Steven Gross
Vice president of human resources
Unilever South East Asia & Australasia
What do you think will be the role of HR in five years from now?
Given the pace of global and business change, I believe HR will continue to have a key role in partnering business leaders in organisation transformation and change management strategies.
As new generations of consumers, shareholders and prospective employees become more demanding of companies to demonstrate good corporate governance and social responsibility, another important role would occur in working with the organisation. This role will define and embed company values, culture, an aligned employee value proposition and finding new ways of engaging employees around these values.
Our dynamic world will also require dynamic workforce strategies in terms of aligning employees to global needs and changing strategies. Talent management will continue to be a key role in terms of ensuring a supply of top talent, accelerating the development of global leaders and retaining talent.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
I see myself still working in HR, or if not, running my own business.
What was your first HR job ever?
I was a personnel officer responsible for employee relations at one of our Sydney manufacturing sites.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy working with a team, having an overview of the total businesses in Unilever and, working in the dynamic business environment of Asia.
If you weren’t in HR, what would you be doing?
I would be a foreign correspondent because of my passion for exploring different countries and cultures, particularly in developing and emerging countries.
What do you do in your spare time?
I have always been a keen tennis player and after being qualified as a tennis coach, I am trying to play more regularly again. I’m also interested in Asian art and antiques.
What if you can only have only personal item on the desk, what will it be?
I’m not one to personalise my desk too much. I guess I’m quite focused on getting done what I need to whilst I am at work.
I can’t work without my mobile phone. I’m at a loss if I don’t have my mobile and text to communicate.
My colleagues laugh at my habit of catching up on email late at night – a habit from university days of studying late.
