People Matters Unplugged

In times of crisis, compassion and empathy set apart great leaders from ordinary ones. It's a test of character for those placed in charge of others. This is one of the many lessons we learned from Elisa Abalajon, CHRO and Agile Transformation Lead at Universal Robina Corporation.

HR leaders aren't just business partners but business leaders in their own right. That's the message of Arun Dinakar Rao, Chief People Officer at Birlasoft. Arun believes maintaining strong employee connections is at the heart of thriving organisations. Listen to his views 

Where does a great work culture start? In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, we revisit real-world examples from Ewan Clarkson, Piyush Mehta and Susie Gleeson-Byrne about how they build a culture of excellence in their respective organisations.

Susie Gleeson-Byrne takes us through the concept of cultural dexterity and how it applies to leadership in global organisations. In this conversation on People Matters Unplugged, she provides practical tips for uniting teams with diverse cultures.

Revisit the words of wisdom of three inspiring women who graced People Matters Unplugged with their presence: Jaclyn Lee, Mukta Arya and Priyanka Anand. Each of them offers insights into how they lead with courage and conviction at a time when women are taking on more prominent roles as business leaders and culture curators.

Innovate. Experiment. Execute. This continuous cycle of improvement is at the heart of Genpact's culture. With its proprietary tools – from Genome to Amber – the company has been on the leading edge of innovation, using technology to empower its people. Piyush Mehta, CHRO of Genpact, tells us all about it in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

From London to New York, to all across Asia, Ewan Clarkson has found a lot more unites global work cultures than divides them. The best experiences at work have been around creating a meaningful environment where people can be the best version of themselves. As Chief People Officer of PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong, Ewan recommends an "outside-in" approach to understanding a company's external environment and situating their people development programmes at the heart of the solution. Ewan shares his insights in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

India, along with Brazil and Japan, are among the countries where it is most difficult for employers to retain talent. Competition is fierce and winning over the right people in an emerging market is not easy. Our guest Kevin Freitas, CHRO of fantasy sports platform Dream11, shares with us how HR teams are working to enhance the candidate experience.

The narrative of talent development isn't a monolith. Instead, it's a constantly evolving story of individuals who embrace continuous learning as a vocation. They welcome change and strive to stay ahead in their chosen fields. In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, we speak to a leader who has become one of the most highly regarded speakers and thinkers in the realm of People & Work – Peter Attfield, Chief Talent & Learning Officer at Jardine Matheson.

Mukta Arya, CHRO for APAC at Societe Generale, knows very well the intricacies of turning an organisation into an employer of choice, while cultivating a high-performance culture. Mukta embodies the idea of a modern talent leader. She is both creative and adaptable, and ready to take on challenges innovating in the space of people & work. Today, she shares the secrets of unleashing the potential of talent in Asia Pacific.

In this week's episode of People Matters Unplugged, we're steering our focus towards a topic that has become increasingly crucial in the wake of the digital revolution and the pandemic's transformative impact on the business landscape – organisational culture change.
Before the pandemic, the world was already navigating the challenges of Industry 4.0, prompting businesses to reevaluate and adapt their organisational strategies. However, with the advent of new tech innovations, the pace of change has tripled. Our guest, Jaclyn Lee, a distinguished figure in the HR discipline with over 25 years of experience in both Singapore and the Asia Pacific region, sheds light on the complexities of culture transformation.

Animesh Kumar, President – HR and Transformation at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, is our guest for episode two of the second season of People Matters Unplugged. An expert in orchestrating and leading transformation processes in global businesses, Animesh believes that the key to success is to understand change as a whole and not as the sum of its parts.

Our first guest of Season 2 has more than two decades of experience delivering HR programs that transform business: Priyanka Anand, vice president and head of HR at Ericsson, for South East Asia, Oceania, and India. On People Matters Unplugged, she talks about how Ericsson invests in a learning culture where employees are the architects of their career trajectory.

HR transformation involves many moving parts. A critical aspect of transformation is realising the potential of people and raising them to be courageous in the face of challenges. In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, our CEO Ester Martinez speaks to Archana Bhaskar, CHRO at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, on the art of courage in business.

When People Matters launched TechHR 10 years ago, the team envisioned a space that would bring together business, people and technology leaders under one roof. With the evolution of work technology and practices, the path once foreseen at the beginning of the journey has definitely changed. What makes 2023 different? In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, our CEO and Editor in Chief Ester Martinez delves into the art of the possible.

