Head of People & Performance at Deloitte Sonia Breeze explains why HR practitioners need to keep innovating and why she is now able to practice what she preached.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
When it comes to your career and making work life balance choices write your own story. Do it in the way that works for you and your family and make everything else work around that.
What challenges do you think HR will face in the next 10 years?
HR is facing some well-publicised and very real challenges, including a talent shortage and related to that, how to optimise diversity in the workplace by having a truly inclusive environment. Much has been said about the impact of emerging technologies which affects all aspects of business including HR. HR practitioners will need to keep innovating to make sure talent is a competitive advantage for their organisation.
What is the most interesting aspect of your role?
It’s most interesting and satisfying when we are able to improve the way we do things based on solid analysis and insightful feedback.
Our graduate recruitment programme is one area where we are constantly innovating. We analyse the way things have been done in the past with a view to coming up with new and creative ways to engage graduates. It’s wonderful to see these efforts pay off in terms of the positive effects on the business as well as through external recognition. The IntoDeloitte campaign, for example, has been recognised by the New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers (NZAGE), winning the award for Best Online Campaign for the last two years. This is due in part to our focus on analysis and innovation.
What do you feel is your biggest professional achievement to date?
After 12 years working as a human capital consultant at Deloitte, I am now applying my client facing human capital consulting experience internally at Deloitte. I am delighted to be able to successfully practice what I preached for so many years as a consultant and it has been satisfying to be able to use what we do for clients, directly in the business.
How would you sum up HR professionals in two words?
Complete this sentence: If I weren’t in HR, I’d be…
...managing hospitals or not for profits (my few years away from Deloitte were in health management).
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Deloitte's Sonia Breeze
When it comes to your career and making work life balance choices write your own story. Do it in the way that works for you and your family and make everything else work around that.
What challenges do you think HR will face in the next 10 years?
HR is facing some well-publicised and very real challenges, including a talent shortage and related to that, how to optimise diversity in the workplace by having a truly inclusive environment. Much has been said about the impact of emerging technologies which affects all aspects of business including HR. HR practitioners will need to keep innovating to make sure talent is a competitive advantage for their organisation.
What is the most interesting aspect of your role?
It’s most interesting and satisfying when we are able to improve the way we do things based on solid analysis and insightful feedback.
Our graduate recruitment programme is one area where we are constantly innovating. We analyse the way things have been done in the past with a view to coming up with new and creative ways to engage graduates. It’s wonderful to see these efforts pay off in terms of the positive effects on the business as well as through external recognition. The IntoDeloitte campaign, for example, has been recognised by the New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers (NZAGE), winning the award for Best Online Campaign for the last two years. This is due in part to our focus on analysis and innovation.
What do you feel is your biggest professional achievement to date?
After 12 years working as a human capital consultant at Deloitte, I am now applying my client facing human capital consulting experience internally at Deloitte. I am delighted to be able to successfully practice what I preached for so many years as a consultant and it has been satisfying to be able to use what we do for clients, directly in the business.
How would you sum up HR professionals in two words?
- People people
- Enabling success
Complete this sentence: If I weren’t in HR, I’d be…
...managing hospitals or not for profits (my few years away from Deloitte were in health management).
Deloitte's Sonia Breeze