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Saifon Khongjitngam, Chief Human Resource Officer, Generali Thailand, shares a peek into the team's people approach — one that focuses on employee listening, open communication, and fostering an inclusive environment, and more.
Insurance provider Generali Thailand prides itself on a workplace culture that thrives trust and transparency, which has played a key role in enhancing employee enagement and performance.
A testament to its efforts, the company took home two gold awards and one silver award at the HR Excellence Awards 2024 in Thailand:
- Gold:
- Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing, and
- Excellence in Workforce Flexibility
- Silver: Excellence in Women Empowerment Strategy
This interview with Saifon Khongjitngam, Chief Human Resource Officer, Generali Thailand, shares a peek into the team's people approach that made these achievements possible — one that focuses on employee listening, open communication, and fostering an inclusive environment, and more.
Q What was the motivation that sparked your passion & business case for pursuing your outstanding people strategy?
Our passion for an outstanding people strategy at Generali Thailand was ignited by our belief that our employees are our greatest asset. We recognise that a thriving, engaged workforce is the key to delivering exceptional service to our clients. This realisation drove us to create a workplace where every individual feels valued, empowered, and inspired to excel.
Our business case was clear: investing in our people would lead to higher productivity, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving our success and growth in the competitive insurance industry.
Q Looking back, can you share a challenge that you overcame in your journey of HR excellence? How did you triumph?
One significant challenge we faced was fostering a culture of continuous feedback and open dialogue. Initially, there was resistance to change, including the norm among Thais who did not dare to express their opinions directly to each other. We triumphed by implementing comprehensive training programmes and leading by example. Our leadership team actively participated in feedback sessions, demonstrating the value of open communication.
Over time, this approach built trust and transparency, transforming our feedback culture and significantly enhancing employee engagement and performance.
Our commitment to listening to our employees and making meaningful changes based on their feedback creates an employee value proposition to offer the journey of our 'GEN' proposition:
Growth opportunities: We invest in people development and provide equal opportunities for career advancement.
Empowering people: We empower our people to take ownership of their work for company success and their own personal development.
Navigating to smart work-life: Support digital work and collaboration with simplified processes for a smart life.
Q Beyond the recognition, what impact do you hope your feature in the HR Excellence Awards would have on the HR community and manpower landscape?
We hope our feature in the HR Excellence Awards inspires other organisations to prioritise their people strategies and recognise the profound impact of a positive workplace culture. By sharing our journey, we aim to contribute to a broader movement towards employee-centric practices, fostering environments where individuals can thrive.
We believe that our success stories can serve as a blueprint for others, encouraging women empowerment, inclusive workplace, and continuous improvement in workplace wellbeing for the HR community and beyond, ultimately elevating the overall manpower landscape in Asia.
Q Could you share some advice you would give to others aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
To those aspiring to follow in our footsteps, my advice is to place your people at the heart of your strategy. Invest in their growth, listen to their feedback, and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
Embrace improvement and be open to change, as the HR landscape is constantly evolving. Most importantly, lead with empathy and authenticity.
When employees see that their leaders genuinely care about their wellbeing, development and employee empowerment they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to the organisation’s success.
Q Let’s talk inspiration! Who has been a driving force behind your success?
The driving force behind our success has been our incredible employees at Generali Thailand. Their dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been truly inspiring. Additionally, our leadership team has played a pivotal role, championing our people-first approach and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.
We are also inspired by our customers and the communities we serve, whose trust and support motivate us to continuously strive for excellence. Together, we have created a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared success.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Photos: Provided
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