Let's rewind to some of the best moments of Season 1 so far in our interviews with Peck Kem Low, Sunil Setlur and Krating Poonpol. HR leaders are often seen as leading from the front, but in this candid snapshot of what it takes for leaders to bring their A-Game, we learn that it takes a great deal of self-care, commitment to growth and impact, and team spirit for leaders to set a positive example for their people.

In a diverse continent like Asia, the evolution of HR is happening parallel to another trend: the rise of a diverse and highly skilled talent pool. How can HR leaders ride the momentum? To answer this question and more, we ask a highly experienced leader who has a front-row seat to the talent trends in the region – Rajeshwar Tripathi, CHRO of the Automotive & Farm Sectors of Mahindra & Mahindra.

Thinking to blaze your own trail in HR? Meet Olivia Chua, CHRO at Jebsen & Jessen, whose own career path doesn't follow the conventional route. Olivia embraced work at an early age, was classically trained in statistics, learnt from HR and non-HR roles, and gained insights from her time working in major cities across the world. How does this tenacious global citizen bring flair into her work as HR leader? Olivia gives practical advice in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

In the most innovative and collaborative work cultures, great leaders know that 'ideas come from everywhere'. Engaging with team members from all walks of life – and allowing them to turn ideas into action – is what results in an enriching experience at work. This episode of People Matters Unplugged features a champion of the concept of 'deep listening': Krating Poonpol, Group Chairman of KBTG. A seasoned professional who worked for Google at the heart of Silicon Valley, he brings an innovative mindset and a fresh take on talent development.

Krish Shankar is a pillar of talent development in India, providing the community with foresight into the future of talent and business in the region. With three decades of experience in human capital management, the author of 'Catalyse' has built stellar teams in some of the most talent-intensive industries, such as telecommunications and IT. In this episode, he uncovers ways to empower People & Culture teams to usher in transformation in the HR industry.

In our milestone episode, People Matters Unplugged celebrates International Women's Month by looking back at the lessons shared by three remarkable women: Monica Watt, Chin Yin Ong and Renu Bohra. The episode provides a recap of their own experiences of transforming the very spaces they inhabit as business leaders.

It is not only about breaking the “glass ceiling". Both, professional and personal empowerment of women, are not just an individual responsibility. It takes an entire community to increase this representation. Renu Bohra, Chief People Officer at logistics company DB Schenker explains in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Four principles form the cultural DNA of Grab, an organisation that has seen a remarkable period of growth and expansion across Southeast Asia. How does it maintain a vibrant culture? Chin Yin Ong, Grab's Chief People Officer, explains in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Business innovation cannot take place without effective leadership and talent management. After all, it's people who power our ventures. How are we creating an environment where people are evolving to keep pace with innovation? In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, we feature Joydeep Bose, Managing Director & Group CHRO, Olam International, on how human capital strategy can be designed to deliver the right business outcomes.

Imagine HR programmes that make your employees happy. Now, imagine programmes that create meaningful impact in their lives. That's the principle of Gojek: using tech to improve the lives of people. This is clearly seen in its HR transformation journey. Sunil Setlur, Chief People Officer of Gojek, sits down with People Matters Unplugged to share how he and his team deliver impact at scale.

Is your company on the hunt for the next CEO? There's one C-level executive who is perfect for the job. The Chief People Officer. As Monica Watt, founder of professional coaching firm Incredible Buzz, explains: "People leaders know the business, know the people, and know the market." This episode of People Matters Unplugged uncovers the qualities of a good CEO and why the people chief is a prime candidate for the top post.

In a country like Indonesia – which is home to numerous unicorns and decacorns in Southeast Asia – developing leaders in the early stages of their career can determine the success of legacy organisations. One example comes from Bank Mandiri, which is producing hundreds of Indonesia's top business leaders. Steven Yudiyantho, SVP of Human Capital Strategy at Bank Mandiri, talks to People Matters CEO Ester Martinez on the bank's robust talent strategy in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Peck Kem Low, CHRO and Adviser - Workforce Development at Singapore's Public Service Division, shares her take on how the country emerged as a top global talent hub and how PSD is contributing to talent innovation.

The podcast hosted by People Matters CEO & Editor-in-Chief Ester Martinez is a space for HR and business leaders to take stock of their strategies, stay on trend in the world of People & Work, and reimagine the future. Season 1 kicks off with 'The Art of the Possible', an invitation for all of us to break free from old patterns of thinking about business, talent and leadership.