Building a Workforce without Walls at HR Tech Asia 2026
HR Tech Asia 2026 will convene at Singapore's Suntec Convention Centre from May 4‑7, gathering C‑suite leaders, HR innovators and technology pioneers. The three‑track programme—C‑Suite Leadership, Workforce Transformation, and Worktech & AI—highlights a shift from viewing digital change as a pure tech project to treating it as a human‑centric endeavour. Speakers such as Accenture’s Gaston Carrion and i4cp’s Kevin Oakes stress culture, continuous learning and resilient leadership as the true engines of agility. The event also spotlights multigenerational inclusion, AI‑enabled connection and a new "celebration mindset" for authentic leadership.
AI, Accountability, and Inclusion: Inside Standard Chartered’s Next Chapter
Standard Chartered is redefining diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) as an operational mandate rather than a cultural add‑on. The bank has embedded formal sponsorship into succession planning and leadership assessments, while launching an AI Academy and a safety framework that...
IBM CHRO: Focus on AI Productivity at Your Own Risk
IBM’s chief human‑resources officer, Nickle LaMoreaux, warned that treating AI solely as a productivity tool misses larger growth opportunities. She urged HR leaders to embed AI across enterprise workflows—customer support, promotion processes, and HR‑BP interactions—to drive measurable business expansion. LaMoreaux...
In an Age of Insularity, CHROs in Asia-Pacific Must Move From Talent Metrics to Business Impact
Edelman’s Delicia Tan warns that Asia‑Pacific CHROs must move beyond traditional talent metrics and focus on tangible business impact. While Singapore and Hong Kong retain high institutional trust, internal surveys reveal growing anxiety about skill relevance and leadership confidence. Companies...
New 12-Week Mini-MBA Targets Leadership Gap in the AI Era
Traditional MBA programs are being reengineered for speed and flexibility as AI reshapes business leadership needs. Abilitie, TED, and St. Edward’s University have launched a 12‑week, part‑time mini‑MBA that blends curated TED content, live faculty discussions, and immersive business simulations....
HR Tech Asia 2026 Unveils the Human Blueprint for the AI-Native Enterprise
HR Tech Asia 2026 will convene more than 4,000 HR leaders in Singapore from May 4‑7 to explore how AI‑native enterprises can blend human ingenuity with machine learning. The four‑day forum, themed “Inspiring You to Inspire Success,” features keynote speeches from...
How Digital Friction Is Affecting Employee Productivity and Retention, and AI Could Be the Turning Point
Digital friction—failed logins, frozen screens, and connectivity hiccups—is eroding productivity across Asia‑Pacific workplaces, mirroring UK findings where 46% of firms report revenue loss and 55% see project delays. The cumulative effect fuels employee disengagement, with many citing IT woes as...
Here’s Where HR and Finance Aren’t in Lockstep, According to Deloitte Data
Deloitte’s 2026 CFO Guide and Human Capital Trends report both confirm that a hybrid AI‑human workforce is now an operational reality, yet they speak different languages about the same challenge. While finance emphasizes AI infrastructure, cost control and ROI, HR...
Beyond the Grid: Why GE Vernova Is Betting on Human Connection to Power the Future
GE Vernova is reshaping its corporate culture by placing employee listening at the core of its strategy, a stance championed by Vice‑President Reginald Miller. The firm embeds purpose‑driven behaviours in the "GE Vernova Way" to attract and retain talent while...
Skills: The Common Language of Human-AI Collaboration
AI is moving from a speculative tool to a daily colleague, prompting HR leaders to rethink their function as "Hybrid Resources" that manage both people and AI agents. A recent Cornerstone OnDemand webinar highlighted that 77% of employees already use...
Leadership Stability Takes Priority in Asia-Pacific as CHRO and COO Turnover Declines
New analysis by Russell Reynolds Associates shows Asia‑Pacific prioritising leadership stability in CHRO and COO roles. In 2025, the region recorded 37 CHRO appointments (slightly above last year) and 27 COO appointments, a 21% decline, both below their seven‑year averages....
The Skills Passport: How Global Standards and National Frameworks Are Redrawing the Talent Map
The CFA Institute is transforming its flagship program into a verifiable "skills passport," embedding practical modules such as financial modelling and Python to guarantee day‑one performance. In Singapore, the Institute of Banking and Finance has accredited CFA Level I under the...
The Role of Integrated Living Environments in Successful Executive Relocations
Executive relocations hinge on the first 30 days, when stress can trigger early contract termination. Companies are replacing traditional corporate housing with "soft‑landing" ecosystems that combine fully furnished residences, retail, and transit. Great World Residences in Singapore exemplifies this model,...
South Korea Revises Employment Act to Bolster Paternity Leave Support and SME Hiring
South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour is expanding its workload‑sharing subsidy programme to compensate employees who cover colleagues on the 20‑day spousal childbirth leave, starting July 1. The move adds a new subsidy tier alongside existing caps of roughly...
We’ve Adapted to Hybrid Work. Has Our Infrastructure?
