LEADERS TALK HR programme constitutes elements such as a 360 degree assessment, personalised career development plan, and mentoring from even more senior leaders. American Express also champions diversity. The Pathways to Sponsorship programme was especially drawn up to identify and develop the careers of high-performing female leaders from around the company. I have personally been through this programme and have benefitted greatly from it.
Tips for aspiring leaders • Self-awareness – It allows you to accept yourself for what your strengths and weakness are, says Ng Siew Choo, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Network Partnerships (Asia), American Express. “As a self-aware leader, you will seek advice from other people in areas of doubt and hire people to complement your skillset, thus making a good team,” she adds. • Manage your bosses effectively – They have the greatest impact on your career and give you your performance review and sponsor your promotions, amongst other things, says Ng.
Q
What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your role as a leader at American Express?
• Informing – Keeping my staff up to date on business direction and success through regular broadcasts • Interacting – Creating opportunities I think that would be helping people to connect and build communities manage their careers. Especially when around our business and broader we talk about Generation X staff – they society, by bringing in experts to want to know how they can accelerate talk about subject matters that their career paths. range from innovative Another set of technology to personal challenges was navigating soft skills the recent financial • Impacting – played the leading role in crises and motivating Enhancing our introducing the first American my team during such employees’ experience so Express card into China in 2004 tough times to still that they feel supported deliver desired company to develop and grow outcomes, instead of getting distracted as individuals and professionals by negative situations. I try to be as through teambuilding activities transparent as possible and have a such as regular tea sessions with structured communications plan for different groups of staff and skip my team centring around: level meetings with overseas teams.
Ng Siew Choo
Internal seminars for staff Ng Siew Choo, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Network Partnerships (Asia), American Express creates opportunities to educate staff and connect them to the broader business and community by bringing in experts to talk about subject matters that range from innovative technology to customer-facing soft skills. For instance, Jon Sugihara, Head of Product, RedMart, recently covered the topic of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “In addition to sharing his journey as an entrepreneur, Sugihara also gave his views about innovation and what American Express can do to nurture an innovative spirit in our work life,” said Ng. Steven Kalifowitz, Head – Brand Strategy (Asia-Pacific and the Middle East) for Twitter gave the audience insights on the rapidly-evolving media ecosystem and how social media was changing consumer relationships with brands. “During the talk, Kalifowitz shared case studies on how brands are adapting and how Twitter can help deliver business results,” Ng explained.
Ng Siew Choo
Senior Vice President & Head – Global Network Partnerships (Asia), American Express
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