THE HR CHIEF INTERVIEW that lacks HR strategy and processes. The early shift from this to an improving then established HR function is centred around process improvement, talent and performance management, evolving and enhancing the working environment, then improving strategic functions to ensure HR is working more closely with the business. Work through this evolution, says Jason, and you mould a strategically optimised HR team that drives business, provides continuous workforce innovation and organisational performance alignment.
Moving HR forward Jason joined Toshiba, renowned for its technology leadership and culture of innovation and invention, in the summer of 2024. He oversees all aspects of the human capital chain across facilities in the Americas, shaping and executing HR strategies that align with Toshiba’ s mission to support modern life and society through technological advances. Joining during a time of transformation, Jason has helped drive change, honing and evolving the company’ s human capital processes and strategy. Work along the way has centred on strengthening the company’ s already strong foundations around people and talent, including programmes around training and skilling and a learning initiative called Toshiba University.“ Any change is about supporting the business when it comes to HR’ s role,” he says.“ For example, I often think of myself as a business person who‘ does’ HR rather than an HR person who works in business. Change is always tough, wherever you work, but it’ s about fostering a mindset where everyone is prepared to get into it and take risks. The beauty of change is that every generation brings something new to the table.” AI is the newest toy at the table. Jason takes a practical approach to the technology, loving its scope and possibilities but knowing there must be a return on investment for any application.“ My first use case is‘ how is the business going to benefit from whatever I’ m implementing?’,” he says.“ Stick to the business principals but know how you want to innovate from an HR perspective and you’ re on the right track. There are two main areas I see great ROI at the moment: recruitment and AI training or coaching. There’ s so much value in what I’ ve seen there so far.” With the pace of change not slowing in HR teams across industries, that value may be realised quickly. For Jason and his team, to maximise the benefit, the key is to keep evolving.“ At the end of the day, all this isn’ t really about me,” he says.“ It’ s about teams I can build and what the larger culture we influence can do. We’ re not going to survive driving the car with the rear view mirror. We’ re going to look through the front windshield and we’ re only going to keep moving forward.”
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