LSS: Immersion in all things digital

FOR HRs and other employees of the Lopez Group, the Learning Synergy Summit (LSS) organized by the HR Council was a day for immersing themselves in all things digital. Almost 250 of them gathered at the Rockwell Business Center for the LSS on November 29. This made the 2017 edition one of the event’s strongest years, said HR Council head Cedie Lopez Vargas (MLV) as she welcomed the participants.

The LSS served as the bookend for the HR Council’s annual activities.

Throughout the year, the council regularly spearheads general membership meetings and HR Insights sessions in the area of professional development. On the wellness front, it organizes the long-running Walk the Talk project and several sports tournaments. These help bolster the council’s efforts as it aims to lead the HR prac
tice to technology, innovation and collaboration, MLV noted.

As for the summit, it “seeks to empower the participants as active partners in bringing new ideas and best practices to their respective companies.”
With a comprehensive lineup of topics and distinguished roster of resource persons, the summit participants were in for a total digital experience, MLV added.

Themed “Thriving in a Digital World,” the summit aimed to help HRs navigate the ins and outs of digital. The participants were treated to a day packed with plenary and concurrent sessions headlined by experts from Google Philippines, Globe, PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines, Co. Ltd. and ABS-CBN, among others.

“We need you to apply what you learned in order to inspire similar actions and commitment from your colleagues,” the HR Council head said.

Keynoting the event was Jon Krause, vice president and executive partner at Gartner, a Connecticut-based research and advisory company. In his speech, “Embracing Digital Disruption: Living in a Digital World,” Krause explained the concept at the core of digital and how no industry is immune to the “Internet of Things.”

the “Internet of Things.” Sharing digital nuggets of wisdom in the first batch of plenary sessions were Benjamin Azada, managing principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Services Philippines, Co. Ltd. who outlined some guidelines on “Getting Companies Digital”; and Kenneth Lingan, Google PH country head, who discussed “Driving Innovation in the Digital Age.” Anna Manlapit, Leadership and Talent head at Globe Telecom Inc., tackled “Driving a Culture Conducive to Digital Transformation and Innovation” to end the morning plenaries.

Paul Martin, executive partner at Gartner, kicked off the afternoon sessions with his talk, “Digital Technology for Enterprise Sustainability.

The participants then proceeded to their preassigned groupings for the concurrent sessions.
The first one featured Elaine Uy, officer in charge of ABSCBN’s Digital Media Division, and Eric Ambata, Lopez Museum’s community blogger for arts and culture.
In her presentation titled “CSR in Digital,” Uy took the audience through the ABSCBN story in public service, guided by its Kapitan Eugenio Lopez Jr.’s statement: “The only reason we’re in business is to render public service to the Filipinos. …We have to give back to society. It is the mission of service that is the heart and soul of ABS-CBN.”

Built on the values of connection, compassion, preparation and conviction, these nuggets of wisdom gleaned from ABS-CBN’s experience include the importance of listening to the needs of the people, planning ahead, speaking the language of one’s market, and leveraging on one’s strength.

In “Building a Digital Community through Filipino Scholarship and Cosmopolitan Nationalism, Ambata explained the Lopez Museum’s key philosophies and the role of digital in promoting them.
ting them. The participants got a closer look at the “Workplace of Tomorrow” in the second concurrent session facilitated by Pricewaterhouse Coopers director Ricky Aguirre. Among other tidbits, Aguirre presented the four “worlds of work” or what organizational landscapes could look like in the future: the yellow world, where humans come first; blue, where corporations are still relevant and likely to become even bigger; red, dominated by companies that are small and nimble; and green, ruled by companies that are big on saving the environment.

Joey Mallari, president of Manila-based consulting firm
Crossworks, discussed “Gamifying Learning,” while KC Yan, ITD Asia corporate director, tackled “Leading Change” to round out the day’s concurrent sessions.
Christine Go, senior consultant at DDI, resumed the plenary sessions with “Leadership in the Digital Age.” Stressing that the half-life of a learned skill is only five years, Go said a leader in the digital environment must be able to drive innovation, make decisions rapidly, execute nimbly and inspire learning among his people.
Taking the reins of the ultimate session was TV host and author Boy Abunda, who challenged the reality of the millennial in his talk, “Grit in a Changing World.
The day was capped with an action planning segment. Led by Sidney Cordero, Learning, Development and Engagement head at First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) and First Gen Corporation, the activity allowed the participants to share their takeaways from the talks.
President and executive director Rina Lopez-Bautista presented the plans and latest projects of Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. in her closing remarks
The HRs regrouped for cocktails at the end of the day’s talks to end the summit on a high note.
Serving as the LSS 2017 moderators were Cecilia Batalla, Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development head at First Gen; Agnes de Jesus, chief sustainability officer at FPH; Bernard Pating, HR senior manager at Energy Development Corporation (EDC); Jose Carlos Campos, Coordination and Communications officer at Lopez Group Foundation Inc.; Hazel Velasco, assistant manager for Corporate Communications at FPH; Leslie Yulo, HR specialist at EDC; Annabelle OngTuñacao, AVP for After Sales and HR at Rockwell Land; and Cerilo Prila Jr., technical training manager at First Gen.
The 2017 LSS was sponsored by FPH, First Gen and EDC.

Thanks to the LSS, which tackles the hottest and most relevant topics of the day, Lopez Group HRs and other employees are afforded the opportunity to evolve, update their skills and share their knowledge, ensuring that no one in the organization is left behind.

KCFI president Rina Lopez-Bautista