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"Don’t shy away from adapting to change. Being open to new ideas and continuously evolving your strategies will keep your organisation agile and competitive," April Esther Valencia, Country People Lead, Philippines, advises.
To drive business outcomes, Mondelez Philippines, Inc. fosters an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
In this regard, the organisation has its Mondelez's Vision 2030, signifying its goals of building a strong, inclusive culture that enhances performance and drives innovation.
In this interview, April Esther Valencia (pictured above), Country People Lead, Philippines, shares how Mondelez Philippines, Inc. creates a culture that supports both personal and organisational growth, ultimately earning the team the following wins at the HR Excellence Awards 2024, Philippines:
- Gold:
- Excellence in Employee Advocacy and Brand Ambassadors
- Excellence in Workplace Culture
- Bronze - Excellence in Women Empowerment Strategy
Q What was the motivation that sparked your passion & business case for pursuing your outstanding people strategy?
At Mondelez International, we are driven by the belief that a winning culture is key to driving business success. Our passion stems from our commitment to fostering an environment where innovation thrives, and everyone feels empowered to contribute. By ensuring that our employees are heard and valued, we’re able to continuously adapt and grow. Our strategy aligns with Mondelez's Vision 2030, which emphasises building a strong, inclusive culture that enhances performance and drives innovation.
We’ve seen firsthand how this focus on culture has unlocked new ideas, improved collaboration, and ultimately created a better experience for our employees and consumers alike.
Q Looking back, can you share a challenge that you overcame in your journey of HR excellence? How did you triumph?
One of our key challenges was ensuring true diversity in talent acquisition and development, especially in traditionally male-dominated areas such as manufacturing and supply chain. We addressed this by setting clear targets and innovating our processes, like using dynamic dashboards (Project Greenlight) to track diversity metrics in real-time and focusing on pipelining female talent through strategic talent reviews.
By promoting an inclusive mindset, we now have 50% female candidates in those areas and continue to challenge industry stereotypes.
Our win came from creating a workplace that not only speaks about diversity but actively embodies it across all levels.
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?
It is our hope that this feature in the HR Excellence Awards will inspire other organisations to put culture and innovation at the forefront of their people strategies. We aim to showcase how fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement can lead to exceptional business outcomes.
We also hope to encourage other companies to embrace innovation, whether through technology, leadership development, or employee engagement initiatives, as key drivers of growth in an ever-changing business landscape.
Q Could you share some advice you would give to others aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
My advice for those aspiring to follow a similar path is simple: be authentic, lead with principles, and commit to learning and growing every day. At Mondelez, we encourage employees to bring their true and natural self to work, and together we build on our collective strengths to complement one another.
The key to building a successful people strategy lies in truly listening to your employees and understanding their needs, while anchoring it on the company’s vision and business strategy.
By creating a culture where everyone’s voice is heard, you can foster an environment that supports both personal and organisational growth. Innovation should also be at the heart of everything you do — whether it's in your hiring practices, talent development, or employee engagement efforts.
Finally, don’t shy away from adapting to change. Being open to new ideas and continuously evolving your strategies will keep your organisation agile and competitive.
Q Let's talk inspiration! Who has been a driving force behind your success?
Our success is a collective effort, driven by the dedication of our entire Mondelez team. Special recognition goes to our leadership, particularly our Managing Director, Aleli Arcilla, whose vision has been pivotal in guiding our culture and innovation strategies. Additionally, the passion and commitment of every employee have been instrumental in bringing our vision to life. Their contributions are central to our mission of empowering people to snack right and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Lead image / Provided
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