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"HR excellence goes far beyond implementing policies or managing processes. It is about creating an ecosystem where individuals feel valued, capable, and inspired to bring their best selves to work every day," share HRBPs Anton Priyantoro and Swasti Anindyasari.
At Haleon, leadership isn’t seen as just a title — it’s an opportunity to make a difference. Its iLead platform, a community network designed to give these individuals a platform to build leadership experience, have a voice, and collaborate on initiatives that matter, connects leaders and high-potential talent across functions, giving them the space to grow, collaborate, and shape the culture they want to see.
Guided by the principles of 'Full Potential People' and the team's 'Win as One' framework, iLead aims to transform insights from employees’ voices into meaningful actions, fostering purpose-driven leadership and a culture where people thrive.
At the HR Excellence Awards 2025, Indonesia, Haleon took home the following accolades:
- Gold for 'Excellence in Employee Engagement', and
- Gold for 'Employer of the Year'.
Speaking to HRO following the team’s gold wins, Anton Priyantoro and Swasti Anindyasari, HR Business Partners, Haleon, share how the team's iLead initiative has translated strategy to action, enabling people to thrive while driving organisational performance.
Q Tell us about your inspiring HR initiative – what sparked the idea, and how did you know it was the right path to take?
One of our most impactful initiatives was iLead, a community network that combines talent development and culture building. It brings together leaders and diverse, cross-functional top talents to champion our culture, role model our purpose and behaviours, and actively shape the organisation. iLead was designed to give these individuals a platform to build leadership experience, have a voice, and collaborate on initiatives that matter.
The idea was sparked by a clear insight: our people wanted more than policies — they wanted purpose, growth, and connection. This aligned perfectly with Haleon’s strategic driver of 'Full Potential People' and our 'Win As One' framework — a guiding approach that directs how we drive the business and translate strategy into everyday behaviours.
By co-creating programmes rooted in employee voice, we built an environment where people thrive while driving organisational performance. Engagement soared, attrition dropped, and iLead became a true catalyst for cultural transformation.
Q Every journey has its ups and downs – can you share a challenge your team faced and how you worked through it together?
One of our biggest challenges was reigniting engagement while balancing evolving employee expectations with business growth needs. Insights from feedback and market data made it clear: we needed to rethink how we communicate, recognise achievements, and support career growth.
Instead of imposing solutions, we embraced the 'Win As One' behaviour — especially 'Collaborate for Impact'. Through honest conversations and co-creation, we launched initiatives like iLead, flexible work models, and refreshed learning and recognition programmes. These empowered employees to shape the culture and strengthened trust across teams.
By turning challenges into opportunities for collaboration, we didn’t just improve engagement — we accelerated cultural transformation. This experience reinforced our belief that when people have a voice and purpose, they become the driving force behind organisational success.
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 impact of iLead has been transformative. It reignited engagement, strengthened collaboration, and gave employees a real voice in shaping our culture. Engagement scores rose, attrition dropped below industry norms, and cross-functional partnerships accelerated business performance. More importantly, iLead created a sense of purpose, growth, and connection, proving that when people lead and co-create, they become the driving force behind success.
"For the wider HR community, we hope this inspires a shift from policy-driven HR to people-powered HR — where listening, empowerment, and collaboration are at the core. When HR champions behaviours like 'Collaborate for Impact' and 'Grow Myself and Others', it doesn’t just build culture — it transforms organisations."
Q Looking back, is there a moment, person, or value that kept you and your team motivated throughout the journey?
At Haleon Indonesia, the value that consistently kept us motivated was our shared commitment to “deliver better everyday health with humanity.” This wasn’t just a slogan — it became the guiding principle behind every decision and initiative.
One defining moment was when we realised the power of listening to our people. This revealed their need for growth, flexibility, and inclusion, which led us to co-create leadership programmes, flexible work options, and community initiatives.
Knowing these changes were rooted in real employee needs gave us confidence that we were on the right path. Every time we saw engagement scores rise, attrition drop, and collaboration strengthen, it reinforced our belief that empathy and collaboration were the keys to success. This alignment with our purpose and the 'Win as One' behaviours — 'Collaborate for Impact' and 'Grow Myself and Others' — kept us energised and united throughout the journey.
Q If you could offer one golden nugget of wisdom to HR professionals aiming for excellence, what would it be?
“Empower people to reach their full potential — because strategy succeeds through people.”
HR excellence goes far beyond implementing policies or managing processes. It is about creating an ecosystem where individuals feel valued, capable, and inspired to bring their best selves to work every day. When people are empowered, they don’t just perform tasks — they innovate, collaborate, and take ownership of outcomes.
Empowerment starts with trust and clarity. HR professionals must ensure that employees understand the organisation’s purpose and how their contributions connect to the bigger picture. This alignment fosters engagement and resilience, especially during times of change.
Moreover, unlocking potential means investing in continuous learning and growth opportunities, encouraging feedback, and recognising achievements. It’s about cultivating a culture where people feel safe to share ideas, challenge norms, and grow alongside the business. When individuals thrive, the organisation thrives — and that is the ultimate measure of HR excellence.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Lead image / Provided
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