A strong employer brand is key for attracting and engaging best-fit talents at OCBC Hong Kong & Macau

“Employees are our most valuable asset. We prioritise, empower, and support our employees in their personal growth and development” shares Cindy Leung, Head of Human Resources, OCBC Hong Kong.

This article is brought to you by OCBC Hong Kong

OCBC Hong Kong, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OCBC Group, has laid strong emphasis on investing in its most valuable asset: Employees.

Committed to nurturing a thriving workplace, the bank provides resources and support to empower employees to take charge of their own career development and personal growth according to their individual needs.

As such, promoting talent mobility is one of the bank’s priorities. An internal career mobility platform, ‘Mobi’, has been rolled out to assist employees in assessing their skills and abilities, as well as to guide them in exploring the diverse internal mobility opportunities within the OCBC Group.

As part of our commitment to employee wellbeing, the ‘MyWellness Fiesta’ programme has been offered in both in-person and virtual formats. Through this programme, employees can step away from their routines and engage in activities, such as health talks, massage, virtual yoga or fitness classes, and daily game challenges that address various aspects of physical, mental, financial and family wellness.

Through these initiatives, OCBC Hong Kong & Macau enables employees to feel valued, appreciated, and recognised, which in turn helps attract, motivate, and retain talent.

“Employees are our most valuable asset. We prioritise, empower, and support our employees in their personal growth and development” shares Cindy Leung, Head of Human Resources, OCBC Hong Kong (pictured below).

“At our core, OCBC’s corporate purpose is to enable people and communities to realise their aspirations. In every decision we make, for every behaviour and for every action taken, we are guided by our values of creating lasting value, upholding integrity, being forward-looking, showing respect, and taking responsibility.

“We come together to work as ‘one team’ with one ambition to achieve – to become Asia's leading financial services partner for a sustainable future.”

With this strong purpose, values (LIFRR, listed previously) and ambition (PVA), as well as a menu of impactful initiatives, one further step taken is to communicate all of this well to both employees and potential talents.

To this effect, OCBC Hong Kong has launched a two-day ‘Employer Brand Showcase’ in June 2024 to highlight its unique employee value proposition (EVP), which is centred around learning, wellbeing, collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and community.

Through interactive experiences and activities, employees can explore a wide array of career initiatives, learning programmes, and wellness programmes that the bank offers. This has enabled employees to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s work culture and the opportunities available to them within the organisation.

One highlight of the event was the ‘Unbox’ series. Featuring internal speakers who shared insightful discussions and ideas, the series provided valuable career inspiration to all attendees and gave them a chance to connected with fellow colleagues.

Another highlight was the ‘Grow Your Way: Expedition’, which showcased the seven skills-based pillars and four proficiency-level frameworks required for the bank’s skills-first mobility strategy. During the event, employees could access the key roles and skills needed in business units across OCBC Group, while learning from industry experts. This gave them an insight into the next step of their career.

Externally, OCBC Hong Kong continues its employer branding efforts, by launching a new series of brand campaigns; collaborating with universities and recruitment platforms in Hong Kong, Macau, and GBA; using social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to arouse public awareness of the bank's philosophy and development; and participating in and supporting volunteer activities, even providing volunteer leave to encourage employees to contribute to society.

“We understand the importance of talent and actively establish a positive brand image while proactively nurturing the new generation,” says Leung.

“Putting people first and giving back to society through a positive corporate brand can help attract and retain talent.”

Looking forward, she believes the banking industry should strengthen talent training in three major areas: financial technology, green finance, and the development of the Greater Bay Area.

“We believe that banking professionals must possess diverse expertise and cross-disciplinary skills, as well as comprehensive abilities to integrate knowledge. They should also constantly update their skills to keep up with changes in the financial ecosystem and market.”

Photos / OCBC Hong Kong