The Chapman Consulting Group

GUEST EXPERT - Niki Kesoglou: What would you class as the top three challenges you face as a Regional Diversity & Inclusion Leader in the Banking & Financial Services sector?

Answer:

Niki Kesoglou
Director, Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion, Asia Pacific
Credit Suisse
Based in Singapore

There are ongoing external forces driving the need for more focus on Diversity & Inclusion. Factors affected by globalisation - expansion happening across markets in Asia; the uptake and progress of technology; changing workforce demographics i.e. the shrinking of the talent pool; the aging of the population. All of these forces require organisations to have diversity factors integrated into their strategic plans with leaders understanding the challenges impacting the diversity factors and how it relates to employee engagement, attrition and attraction of employees. It is critical that the complexities of managing a workforce today are acknowledged and addressed, some of which include people at varying life stages, gender differences, generational differences and ongoing pressures of work/life integration will remain some of the biggest challenges of the 21st century in my view.

Shifting the mindset of bankers to see the importance of the business need to focus on 'engaging differences' and how that can impact on their ability to gain an edge in their market or business and influence their brand and reputation as an employer of choice and a bank of choice is another challenge. Ensuring ongoing leadership, governance and accountability in the area of 'Diversity & Inclusion' can be difficult in some countries across the region who lack the legislative frameworks of most Western countries to drive focus on equal employment opportunity and corporate social responsibility, particularly when there is pressure now to regain market share and lift profits.

Cross cultural competence is the third challenge that will remain important to address because 'culture' influences perceptions - the way you see the world is directly influenced by your background; the way you were brought up, what you learnt in education, and what you were exposed to growing up with your friends in your local culture. Basically your views are colored by the filters of culture. Also because talent will continue to come from a variety of countries, our workforce being much more mobile today and Asia being an attractive region for many to come and work, up skilling people in being more cross culturally sensitive and having the skill to deal with different values, different ways of doing things, and different expectations is a must.

Back to list

HR Q&A

Featured Jobs

Search Jobs

Poll

HR Q&A

Latest News