notably Cath Strachan, with whom she has worked on recruitment and training projects for many years.

During her time at Sasol, Strachan delivered diversity and inclusion training that helped Maxwell and her team navigate the complexities of leading a multicultural workforce. That partnership continues today, with Maxwell’s introduction to Nexus.scot coming directly through Strachan’s network.

This connection illustrates the value Maxwell places on relationships and community building, something that aligns perfectly with Nexus’s mission of connecting Scottish talent with global opportunities.

Why Nexus Matters

For Maxwell, joining Nexus is both a professional opportunity and a personal commitment. She believes Scotland’s entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators need the right people strategies to thrive in a competitive global environment.

“Every business has a brilliant idea or a product they believe in. But without the right team, even the best ideas struggle to grow,” she says. “Through Nexus, I want to help businesses, whether they’re scaling globally or just starting out, build people strategies that set them up for long-term success.”

Her addition to the network strengthens its already impressive pool of expertise, ensuring members can access practical, hands-on support for navigating one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of business: building and managing a team.

Conclusion

Lesley Maxwell’s journey from aspiring actress to HR consultant may not have followed the script she once imagined, but it has given her a front-row seat to the power of people in business success.

From steering global teams through turbulence to helping local care providers achieve excellence, her career demonstrates the impact of HR done right. With SkyeStar HR, she continues to bring clarity, structure, and empathy to the organisations she serves.

As a new member of Nexus.scot, Maxwell is set to contribute her wisdom and experience to Scotland’s entrepreneurial community, ensuring that as businesses innovate and expand, they do so on the solid foundation of strong, well-supported people.

Because as Maxwell has learned over three decades in HR: great business strategies start with great people strategies.

For more information on how Nexus can support you, please contact Cath@nexus.scot