The HR Leadership Journey: Tenacity, Flexibility, Values
People Matters|March 2022
What does the career journey of a HR leader look like, and what life and career lessons can we draw from those who have broken the ground ahead of us? Long-time HR leader Carmen Wee shares her experience of decades in the profession
Carmen Wee
The HR Leadership Journey: Tenacity, Flexibility, Values

Being able to show role models and mentors is a key pathway to increasing diversity at any level. But what does it take for someone to work their way up to a life and career stage where they can be such a role model and mentor? People Matters asked long-time HR leader Carmen Wee, the author of From the Kampung to the Boardroom: My Leadership Journey, to tell us about her rise through the profession. Carmen has been in HR from the very start of her career, holding regional and then international roles with large companies, and within the last few years she stepped up to take board directorships.

Here's her career story: a journey of cross-disciplinary experience, flexibility, and openness to opportunity.

What you study isn't necessarily where you'll find your career

“When I was young, I thought that I wanted to become a social worker. I wanted to do something altruistic. So I studied social work at the National University of Singapore. In my final year, I was attached as a medical social worker for 10 weeks. It was very interesting, because the doctors would refer patients with emotional and counselling needs to the medical social work department, and I did my share of counselling, casework, and intervention. And I realised that I had no desire to do this work for the rest of my life. I could see how the other social workers were tired and burned out, how their caseload just piled up, and how they would be there for the next 10-20 years or until they retired – and I didn't see any future in that for myself.

This story is from the March 2022 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 March 2022 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