L&D teams need to rethink their strategy amid this crisis: CEO, Robert Walters APAC
People Matters|October 2020
Learning is the responsibility of everyone and not just the L&D team. Due to the virtual learning environment not being dependent on location, it has enabled learning to be accessible to a wider audience of people, says Toby Fowlston, Chief Executive Officer, Robert Walters, APAC
Mastufa Ahmed
L&D teams need to rethink their strategy amid this crisis: CEO, Robert Walters APAC

Toby is the Chief Executive Officer for Robert Walters Asia Pacific. He takes overall responsibility for the operations across South East Asia, Greater China, North East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Prior to the appointment, Toby held the role of Managing Director of Robert Walters South East Asia. He has over 20 years of recruitment experience, having first started his career with Robert Walters UK upon qualifying as a solicitor in 1999. He rose through the ranks and assumed overall responsibility for the London business in 2012. He moved to Singapore in 2013, leading and growing the South East Asia recruitment business.

In Asia Pacific Robert Walters has offices in 13 countries: Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Here are the excerpts of the interview.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought forth new priorities for businesses across the world. How are workers and employees adapting to the rapidly changing conditions? Do you see a synergy in terms of new initiatives?

The pandemic has delivered a lot of challenges for employees and employers but also opportunity. I am seeing synergies across organizations. These include:

Well-being and mental/ physical health of employees: creating a safe environment for employees is the number one challenge and priority for organizations. From a global survey conducted by Robert Walters, the top five initiatives organizations have put in place to support employee well-being and mental/physical health are:

This story is from the October 2020 edition of People Matters.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 2020 edition of People Matters.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PEOPLE MATTERSView All
How Digital Transformation Can Power The Great Reset
People Matters

How Digital Transformation Can Power The Great Reset

Technology has the potential to serve as the key enabler of change between digitalising administrative tasks and fostering human connections

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2022
The Crypto Meltdown Of 2022
People Matters

The Crypto Meltdown Of 2022

FTX implosion: A setback, but not the end for the crypto market

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2022
Govern Pre-IPO Unicorns to Create Value; Not Valuation
People Matters

Govern Pre-IPO Unicorns to Create Value; Not Valuation

Billion-dollar startups always make the headlines. But is there true value behind those eye-catching valuations? How can proper governance be implemented for these much-hyped companies?

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2022
On change and change management
People Matters

On change and change management

The best way to end the year, especially such a disrupted one as 2022, is by laying the groundwork for the year to come. Michelle Yong, Head of Resourcing at Shell, offers some insights on change management to bring us forward into 2023

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2022
The Great Reconnection: A paradigmatic moment for employers and employees
People Matters

The Great Reconnection: A paradigmatic moment for employers and employees

This year has not been a good one for employee retention. The Great Resignation, originally thought to be a US phenomenon, has emerged in Asia now. But is there a way to turn it into the Great Reconnection?

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2022
Lessons Managing in leadership: a global hybrid team
People Matters

Lessons Managing in leadership: a global hybrid team

What takeaways can we draw from the pandemic? Fatima Koning, Chief Commercial Officer at IWG, shares what the last five years have taught her about managing a global sales team across 120 markets in the hybrid model

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2022
Eight HR trends that we saw throughout 2022
People Matters

Eight HR trends that we saw throughout 2022

As companies manage their workforces in a dynamic era, HR departments have continually adapted and adjusted, and never more than this year as digital acceleration and workplace evolutions came together

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2022
One way to turn the tide of employee retention
People Matters

One way to turn the tide of employee retention

There's a surprising link between skill development opportunities and job satisfaction. Here are some ways of boosting skilling and thereby talent retention

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2022
A key focus for L&D going into 2023 should be business alignment
People Matters

A key focus for L&D going into 2023 should be business alignment

Venkat Subramaniam of Degreed believes that learning is core to business success and organisations need to invest in the right processes and technologies to adapt to continuous change

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2022
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CAN BE GAME GHANGER FOR INCLUSIVE FUTURE OF WORK
People Matters

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CAN BE GAME GHANGER FOR INCLUSIVE FUTURE OF WORK

BREAKING FREE FROM THE STEREOTYPES IN THE INSURANCE SECTOR, PAMELA THOMSON-HALL SHARES HER JOURNEY OF BEING A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN AND BRINGING ABOUT A CHANGE IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2022