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"Employees now feel more valued and engaged, with stronger trust in HR as a supportive partner. Beyond engagement, this initiative strengthened our culture of openness, where feedback is encouraged, wellbeing is prioritised, and personal growth is celebrated," the HR Director of Southeast Asia shares.
What makes a great HR leader? It is one who sees possibility long before others do – someone who can look at a workplace and imagine not just what it is, but what it could become.
For Santhana Mary Solomon (pictured above, centre), HR Director of Southeast Asia, Computime Malaysia, that vision became the driving force behind a bold journey to reshape the employee experience.
With a clear purpose to help every individual feel valued, connected, and inspired to grow, she worked closely with her team to build a transformative People & Culture Framework grounded in five pillars –engagement, wellbeing, learning and development, diversity and inclusion, and succession planning.
At the heart of this effort was Computime’s employee engagement calendar – a year-long lineup of meaningful moments, from Labour Day tributes and International Women’s Day appreciation to multicultural celebrations, team-building sessions, and sports tournaments. Each initiative was crafted to strengthen trust, lift morale, and bring people closer together.
As HRO catches up with Santhana, it’s clear that this collective effort didn’t just enliven the workplace – it deepened connections across the organisation. And that impact didn’t go unnoticed. Her leadership earned her a bronze win for ‘HR Leader of the Year’ at the HR Excellence Awards 2025, Malaysia, a testament to the heart and vision she brings to her role.
Q Tell us about your inspiring HR initiative – what sparked the idea, and how did you know it was the right path to take?
The spark behind my initiative was a vision to reimagine the employee experience, ensuring every individual feels valued, connected, and inspired to grow. Together with my team, we developed a transformative People & Culture Framework built upon five strategies: engagement, wellbeing, learning and development, diversity & inclusion, and succession planning.
The core of this transformation was the introduction of Computime’s employee engagement calendar, an inclusive roadmap celebrating our people through multiple events such as Labour Day tributes, International Women’s Day appreciation, multicultural festivities, team-buildings and sports tournaments.
Each initiative was strategically designed to foster trust, unity and success. This collective effort from the entire team renewed morale as well as deepened connections among employees. This journey reaffirmed that with vision, empathy, and teamwork, success naturally follows. It is proven that HR is more than just a function; we are the heartbeat of organisational excellence, where people and purpose come together.
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 the common challenges we face is to maintain our people in a multi-generational workforce. I believe a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach would not work as each generation has different perspectives and expectations. Communication is key. Making sure everyone is heard and understood was our approach to solving issues according to our people’s needs.
To overcome this, we held communication lunch sessions with production leaders to understand employee needs at the ground level, and we also introduced ‘Lunch with the GM’ sessions for new joiners to foster meaningful connections and enhance leadership visibility. We introduced suggestion boxes to encourage open feedback and employee satisfaction surveys to further understand our employees.
We still uphold these practices today, having seen tremendous results across all levels. Providing them with the opportunity to voice their concerns and allowing them to witness meaningful actions taken in response is what truly means to be a leader.
Q What impact has this initiative had on your organisation so far, and what do you hope it inspires in the wider HR community?
Significantly I believe it has transformed the employee experience here, at Computime. Creating a more connected, motivated, and resilient workforce. Through the People & Culture Framework and our Employee Engagement Calendar, we have seen noticeable improvements in participation and cross-department collaboration. Employees now feel more valued and engaged, with stronger trust in HR as a supportive partner.
Beyond engagement, this initiative strengthened our culture of openness, where feedback is encouraged, wellbeing is prioritised, and personal growth is celebrated. The positive shift in workplace energy and unity continues to reinforce our belief that people are truly at the heart of organisational success.
I hope this inspires the wider HR community to recognise that transformation begins with listening, empathy, and dedication. When we design initiatives that are authentic and inclusive, we not only strengthen our people but also elevate the entire organisation’s culture and performance.
Q Looking back, is there a moment or person, or value that kept you and your team motivated throughout the journey?
Looking back, what truly kept us motivated was our shared belief as a team in the value of people, that every initiative we take in HR has a direct impact on someone’s growth, wellbeing, or sense of belonging. Despite our challenges, seeing employees thrive because of something we introduced reminded us why we do what we do.
The unwavering support from our corporate, who trusted our ideas, empowered us to innovate, and continuously acknowledged our efforts, is what truly made all this possible. Their belief in our capabilities inspired us to aim higher, challenge norms, and create meaningful impact together as a team.
A team is not a group of people who work together but those who trust each other. Most importantly, it was the team’s collective spirit in uplifting each other and staying true to our purpose of making a difference in employee experience which keeps us striving.
Q If you could offer one golden nugget of wisdom to HR professionals aiming for excellence, what would it be?
One piece of advice I would share with fellow HR professionals would be to always lead with heart. HR is, at its core, about people, their growth, their struggles, and their aspirations. It’s easy to get caught up in policies and processes, but real impact comes from genuine connection and understanding.
Take the time to listen, to show empathy, and to see each employee as an individual, not just a role. Just as how each of us would want to be treated. When you build trust and treat people with sincerity, everything else; performance, culture and engagement, naturally falls into place.
"Excellence in HR isn’t about perfection. The real essence of HR excellence lies in balancing people’s needs with business goals, ensuring that while we drive performance and progress, we never lose the human touch that makes our work truly impactful."
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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