Yinson Holdings Berhad

Louisa Brady

The HR sector has undergone a profound transformation in this era of rapid technological advancement and changing workforce dynamics. Louisa Brady, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Yinson Holdings Berhad (“Yinson”), has been one of the key contributors to this change within her organisation. Over her three-year tenure in the organisation, Brady has spearheaded a remarkable journey of HR transformation, highlighting the role of people strategies and enhancing various aspects of talent management and employee engagement.

“The global HR team and I have taken some bold steps, embraced change, and focused intensely on employee engagement, propelling the people's agenda forward, which led to an HR transformation,” states Brady.

Brady joined the firm with the specific goal of transforming the company's approach to its people strategy, embarking on modernising and digitalising key HR processes. One key achievement was implementing a global Human Resources Information System (HRIS) platform that streamlined several key HR processes, one of which was recruitment and onboarding. The platform has improved candidate interactions and facilitated seamless onboarding experiences for new hires which start from the moment a candidate is offered a position and before their official joining dates.

"The global HR team and I have taken bold steps, embraced change and focused intensely on employee engagement, propelling the people's agenda forward, which led to an HR transformation."

Modern recruitment presents challenges, such as handling large volumes of applicants while ensuring quality hires. Brady emphasises the importance of screening mechanisms in identifying candidates who align with the organisation's skill requirements and core values to meet these challenges. She also champions diversity and inclusion efforts, utilising psychometric tools to mitigate unconscious bias during selection processes.

Guided by her principles and philosophies regarding organisational talent development, Brady firmly believes that individuals are responsible for their career growth. This belief led her to implement a learning management system in Yinson, granting employees access to continuous learning opportunities. By providing an average of 120 hours annually dedicated solely to learning activities through platforms like LinkedIn Learning or tailored leadership programs for mid-managers called 'L.E.A.D' programs; employees can acquire new skills for their professional growth within an agile framework that effectively adapts to change.

One of the highlights of Brady's tenure has been the overarching HR transformation journey itself. This initiative significantly impacted the company culture and employee engagement at Yinson. Bringing together the global HR team, Brady laid out a comprehensive people strategy, promoting employee-driven solutions and value-driven engagement. The transformation journey aimed to achieve global consistency, empower local decision-making, drive digitalisation, and foster greater agility within the HR framework.

Under Brady's leadership, the global HR team has emerged as a pivotal force in Yinson's internal dynamics. Committed to delivering seamless services and fostering employee engagement, the team collaborates with business leaders to align HR strategies with organisational objectives. They embody Yinson's ethos of celebrating successes and learning from setbacks. The HR team also actively engages with line managers in coaching, guiding, and challenging decisions based on data insights obtained from various interactions that steer them toward future priorities.

What sets Yinson apart as an employer, with Brady leading the People Strategy, is its passionate workforce and commitment to living out its core values—Reliable, Open, Adaptable, Decisive and Sustainable (R.O.A.D.S). This gives employees a sense of belonging that develops into a strong identity, eventually empowering and motivating them to contribute significantly to the Company’s global growth. Even when companies encountered challenges during the pandemic, Yinson was able to steadily maintain and grow its headcount.

Brady’s journey illustrates how her transformative leadership through active employee engagement has redefined the role of HR within her organisation. Her strategic vision, dedication to people strategies, and commitment to digital transformation have reshaped how Yinson attracts, nurtures, and retains top-tier talent. She implemented a global HRIS platform, prioritised screening mechanisms for quality hires, and advocated for diversity and inclusion efforts. Additionally, she has created learning opportunities for continuous growth and fostered a strong company culture. Brady's efforts have resulted in a passionate and engaged workforce, making Yinson a desirable employer.