People Matters Unplugged

Animesh Kumar, President – HR and Transformation at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, is our guest for episode two of the second season of People Matters Unplugged. An expert in orchestrating and leading transformation processes in global businesses, Animesh believes that the key to success is to understand change as a whole and not as the sum of its parts.

Our first guest of Season 2 has more than two decades of experience delivering HR programs that transform business: Priyanka Anand, vice president and head of HR at Ericsson, for South East Asia, Oceania, and India. On People Matters Unplugged, she talks about how Ericsson invests in a learning culture where employees are the architects of their career trajectory.

HR transformation involves many moving parts. A critical aspect of transformation is realising the potential of people and raising them to be courageous in the face of challenges. In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, our CEO Ester Martinez speaks to Archana Bhaskar, CHRO at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, on the art of courage in business.

When People Matters launched TechHR 10 years ago, the team envisioned a space that would bring together business, people and technology leaders under one roof. With the evolution of work technology and practices, the path once foreseen at the beginning of the journey has definitely changed. What makes 2023 different? In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, our CEO and Editor in Chief Ester Martinez delves into the art of the possible.

Let's rewind to some of the best moments of Season 1 so far in our interviews with Peck Kem Low, Sunil Setlur and Krating Poonpol. HR leaders are often seen as leading from the front, but in this candid snapshot of what it takes for leaders to bring their A-Game, we learn that it takes a great deal of self-care, commitment to growth and impact, and team spirit for leaders to set a positive example for their people.

In a diverse continent like Asia, the evolution of HR is happening parallel to another trend: the rise of a diverse and highly skilled talent pool. How can HR leaders ride the momentum? To answer this question and more, we ask a highly experienced leader who has a front-row seat to the talent trends in the region – Rajeshwar Tripathi, CHRO of the Automotive & Farm Sectors of Mahindra & Mahindra.

Thinking to blaze your own trail in HR? Meet Olivia Chua, CHRO at Jebsen & Jessen, whose own career path doesn't follow the conventional route. Olivia embraced work at an early age, was classically trained in statistics, learnt from HR and non-HR roles, and gained insights from her time working in major cities across the world. How does this tenacious global citizen bring flair into her work as HR leader? Olivia gives practical advice in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

In the most innovative and collaborative work cultures, great leaders know that 'ideas come from everywhere'. Engaging with team members from all walks of life – and allowing them to turn ideas into action – is what results in an enriching experience at work. This episode of People Matters Unplugged features a champion of the concept of 'deep listening': Krating Poonpol, Group Chairman of KBTG. A seasoned professional who worked for Google at the heart of Silicon Valley, he brings an innovative mindset and a fresh take on talent development.

Krish Shankar is a pillar of talent development in India, providing the community with foresight into the future of talent and business in the region. With three decades of experience in human capital management, the author of 'Catalyse' has built stellar teams in some of the most talent-intensive industries, such as telecommunications and IT. In this episode, he uncovers ways to empower People & Culture teams to usher in transformation in the HR industry.

In our milestone episode, People Matters Unplugged celebrates International Women's Month by looking back at the lessons shared by three remarkable women: Monica Watt, Chin Yin Ong and Renu Bohra. The episode provides a recap of their own experiences of transforming the very spaces they inhabit as business leaders.

It is not only about breaking the “glass ceiling". Both, professional and personal empowerment of women, are not just an individual responsibility. It takes an entire community to increase this representation. Renu Bohra, Chief People Officer at logistics company DB Schenker explains in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Four principles form the cultural DNA of Grab, an organisation that has seen a remarkable period of growth and expansion across Southeast Asia. How does it maintain a vibrant culture? Chin Yin Ong, Grab's Chief People Officer, explains in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Business innovation cannot take place without effective leadership and talent management. After all, it's people who power our ventures. How are we creating an environment where people are evolving to keep pace with innovation? In this episode of People Matters Unplugged, we feature Joydeep Bose, Managing Director & Group CHRO, Olam International, on how human capital strategy can be designed to deliver the right business outcomes.

Imagine HR programmes that make your employees happy. Now, imagine programmes that create meaningful impact in their lives. That's the principle of Gojek: using tech to improve the lives of people. This is clearly seen in its HR transformation journey. Sunil Setlur, Chief People Officer of Gojek, sits down with People Matters Unplugged to share how he and his team deliver impact at scale.

Is your company on the hunt for the next CEO? There's one C-level executive who is perfect for the job. The Chief People Officer. As Monica Watt, founder of professional coaching firm Incredible Buzz, explains: "People leaders know the business, know the people, and know the market." This episode of People Matters Unplugged uncovers the qualities of a good CEO and why the people chief is a prime candidate for the top post.

In a country like Indonesia – which is home to numerous unicorns and decacorns in Southeast Asia – developing leaders in the early stages of their career can determine the success of legacy organisations. One example comes from Bank Mandiri, which is producing hundreds of Indonesia's top business leaders. Steven Yudiyantho, SVP of Human Capital Strategy at Bank Mandiri, talks to People Matters CEO Ester Martinez on the bank's robust talent strategy in this episode of People Matters Unplugged.

Peck Kem Low, CHRO and Adviser - Workforce Development at Singapore's Public Service Division, shares her take on how the country emerged as a top global talent hub and how PSD is contributing to talent innovation.

The podcast hosted by People Matters CEO & Editor-in-Chief Ester Martinez is a space for HR and business leaders to take stock of their strategies, stay on trend in the world of People & Work, and reimagine the future. Season 1 kicks off with 'The Art of the Possible', an invitation for all of us to break free from old patterns of thinking about business, talent and leadership.