The State of Organizations 2023 - Flipbook - Page 40
CHAPTER 2: LESSONS FROM LEADERS
The ties that bind:
How AIA leads
with purpose and
empowers its people
Cara Ang, group chief human resources
officer of AIA, on how the Asian insurer
anchors on purpose and develops critical
capabilities for the future.
A
IA’s purpose—to help millions
of people live “Healthier,
Longer, Better Lives”—
applies not only to its customers and
the communities it serves but also to
its employees and agents. AIA brings
together a multigenerational workforce
representing more than 70 nationalities.
Its purpose sits at the core of the
company’s culture, from its leadership
philosophy to its employee health and
wellbeing program.
We spoke with Cara Ang, AIA’s group
chief human resources officer, about how
the company’s purpose-driven culture,
operating model, and leadership ethos
empower its employees to continuously
learn and grow.
What are you most proud of about AIA?
Our purpose—to help millions of people
live “‘Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.” It is
at the heart of everything we do, guiding
the decisions we make and inspiring us
to support and protect the well-being
of those we serve. Our purpose shapes
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our culture and sets us apart from
our competitors.
As our group chief executive and
president, Lee Yuan Siong, says, it’s
our “strong culture of empowerment
with accountability that differentiates
AIA. Our culture reflects our people and
is a product of the decisions and actions
each of us takes every day. It underscores
our ability to adapt to capture new
growth opportunities and sustain our
outperformance over the long term.”
How does AIA’s operating model
contribute to the success of the
company?
The essence of our operating model is
empowerment within a framework. We’re
guided by the philosophy that if we do
the right thing, in the right way, with the
right people . . . the right results will come.
We operate in 18 markets and empower
the leaders and employees in each one to
achieve their ambitions by building their
expertise and providing the resources
and guidance they need.
The State of Organizations 2023
Over the past few years, our focus has
been ensuring our business units have
the right technology, digital and analytics
people capabilities, and investments
to support the delivery of compelling
propositions and a leading experience for
our customers. We have evolved the way
we work, too, with the aim of creating an
organization that is simpler, faster, and
more connected. In several of our markets,
we have introduced new organizational
designs to enable our strategic priorities.
We are putting people closer to the
decision-making process, which leads to
better outcomes and a nimbler and more
empowered organization.
How would you describe AIA’s
leadership philosophy?
We are very mindful that having effective,
clearly focused leaders at every level
of our organization is a prerequisite
to success. Our three leadership
essentials—clarity, courage, and
humanity—define the behaviors we
desire and are deeply rooted in history;
the Chinese philosopher Fushan Yuan