… as Human Resource Capital Magazine launched
To be effective and yield lasting results, institutional culture resets must be implemented from top down, Human Resources (HR) expert, Irene Asare, has said.
According to the founder and CEO of leading HR and People practice firm, CarvinClay People Development, the ongoing pandemic and its resultant effects on work life presents a unique opportunity for public and private institutions to redefine their corporate culture to prepare them for the future.
In an interview with the B&FT at the digital launch of the Human Capital Magazine Africa (HCMA), she suggested that these steps must be taken seriously and applied not just in word but in deed, cautioning that half-hearted reforms will be detrimental to any organization.
“Every business environment is going through some form of change in these times; most hadn’t planned for it but it is happening regardless. But moving forward, businesses must recognise that there must be a desire for intentional change.
Once that has been established, there has to be the support and pro-activeness from the leaders at the top to be able to drive that change. It is all very well if you want change, but if you are at the bottom of the chain; you won’t be able to effect the change that you are looking for. It is about the right leadership willing to do something different and going against the norm. Ultimately, in a few years, we will look back and see that many institutions missed a trick by failing to implement these reforms,” she argued.
She added that with the current wave of educational curricula reforms, emphasis of human capital development should be laid, especially at the pre-tertiary level, as it will be beneficial even to those who venture into different engagements after secondary school.
The Human Capital Magazine Africa
A premier product from CarvinClay, the Human Capital Magazine Africa magazine seeks to fill a void in the HR development space.
“We are trying to solve a problem. We are trying to bring the right level of people practice into organisations across the continent. Currently, what is on the market is mostly a collection of a few articles which address one or two issues but we wanted to have a space where you can rely on the content and the advice you are receiving, knowing the level of expertise on board.
That is why the magazine was born; to provide rich resources, bring access to seasoned exports who might not ordinarily be accessible to shape and mold not just people but organisations,” the thought-leader who has over 25 years’ experience in HR, across cultures and sectors with stints at Standard Bank, Vodafone and Tullow Oil, stated as the rationale behind the magazine.
Chief Human Resource Officer, Vodacom Group, South Africa, Matimba Mbungela; Country Head, Human Capital at Stanbic Bank Nigeria, Funke Amobi; Founder & CEO of the African Leadership Group, Fred Swaniker and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), Uganda, Josephine Mukumbya all provide invaluable insight in the maiden edition of the bi-annual magazine.
Responding to a question as to who the target audience is Irene Asare stated that every business owner can glean gems from the magazine, adding that no premium is too high for business owners, regardless of size or sector to pay for the most important factor in any business venture – people.
“Even for our small to medium sized enterprises, having the right foundation is absolutely critical. It could mean the difference between being around in five years or not because you can have a great idea and people around you but if you don’t have the foundations and the right processes which to many seem unnecessary, you may not survive,” she said.
