LGMS Berhad’s winning ‘five-step learning engine’
LGMS Berhad won the Best Training Interventions category at the 2025–2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia, setting a practical new standard for how specialised tech companies can upskill their workforce with absolute precision. By tightly aligning educational targets with live project requirements, the cybersecurity company has created an operating environment where technical mastery and commercial growth […]
Five productivity myths HR leaders should challenge
The traditional view of productivity in Southeast Asian workplaces has long been anchored in visible presence and sheer volume of hours worked. However, as regional economies shift towards high-value services and digital innovation, these legacy mindsets often hinder rather than help. HR leaders across the ASEAN region are now tasked with dismantling deeply ingrained cultural […]
Five questions HR should ask at mid-year reviews
Mid-year reviews provide an important checkpoint for organisational alignment and workforce health. In Southeast Asia’s fast-moving business environment, six months can significantly alter market conditions, workforce needs, and performance expectations. HR teams, therefore, benefit from structured reflection during this period. Rather than focusing solely on target achievement, mid-year reviews offer insight into engagement, capability gaps, […]
Five ways organisations can build everyday inclusion
Inclusion in Southeast Asia extends beyond diversity representation to everyday behaviours that shape belonging. Multicultural, multilingual workplaces are common across the region, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia, making inclusive practices essential for cohesion and performance. While formal diversity initiatives signal intent, inclusion is experienced daily through communication, decision-making, and recognition. Employees often evaluate belonging based […]
The First Word: People-first workplace transformation
At a time when the future of work is being reimagined across industries, hospitality is proving that meaningful transformation is not only possible but already underway. This year, Hilton has been recognised as the #1 World’s Best Workplace — the only hospitality company to achieve this twice in just three years — and also ranked […]
Five ways HR can normalise mental health conversations at work
Mental health awareness has increased across Southeast Asia, yet workplace conversations remain cautious in many organisations. Cultural stigma, fear of judgment, and hierarchical dynamics often limit openness. HR professionals, therefore, play a critical role in creating safe structures for dialogue. In markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, corporate wellbeing initiatives are expanding, but uptake varies. […]
The First Word: Why deep reading matters more in an AI-driven world
Young people now encounter more words than perhaps any generation before them. They read captions, messages, subtitles, slides, search results, prompts, summaries and AI-generated explanations throughout the day. In one sense, they are reading all the time. What is less clear is whether this constant exposure to language is making them better readers. It may […]
Growth by design at Home Credit Indonesia
Home Credit Indonesia has been recognised for its exceptional commitment to workforce development by winning the Best Training Interventions award at the HR Stars Awards. The company stood out for its ability to integrate structured learning directly into the flow of work, ensuring that capability building is not just an HR initiative but a core […]
How Bukalapak built a future-ready workforce
When Bukalapak decided to refocus its entire organisation around four core business pillars in 2025, the leadership team knew that strategy alone would not be enough to achieve sustainable profit. Success would depend on the 40.68% of employees who suddenly faced significant skill gaps in their evolving roles. This challenge birthed the “Learning to Thrive” […]
The First Word: Leadership lessons from the frontline of Special Education
I was 19 when I first stepped into special education. At that age, I did not think about leadership in a serious way. I thought leadership belonged to people much older than me, people with years of experience, big job titles, and lots of confidence. I certainly did not expect to learn about it in […]
