Sharon Carr – MDS Associate Director, Learning and Development and Bo Xuemei – MDS Learning and Development Specialist joined the Beijing office at the beginning of January.

Sharon is joining us following a long career in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry. Her previous roles include Sales Management positions at Unilever and Cadbury, Corporate Business Development at Optus-Singtel, Retail Channel Management at Apple Computer and Regional Sales Manager at Coca Cola. She has been living in Beijing for over 4 years with her husband and 2 children.

With a graduate diploma in Business Management and a post graduate diploma in Training and Development from the Melbourne University, Sharon will take over the role of Associate Director – Learning and Development in the MDS Beijing office.

Xuemei comes with a background from the education and communications industry. Following her Master Degree in Communication from China Communication University, she worked as a lecturer at the Beijing Commerce and Trade School. There she delivered and designed language, culture and art courses. Her communication experience includes market research, public relations and more. Throughout her career she has cooperated both with National and International ventures.

During her free time she enjoys volunteering at the Sino-Japan Friendship Center, where she trains volunteers on environmental topics. With great experience in education and passion for Learning and Development, we welcome Xuemei to take the Learning and Development Specialist Role.

Hong Kong Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM) Annual Conference and Exhibition

The annual HKIHRM Conference in November 2010 focused on “Building People Advantage for Business Sustainability”. MDS, as Hong Kong’s largest learning and development supplier maintained its premier position at the exhibition with the largest display. The conference is the most important gathering of HR professionals in Hong Kong and profiles some of Hong Kong’s largest companies. This year we heard from Stuart Harrison, CEO of AXA China Region who noted the importance of:

• defining the company’s desired culture
• profiling the present culture
• using coaching to take senior leaders “across the gap”

• Use learning initiatives to build your own talent
• Employ the best of Gen Y characteristics
• Use career development as a key retention tool

British Chamber of Commerce Event: Understanding Customer Thinking and Becoming an Effective Negotiator
On December 8th Guy Fraser, MDS Miller Heiman Executive Director delivered a seminar introducing key practices to approaching your clients. The seminar was well attended including delegates from multinational companies. Key points included understanding key customer objectives and issues as well as your own, the key criteria involved, how to expand the discussion using options, and when to walk away.

MDS Professional Seminar : Optimising the Use of Executive Coaching
On 30 November, Elisa Mallis, MDS Head of Executive Coaching, conducted an interactive workshop focused on how to design and manage effective coaching programmes in large organisations. The workshop took place at the German Centre in Beijing and included participants from a variety of industry background. Some of the key points covered were:

• The use of coaching and coaching programmes is increasing dramatically in China within large, international companies
• Today coaching is being used mostly for leadership development and focuses on high potential employees and those in key management and leadership roles
• For larger coaching programmes, the use of both internal and external coaches is more effective and knowing when and how to use each is key
• A structured coaching process, methodology and tools are needed to ensure coaching programme consistency and effectiveness
• Measurement of coaching programmes remains very low and relies mainly on participant self-report. A number of more comprehensive ways to measure the effectiveness of coaching programmes are starting to be utilised and can demonstrate the real impact to the business

A number of coaching tools and resources were shared during the seminar. For more information about the seminar or the tools and resources shared, please contact Elisa.

EU Chamber HR Forum Event: Beyond the Business Strategy – Developing a Winning Human Capital Strategy
On 9 December, Elisa Mallis, Chair of the EU Chamber HR Forum, moderated an event focused what large companies need to do in order to be more strategic in their human capital planning.

Speakers at the event included – Wang Jing (VP HR, Shell), Wang Shuhong (Human Resources & Communication Associate Vice President, Novonordisk), David Mitchell (Director, Asia Pacific Operation, Kronos).

The event took place in Beijing at the Marriot NE and included 50 participants from a variety of industries and background.
Some of the key points covered were:

• According to recent data, while HR professionals in China aspire to be a ‘Strategic Business Partner’ they are actually spending the majority of their time on the more administrative and transactional HR tasks
• In order for Human Capital plans truly to be more strategic, they must be very closely linked to the overall Business Strategy and very proactive, looking at least 3 years ahead – rather than reactive looking only 6 months ahead
• A more serious investment in Human Capital planning must come from the top down, including the involvement and collaboration of the C-suite. The same type of investment that is made to develop the Business Strategy must also be made to further develop a Strategy and Plans related to Human Capital.
• When HR professionals are integrated in business units, reporting to business unit leadership, rather than belonging mainly to a central HR organisation that has all reporting lines through HR – there is more opportunity for HR to be seen as a strategic business partner

The EU Chamber HR Forum has started to define the 2012 schedule of events. To suggest event topics, please contact Elisa
If you would like more information about the EU Chamber HR Forum – please visit http://www.euccc.com.cn/

Hong Kong Professional Seminars

Beijing Professional Seminars

MDS Certification Programmes

MDS Miller Heiman Public Programmes