'It doesn't really embrace the modern world and modern ways of working'
With people management at the heart of a business’s success, there are concerns the term we’re all used to actually isn’t fit for purpose, according to Auror’s Director of People Experience, Katrina Hau.
Speaking to HRD, Hau said, “For me, it’s about people and experience. For me, it’s about people and culture. I find [HR] a very outdated term which doesn’t really embrace the modern world and modern ways of working that we now have.”
“For me, it’s about being flexible and having a growth mindset – knowing things can change and that change is not only normal, but to be expected. Sometimes you can’t always do things by the book because they can be quite rigid.”
In an everchanging corporate landscape, words like ‘resilience’ and ‘agility’ have become buzzwords – but are important to cultivate in the workplace and are key to success.
Hau told us she’s always been interested in people and their relationships – and has used this skill to create a successful career spanning over a decade. Most recently, she joined Auror, a retail tech company that helps retailers solve and prevent crime to make stores and communities safer.
“Beforehand, I actually worked for government and non-profit organisations helping to lead national development programs across the country,” she said.
Hau says she has never backed down from a challenge.
“My whole career’s a bit of a zigzag, to be honest – but people has always been at the heart of it. Pivoting and changing certain aspects of my professional strengths have been really interesting – it’s what keeps life fun.”
Hau is proud to say she has never hated a day at work.
“Change is constant but with a growth mindset it means you can be comfortable with anything – especially at a rapidly scaling company. When I joined [Auror] in 2021, we had just under 60 staff. Now, we’re sitting at over 250 globally,” she told HRD.
The function of human resources has changed drastically over the years, according to Harvard Business Review, and there are many fundamental challenges in everyday work – so what does it take to be successful in the space?
“If I had to pick one word, it would be resilience. You get good days and bad days and the ability to stay resilient in the face of change and when things aren’t going to plan is the most important thing,” Hau noted.
“We’re also in a very value-driven business. By sticking to my values and what I believe in, it makes decision-making easier and allows you to lead by example and not by how others think you should lead. It’s how I got to where I am today.”
We’re currently in a really exciting time for HR – with technology allowing us to work smarter instead of harder – which means more growth and development is possible across all metrics of a business, including the people they employ, Hau said.
