"I imagine being Head of HR is something that doesn't require a more erudite discipline"
It's an awful job - I know 3 clever, intelligent, caring people who went into HR with all the right attitudes and quit 3-7 years in. They found their faith in the goodness of people was so misplaced that it was affecting every facet of their life. They reckon you have few choices - you turn into a box ticker and remove any human attitudes or consideration, you become a total cynic and refuse to believe anything anyone tells you, or you become a manic dictator, feared by all.
I have had senior HR directors who filled every one of those options...............................