Welcome
Welcome to Catalyst:
a platform for thought leadership
W
elcome to the first edition of Catalyst, Alexander
Mann Solutions’ new magazine and platform for
thought leadership in the evolving world of talent
acquisition and management.
Never has there been a more demanding or exciting time to be
in recruitment – against a backdrop of globalisation, technological
change and worldwide political and economic uncertainty. Each
of us has a role to play in shaping the workforce of the future; as
I explain in my interview on page 46, people are, and always will
be, a company’s biggest asset.
We envisage Catalyst as an agent of change, inspiring
innovation, encouraging collaboration, provoking debate and
showcasing best practice – our own and that of our customers.
At Alexander Mann Solutions, we are fortunate to work across
countries, sectors and industries, enabling the sharing and
cross-pollination of ideas and practices, and supporting business
transformation through our consulting arm, Talent Collective.
In the entrepreneurial spirit of our company, we are looking
to work together to solve challenges and seize opportunities.
The magazine is designed around three sections: digital
innovation; talent centric; and future proof, to reflect the
significance of tech as we enter the ‘fourth industrial revolution’;
the ongoing need to develop our people; and the impetus to ‘look
around corners’ to stay ahead of the game. Although, of course, it’s
not about predicting the future, but remaining sufficiently agile
to adapt to change and opportunity as they arise.
On page 24, Hema Bakshi, Head of Future of Work at Santander,
shares her thoughts on preparing for all eventualities, while
on page 20, heads of resourcing outline their future-proofing
priorities. Medtronic’s work to transform its talent acquisition
strategy is outlined by Markus Pflanz in an interview on page 28.
A strong theme of this first issue is inclusion in the workplace
and the importance of social mobility; we highlight the value of
apprenticeships and of authentic global citizenship work (p32)
plus the benefits of employing ex-servicemen and women (p38).
I firmly believe that the most successful companies in the
future will be those that embrace multiple pathways into the
workforce, think laterally about the skills and experience of
potential candidates and create opportunities for people to bring
their whole selves to work.
We hope you enjoy the magazine.
Rosaleen Blair, CBE
Founder & CEO, Alexander Mann Solutions
Issue 1 - 2017
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