Five leadership habits that protect team wellbeing
Leadership behaviour significantly influences employee wellbeing. Across Southeast Asia, where cultural norms often discourage open discussion of stress, leadership habits can either amplify pressure or create psychological safety. In high-growth markets, sustained performance expectations make protective leadership behaviours particularly important. Wellbeing cannot be delegated solely to HR policies. Daily leadership actions shape workload norms, communication […]
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” […]
Five sustainable people practices HR should prioritise
Sustainability in HR extends beyond environmental responsibility to encompass workforce resilience and long-term capability building. Across Southeast Asia, organisations are increasingly expected to balance commercial performance with responsible employment practices. Investors, regulators, and employees alike are scrutinising how organisations manage people sustainably. In markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, ESG reporting requirements are strengthening accountability. […]
The First Word: Why leadership must respect “purposeful presence” in the workforce?
Singapore’s corporate sector is currently navigating a shift in workplace dynamics that carries implications for long-term gender parity goals. While women held 25.5% of board seats in top SGX-listed firms as of mid-2025, the trajectory toward the national target of 30% by 2030 is meeting a formidable structural resistance. An emerging “ambition gap”, where 80% […]
The First Word: Why fulfilment is now a leadership advantage
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative force reshaping industries worldwide, with extensive applications especially within human resources (HR). From recruitment, administration and finance, dispute resolution and workforce planning, it’s well known that AI has the ability to change how HR teams operate and the quality of decisions they make. The big question is: even with […]
Five “people risks” organisations often overlook
The start of the year often brings renewed energy, fresh plans, and ambitious targets for organisations across Southeast Asia. Budgets are approved, strategies are launched, and HR teams shift quickly into execution mode. Yet this period also carries hidden risks that are frequently underestimated or missed entirely. In many organisations, early-year optimism can mask underlying […]
Five strategies for employee wellbeing programmes
Employee wellbeing has emerged as a critical focus area for organisations across Southeast Asia, particularly as workforces navigate post-pandemic realities. The region’s distinctive blend of cultural values, rapid development, and varying healthcare systems creates unique challenges for HR professionals implementing comprehensive wellbeing initiatives. Mental health awareness is growing, though stigma remains a significant barrier in […]
The First Word: Elevating efficiency through modern agreement management
Across the Asia Pacific, agreement management is undergoing a shift that’s reshaping how organisations operate, compete and scale. As business conditions grow more complex, driven by shifting regulations, rising compliance demands and digital acceleration, managing agreements efficiently has become critical. In fact, 77% of leaders in high-performing organisations credit agreement management with driving success in […]
Five approaches to career development in flat organisations
Across Southeast Asia’s evolving business landscape, traditional hierarchical structures are increasingly giving way to flatter organisational models emphasising agility and innovation. This structural shift presents unique challenges for HR professionals tasked with providing meaningful career development in environments with fewer vertical advancement opportunities. Regional talent retention studies indicate that career progression remains a primary concern […]
