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Driven by a commitment to empower its people and strengthen workplace wellbeing, CAG’s people strategy centres on collaboration, trust, and a shared purpose that strives to keep the Changi experience world class.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has long believed that people are at the heart of the Changi experience. As the organisation continues to evolve, the People team plays an essential role in shaping a culture built on collaboration, empowerment and shared ownership. This mindset guides the design of programmes across leadership development, career growth, wellbeing initiatives and inclusive workplace practices, ensuring every employee feels valued, trusted, and inspired.
The team also recognises that maintaining Changi Airport’s reputation as one of the world’s best airports requires more than operational excellence. It depends on an engaged and motivated workforce driven by a common purpose. This purpose anchors CAG’s people initiatives and fuels the organisation’s efforts to deliver extraordinary experiences.
"Our motivation continues to be inspired by how our people rise to challenges, adapt with resilience, and constantly seek new ways to enhance the Changi experience," shares the People team.
Whether navigating changing workplace needs or introducing initiatives that enhance care and flexibility, CAG’s people-first approach continues to guide its journey.
At the HR Excellence Awards 2025, Singapore, CAG won two awards:
- Gold for Excellence in Employee Engagement
- Gold for Excellence in HR Change Management
In this interview, the team shares why it is important to lead with a clear and purposeful vision that aligns people, strategy, culture and principles in order to shape a resilient and future-ready organisation.
Q Tell us about your inspiring HR initiative – what sparked the idea, and how did you know it was the right path to take?
We focus on nurturing a strong culture of collaboration, empowerment, and shared ownership, as well as a spirit that shapes how we design our programmes, from leadership development and career growth opportunities to wellbeing initiatives and inclusive workplace practices. Our goal is to create a workplace where individuals feel valued, trusted, and inspired to bring their best selves to work every day.
We also recognise that maintaining Changi Airport’s position as one of the best airports in the world goes beyond operational excellence; it depends on an engaged workforce driven by a shared purpose. This purpose guides every initiative we pursue and fuels our commitment to deliver extraordinary experiences.
Our motivation continues to be inspired by how our people rise to challenges, adapt with resilience, and constantly seek new ways to enhance the Changi experience.
Q Every journey has its ups and downs – can you share a challenge your team faced and how you worked through it together?
We recognise that employees may have different phases in life stages and personal circumstances, which sometimes require additional flexibility and support. To address this, we strengthened our culture of care by enhancing flexibility through hybrid work arrangements, to explore flexi-work arrangements with their supervisors for better work-life balance.
Recognising the importance of mental health, we launched initiatives such as partnering with Intellect, and organised wellness activities, from fitness classes to mindfulness sessions and conducted regular pulse surveys for supervisors to check in with their teams. We also introduced initiatives such as appreciation lunches, complimentary snacks, and coffee cart pop-ups twice a week to encourage employees to take a moment to recharge and connect with colleagues.
Through these efforts, we fostered an environment of trust, empathy, and collaboration, ensuring employees felt supported both personally and professionally.
Q What impact has this initiative had on your organisation so far, and what do you hope it inspires in the wider HR community?
The initiative has strengthened our culture of care and collaboration at Changi Airport Group, reinforcing the belief that when we prioritise our people, we enable both organisational excellence and individual growth. Through programmes that support wellbeing, flexibility, and personal development, we’ve seen greater engagement, stronger resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose among our employees.
Beyond our own workplace, we hope this inspires the wider HR community to embed empathy, agility, and wellbeing into the heart of their people strategies. By supporting mental wellness, organisations can create environments where people thrive and perform at their best.
Q Looking back, is there a moment, person, or value that kept you and your team motivated throughout the journey?
At CAG, our people have always been at the heart of our success, with each employee playing a crucial role in shaping the Changi experience that the world knows and loves. Beyond individuals, it is our shared vision, “Exceptional people, connecting lives,” that continually inspires us. This purpose fuels our passion to innovate, serve with excellence, and create meaningful connections that go beyond travel.
We are energised by the spirit of the communities we serve and the millions of passengers who pass through our terminals. The growing diversity of our ever-changing world challenges us to grow and reach greater heights — whether through transformative technology, sustainable development, or heartfelt service to our customers.
It is the collective spirit of our people, where every individual thrives as a creator of extraordinary experiences, guided by a common vision and the right heart, that drives CAG’s continued journey forward.
Q If you could offer one golden nugget of wisdom to HR professionals aiming for excellence, what would it be?
At CAG, we strive to ensure our people feel valued, experience a sense of belonging, and find meaning in their careers with us. The People team believes that health is truly wealth, and prioritising employee wellbeing is a strategic imperative, as a healthy and supported workforce forms the foundation of long-term success.
Prioritise employees and invest in their wellbeing, growth, and engagement. Most importantly, lead with a clear and purposeful vision that aligns people, strategy, culture and principles that shape a resilient, future-ready organisation.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Photos / Provided
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