He didn’t begin in HR. In fact, his journey started right where most stories of leadership do, on the front lines. For Coach Darwin Rivers, the early 2000s marked the beginning of his career in the growing IT-BPM industry, where he progressed from a frontline agent to an operations supervisor. It was in those formative years that he learned the intricacies of business, leadership, and the pulse of people.
“Driven by a deeper calling, I transitioned into Human Resources—a move that felt both natural and purposeful,” he shares. With a background in behavioural science and years of hands-on leadership, Darwin saw HR not as a support function but as a strategic partner; one that could bridge empathy and operational excellence. That shift would eventually define his entire career and reshape the way HR was seen across the country.
From a Small Circle to a National Movement
“In 2014, I founded the Philippines HR Group on Facebook with a simple yet powerful vision: to stay connected with my colleagues and former HR team members following the closure of the Yahoo Philippines HR Groups.” What started as a modest online gathering quickly evolved into a nationwide community.
“Starting with fewer than 100 trusted peers from my personal network, our community steadily grew,” he recalls. “By 2016, we recognized the immense potential to serve a broader audience. We opened our doors to HR practitioners across the country—seasoned professionals and newcomers alike—who were eager to learn, contribute, and elevate the standards of our profession.”
That group, now known as PHILHRG Inc., has become the largest HR community in the Philippines with over 350,000 HR and HR-aligned professionals. It is officially registered as a non-profit, dedicated to lifelong learning, professional development, and the advancement of HR as a global profession.
As Darwin describes it, “Together, we are not just building careers, we are shaping the future of HR in our country and beyond.” His leadership is rooted in vision, inclusivity, and community empowerment. He turned a small circle of peers into a national movement that continues to redefine what it means to be an HR professional in the Philippines.
A Judge Who Celebrates Purpose and People
Today, Darwin continues to shape the HR landscape as a judge for the 2025 HR Stars Awards Philippines, bringing the same principles of empathy and purpose to the role. “Serving as a judge for the HR Stars Awards PH is not just an honor—it’s a responsibility to spotlight the people and programs that are truly shaping the future of work in the Philippines.”
Beyond the numbers and KPIs, Darwin looks for heart. “What I look for goes deeper—into the heart of the initiative and the soul of the organization.” He values human-centred impact, cultural authenticity, and purpose-driven innovation. “I admire entries that challenge norms and push boundaries while staying grounded in purpose,” he says.
To him, every great HR initiative begins with a story. “Behind every great HR initiative is a story worth telling,” Darwin reminds us. “It’s in those stories that we find inspiration, resilience, and the true spirit of HR.”
And that, more than anything, captures who he is: a leader who started at the frontlines, built a community from the ground up, and continues to shape the future of HR by championing stories that remind us what the profession is truly about, the people.