Hybrid work is now entrenched across Asia‑Pacific, but digital friction is eroding productivity. TeamViewer research shows employees lose an average of 1.33 workdays per month, and 42% of firms attribute revenue loss to IT inefficiencies. AI‑driven remote support and intelligent...
When a Crisis Decides Your WFH Policy
Asian governments in Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand abruptly mandated flexible work for public‑sector employees after the Strait of Hormuz closure threatened oil supplies. The move, driven by energy scarcity rather than employee surveys, highlights how external shocks can...
AI Is Raising the Bar. HR and Supply Chain Must Raise the Workforce
The World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Lighthouse Network report flags talent as a fourth pillar of manufacturing excellence, alongside productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Leading factories are moving from AI pilots to "cognitive networks" that require a workforce capable of real‑time...
The CEO of Your Own Wellbeing: Empowering Employees Through Accountability and Resilience
Simon Thuc, HR leader at Indo‑Trans Logistics, urged organisations to treat mental health as a developable capability rather than a problem to fix. He introduced a "4C" mental‑toughness framework—control, challenge, commitment, confidence—to embed resilience into daily work. Thuc highlighted micro‑habits...
Singapore Hiring Sentiment Rises in Q2 2026 Amid AI Adoption and Skills Demand
Employers in Singapore regained hiring confidence in Q2 2026, with the Net Employment Outlook climbing to +24% after a dip in Q1. The information sector spearheads the surge, posting a +41% outlook and 58% of firms planning workforce expansion. AI...
Building From the Ground Up: A Leadership Journey in #GiveToGain
Deputy CEO Doris Ong recounts her rise from ERA Singapore’s management trainee program to leading its project marketing arm, which has sold over 60,000 homes across 450 developments. She leveraged that experience to champion ESG initiatives, community partnerships, and a...
From Co-Pilots to Superagents: HR’s 2026 Shift
HR is expanding 60% faster than the broader workforce, now encompassing over 250 job titles and nearly a hundred capabilities. The proliferation of AI tools has shifted HR from isolated “co‑pilot” agents to integrated “superagents” that automate entire workflows, a...
Unleashing the Next Era of Skills-Driven Leadership at CHRO Series Hong Kong 2026
Hong Kong’s 2026 budget earmarks HK$222 million for re‑employment schemes and transforms the Employees Retraining Board into Upskill Hong Kong, pushing HR from administrative to strategic. The CHRO Series Hong Kong 2026, organized by HRM Asia, will translate these policies into...
Klook’s Gen Z Strategy: Agility Is the New Loyalty
Klook is redefining its people strategy to harness Gen Z as a strategic advantage, shifting from attendance‑based management to outcome‑focused work. The travel tech firm operates a four‑day‑in‑office, one‑day‑remote hybrid model that emphasizes intentional collaboration and deep‑work time. Its "vocation" program...
UPS CHRO Shares the Most Important Predictors of AI Success
UPS Chief Human Resources Officer Darrell Ford is steering a multi‑year HR transformation that now emphasizes artificial intelligence. The initiative prioritises clean, high‑quality data—targeted for completion by the end of the quarter—as the foundation for AI‑driven talent decisions. Simultaneously, UPS...
From Engagement to Mindfulness: Why the Real Productivity Crisis Is Invisible
The article argues that the real productivity crisis lies in employee mindfulness and engagement, not operational tools. It defines engagement as the sum of satisfaction and mindfulness, noting that only 23% of workers are fully engaged while 59% quietly quit....
Why Workforce Training Still Falls Short in Malaysia and What We Are Actually Learning
Across Malaysia’s SMEs to large corporates, workforce training is routinely sidelined despite widespread acknowledgment of its importance. Leaders cite tight KPIs, cost‑centric budgeting, and fear of talent loss as reasons training loses priority. Even when programs run, generic content, lack...
Malaysia Expands Employer Duty of Care to Mental Health Under 2026 Flexible Work Safety Guide
Malaysia’s Occupational Safety and Health Department released the 2026 Flexible Work Arrangement guide, expanding employer duties to include mental health and psychosocial risk assessments. The mandate requires mandatory OSH risk assessments for remote, hybrid, and staggered‑hour work, covering stress, mental...
Beyond the ‘Downstream’: Reframing Communication as the Core Infrastructure of Workforce Resilience
Rothman & Roman’s upcoming Communication Trend Report 2025 argues that communication is no longer a downstream soft skill but the core infrastructure of workforce resilience. The report highlights that upstream, transparent communication builds trust, reduces burnout, and is essential as...
The Compliance Trap: How Silence in Your Organisation May Be Masking Disengagement
Vice‑President Gayatheri Silvakumer warned that most change initiatives fail not because of flawed strategy but because leaders ignore the emotional side of change. She argues that silence in meetings often disguises disengagement, mistaking compliance for genuine ownership. By inviting employees...
Employees in Singapore Still Believe in Workplace Happiness, but Burnout and Stalled Growth Persist
Jobstreet by SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index surveyed 1,000 Singapore workers, finding that while eight‑in‑ten believe happiness at work is possible, only 56% actually feel happy, placing the city‑state near the bottom of the Asia‑Pacific rankings. Burnout is pervasive, with 45%...