What's on LVMH HR Business Partner Mandy Au's desk?

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Mandy Au, HR Business Partner at LVMH Group (Perfumes & Cosmetics), gives Human Resources a tour of her well-decorated workstation at Fresh office, and explains how she manages her energy level going to several offices a week.

Highlights of her desk

• Lipbalms and lipsticks from brands under the LVMH Group
• A customised dog cushion
• A colourful paper plate from a training session last year
• A balloon from her secret santa

What does your typical work week look like? I move a lot throughout the week, as I am managing two brands mainly: Fresh and Benefits Cosmetics. I spend most of the time in the Fresh office, around three days; a day at the Benefits office; and a day at LVMH Group’s shared service centre. My duties focus a lot on talent acquisition and business partnering with management. When I come to the office, I always check if the department head, line manager or brand general manager want to discuss anything.

What have been HR’s biggest challenges recently? Dealing with a series of unexpected events such as the extradition bill protest or a typhoon signal number eight. We are also juggling between handling the aftermath of declining revenues caused by disruption – which includes a halt to funding for campaigns – and actively talking to line managers on stores’ opening and closing times and the brands’ emergency procedures. Safety is always our priority.

Can you break down the misconception about HR business partners? Many people are confused about the roles and responsibilities of HR business partners, and honestly, I don’t blame them. This position only emerged in recent years.

The main difference between BPs and traditional HR roles is that BPs are really into the business side (of things), especially in the retail industry. With an understanding of the business direction, we make decisions taking both human and revenue factors into account. And that is the main reason this position is highly sought-after.

There is no clear definition yet of what a BP is in terms of rank. It can be the next step for a HR director or a talent acquisition specialist, and his or her duties can vary despite being fundamentally similar. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the role of each BP before making any judgment.

One tip on keeping your energy levels high all day Do what you love. And getting recognition from my work definitely keeps me going strong!

If you are interested to share your workspace essentials or routine, please email Samantha Chan at samanthac@humanresourcesonline.net.