Five ways HR can reduce people-related risk
People-related risk—ranging from key-talent dependencies and operational misconduct to severe burnout and sudden turnover—has become a top priority for corporate boards across Southeast Asia. In the region’s fast-evolving business ecosystem, where rapid digital acceleration often collides with acute talent shortages, human errors and systemic workplace stress present tangible operational hazards. When human resource departments function […]
Five compliance blind spots HR leaders should audit
The regulatory environment across Southeast Asia is tightening rapidly, leaving many multi-country organisations exposed to significant legal risks. As regional governments modernise their frameworks to address the digital economy, flexible work, and workplace equity, legacy HR practices are fast becoming liabilities. In markets like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, statutory updates are shifting from mere […]
Five future-ready learning models gaining traction
The landscape of corporate education across Southeast Asia is undergoing a dramatic paradigm shift. Driven by government-backed upskilling initiatives—such as Singapore’s SkillsFuture framework and Malaysia’s HRD Corp mandates—organisations are moving away from rigid, classroom-bound training strategies. In a fast-evolving regional economy characterized by rapid digital transformation and acute talent shortages, traditional educational frameworks are no […]
Five indicators your workforce lacks learning agility
In a region as dynamic as Southeast Asia, the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn is perhaps the most critical attribute for any employee. As industries are disrupted by technology and changing consumer behaviours, “learning agility” becomes the true currency of the modern professional. However, many organisations suffer from a hidden stagnation where employees are […]
KWAP’s mission: Purpose beyond the balance sheet
Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan), widely known as KWAP, achieved the highest recognition at the recent 2025–2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia by winning the Employer of Choice award. This headline victory is a collective triumph that provides a comprehensive model for HR practitioners on how a large public-sector organisation can successfully build an award-winning workforce framework […]
AFFIN Bank: Shared success, powered by people
AFFIN Bank Berhad was awarded the Employer of Choice – Gold Award at the 2025–2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia, marking a key milestone in its “People Office Metamorphosis Journey”. Under the leadership of Group Chief People Officer Dr. Syukri Sudari, the bank transitioned its HR function into a strategic engine anchored in its “i-CARE” values—Integrity, […]
Five practical ways HR can bridge critical digital skills gaps
The rapid digital transformation across Southeast Asia, driven by the growth of the internet economy, has left many organisations struggling to keep pace. From e-commerce booms to the integration of AI in financial services, the demand for tech-savvy talent far outstrips the supply. HR leaders are now at the forefront of this challenge, tasked with […]
Redefining human capital excellence, the ‘KWAP’ way
Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) triumphantly secured the Best HR Team award at the 2025-2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia, earning top honours for transforming its HR department into a high-performing strategic delivery unit that drives large-scale organisational change. The team’s recognisable effort is rooted in its ability to manage a high-stakes national mandate, safeguarding the retirement […]
AFFIN Bank’s culture engineered by design
AFFIN Bank Berhad won the Best Workplace Culture and Environment title at the 2025–2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia, proving that the most effective way to engage a modern workforce is to treat them as actual business partners. Instead of treating workplace culture as a vague concept or an occasional team-building exercise, the bank took a […]
CGS International: A culture built on people
CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd won the Gold Award for Best Workplace Culture and Environment at the 2025–2026 HR Stars Awards Malaysia. By moving away from rigid handbooks and focusing on leadership trust, open feedback loops, and human connection, the investment house has established an operational model for how modern financial firms can build […]
