From New Hire to High Performer: Building Better Onboarding

Onboarding isn’t a day-one induction, it’s the journey that shapes whether new hires stay, thrive, and perform.

In this episode, I speak with Fiona Baxendale, Training Lead at Many Pets, who has a real passion for creating onboarding experiences that are both effective and enjoyable. Fiona shares how to design onboarding that feels intentional, warm, and structured, turning new starters into confident, engaged team members.

We cover:

• Why onboarding should feel like an experience, not a process.
• How to make new hires feel welcomed and connected before day one.
• The difference between induction and true onboarding.
• Practical steps for building confidence, mentoring, and performance from week one to month six.
• How to measure onboarding success through retention, speed to competency, and employee feedback.

If you want to move beyond checklists and PowerPoints to create an onboarding journey that truly drives engagement and performance, this conversation is full of practical takeaways you can put into action right away.