Name
Paul Sexton

Job title
South Asia Director for Human Resources

Company
EMC

1. What was your first job ever?
Stacking shelves in a supermarket in Australia at the age of 12 for $2 per hour. Since then, I have done many diverse roles in hospitality, services and operations.

2. What was your first HR job?
My first HR responsibility was when I was appointed as the HR Administrator for a telecommunications company in the UK. It was a contract position focused on day to day operations.

3. What attracted you to a career at EMC?
Two major factors attracted me to EMC. The first was EMC’s unique focus on information as a business enabler. At EMC we help other organizations understand that successful businesses are built on two critical factors – information and people. I was also attracted to the opportunity to contribute and make a difference at EMC, as organization grows rapidly. The truth is that when people look at new opportunities I always recommend that they focus on what personal and professional growth the opportunity offers and what the working environment will be like. EMC was attractive from both perspectives.

4. What do you think is the most important contribution HR can make to a business?
Understanding the business and translating HR into a language understood and embraced at every level of the organization. Effective use of HR will give any business a competitive advantage and is one of the most important prerequisites for growth. EMC Corporation is the only large technology company in the world that has had 20 consecutive quarters of double digit revenue growth. A huge enabler for that growth is the investment that the organization has made in its people. With the APJ region emerging as the fastest growing part of EMC around the world, the HR team in APJ has a tremendous opportunity to accelerate our business growth.

5. What key skills does a good HR practitioner need to be successful? 
Three key skills jump to mind: business acumen, communication skills and empathy. When combined with the key values of clarity, integrity and consistency, you have qualities that everybody wants to partner with.

6. Best career advice you’ve ever given?
Do not wait for someone else to progress your career and develop you. Taking a lead role is the only way to get to where you want to be.