Meet Yong Seng Tan 👋
Yong Seng Tan is a Regional Head of HR with over 20 years of experience, his passion lies in leadership development, strengths-based coaching, and building inclusive, purpose-driven organizations where people thrive.
Insights from Yong Seng Tan
1) On Culture: What’s one thing you or your team does regularly to build a strong, positive workplace culture?
“Walk the Talk” My team and I are firm believers that it all starts with us when we talk about culture. From as small a gesture as putting a smile when speaking to people, how do you listen with heart (active listening), showing and not telling start on the job and in our day to day meetings, project assignments. We often reflect through a regular hurdle and integrate feedback as a part of our co-working arrangements.
2) On Impact: What’s one HR initiative you led or supported that made a clear impact on your team or company? What changed because of it?
I have recently led a M&A integration for 700 employees in Thailand. What went pretty well was the roll out of our company culture value. We have adopted a whole of a company approach where everyone is a Cultural Ambassador. This is a 360 degree campaign, where we started with Voices from the Top (Management). In addition, we have also activated a strong team of 30 cultural influencers (Ambassador) to further deepen the departmental understanding. The campaign is continued with the value translated into competences and embedded into the performance management system.
3) On the Future: What’s one key skill or mindset you think every HR professional in Singapore will need in the next 5 years - and why?
We are the business (instead of we are HR mindset). Can Do attitude should go beyond just attitude, but to be able to transform and elevate ourselves as multiskills HR and not the traditional Business Partner and COE or Hybrid structure. Lastly, to embed value creation as part of our proposition and jobs requirement than a good to have theory.
4) What’s one HR initiative or practice you believe more companies should adopt to build stronger teams or workplaces — and why?
SIMPLICITY. Think SIMPLE, ACT SIMPLE as this will increase the speed to market and agility for the organization to change and respond. It starts from top and embedded in how you set your organization objectives, how you measure performance, how you communicate and organize your meetings and manage your business.
5) What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their career in HR or people leadership?
Stay curious, don’t be award to ask and ask to be involved in different projects/ assignments.
6) What’s one workplace trend you’re excited about — and one you’re cautious of?
I am curious about how AI will impact the Future of Work.
Cautious about the stepping back of some big giants to full time working, how this will impact the existing and younger workforce (motivations).
How has the US trade tariffs in a med to long term affect the globalized economy, business landscape and towards the workplace ecosystems.
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As Singapore marks 60 years of progress, SG60: 60 People Leaders Shaping Workplaces honours the people leaders building cultures where people thrive.
Each spotlight captures authentic experiences and actionable wisdom from HR professionals making a difference in Singapore’s evolving world of work.