Kicking off Day 1 of #GBFSG2024, delegates were treated to a captivating session with Nichol Ng, CEO of X-Inc and Co-founder of Food Bank Singapore. She posed an intriguing question: how do businesses juggle challenges while keeping employees' wellbeing in mind?
Nichol took everyone on a whirlwind journey through her life and career, including being the youngest employee at her dad's business, evolving from his biggest cheerleader to turning around the business. She then launched her own entrepreneurial ventures, all while passionately advocating for local farms in Singapore and founding the Food Bank Singapore to address food insecurity.
With her engaging storytelling, Nichol set the stage for lively discussions on sustainability, upskilling, and diversity—topics that attendees eagerly dived into later in the day. It was a session filled with inspiration, laughter, and plenty of food for thought!
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The #GBFSG2024 audience was all ears as Ambra Debernardi, Director of Multinational Business and Broker Development at AIA, took the stage to talk about the power of data in driving employee engagement.
Ambra emphasized that data isn't just about benefits usage, claims, and doctor preferences - it's the key to enhancing the overall employee experience. AIA's technology platform, AIA Analytica, helps MNC clients dive deep into their risk exposure and benefit consumption patterns.
Ambra showcased how this data-driven platform can help companies make informed decisions about plan design and communications, keeping their employees happy, healthy, and engaged. Data may be serious business, but Ambra kept things light and lively, proving that number-crunching can be downright fun!
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The #GBFSG2024 crowd was buzzing with excitement as a powerhouse panel of diversity champions took the stage to tackle a juicy topic - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in benefits design.
Leading the charge were the dynamic trio: Claire Brockington, the Senior HR Manager of A&O Shearman, the charismatic Neil Persaud, the Co-founder and Managing Partner of LiveMore, and the ever-fabulous Nicole Golloso, the Director of HR and Corporate Communications (SG/HK) and regional DEI Lead (APAC) of McCann Worldgroup, who moderated the discussion with panache.
As the panellists shared their experiences, it became clear that nurturing DEI within an organization requires a hefty dose of creativity. While some Asian cultures may still be a tad shy about discussing mental health, our experts had a few aces up their sleeves. Flower arranging and mental calming exercises, anyone? Turns out these subtle yet effective activities can work wonders for emotional wellness.
The message was clear - there are endless innovative ways to embrace DEI in benefits design, and it's up to the HR professionals to get their creative juices flowing!
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Moderated by Christopher Tan, Group CEO at Providend Ltd., the panel "Cracking the Hard Nut of Employee Financial Wellbeing" featured Kenneth Tan, Chief Corporate Solutions Officer at AIA Singapore, and Ritesh Ganeriwal, Managing Director and Head of Investment & Advisory at Syfe.
As the discussion of employee financial wellbeing unfolded, it became clear that the key is to start with the employees themselves. What do they really want, and how can you design the program that caters to their needs? The experts urged HR professionals to conduct internal surveys, get that all-important senior management buy-in, before working on a holistic financial wellness program.
From retirement planning and budgeting to investing, the panellists emphasized that education should always be the foundation. After all, these are the topics employees are most eager to learn about. But it doesn't stop there - the experts encouraged HR professionals to leverage technology, partner with providers (to avoid conflicts), and even design programs that cater to those unique employee needs.
These will become secrets to employee longevity and retention - a financial wellness program designed with care, creativity, and a whole lot of data-crunching.
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The next panel tackled "Why Sustainability and how to inculcate in company culture". It's all about breaking down the big, daunting tasks into bite-sized, manageable pieces and to measure progress.
A panel of eco-warriors took the spotlight to share their secrets for cultivating a greener, more sustainable workforce. Moderating the discussion was Jim Heng, Head of Partnership & Distribution, Lockton. Joining him were Mailyn Borillo, Managing Director of OSM Thome Maritime Group (Philippines), and Shirley Lim, Regional Sustainability Lead, Fullerton Health.
The first step to kick start initiatives lies in getting colleagues to step up and join the sustainability revolution. "It's not about reinventing the wheel," Borillo quipped, "it's about re-organizing and nurturing that eco-friendly spirit within your team." And what better way to do that than through volunteering? "Doing well by doing good," Lim chimed in, "that's the way to get sustainability going!
However, the panellists warned, this isn't a sprint – it's a marathon. Getting buy-in from internal stakeholders, finding those sustainability champions, and communicating with both internal and external partners, it's all part of the journey.
Sustainability is the new norm, not the exception. It's not a question of "should we do it", "it's 'can we afford not to?'"
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In a dynamic panel discussion, a crack team of HR visionaries, including Victoria Edwards, Regional HR Leader, Lockton Asia, Elliot Lee, Managing Partner, LOF Consultants, Jeet Pramanik, Senior Reward Business Partner, Lockton UK, and Jojico Tanuwidjaja, Former Global Talent Development Partner, previously at TikTok Pte Ltd, tackled the thorny issue of redefining the profession in an ever-shifting business landscape. The overarching theme? Embrace the sizzle of a skills-based approach or risk getting left in the organizational dust.
First up, the experts tackled the million-dollar question: how do you actually acquire these elusive "required skills"? As one panellist quipped, "The most universally accepted culture is the culture of learning." The real secret lies in cultivating the meta-skill of "learning to learn." As one panellist noted, "We should learn from best practices - we're here to borrow, remix, and put our own unique spin on them." But would any company dare to go the bold route that a particular Swiss company did, which is to get rid of all job titles?
The experts agreed that HR professionals must develop a keen understanding of the human emotional cycle of change. As one speaker noted, "It's not enough to simply track the latest trends - you need to get inside the hearts and minds of your people."
As the panel concluded, "The key is to find the best practices, across industries, and make them your own. Think Elon Musk, not corporate bureaucracy."
Stay tuned for more exciting sessions on Day 2 (opens a new window) of Lockton Global Benefits Forum 2024 in Singapore!