Here at HR, we play the long game by building long lasting relationships with our employees, customers and communities, investing for a better future through putting our focus on building skills and creating sustainable value.
Hwee Boon
Group Human Resources
At OCBC, our purpose has not changed since our doors opened more than nine decades ago, and we remain as committed as ever to enabling the aspirations of individuals and communities.
This same commitment extends to our people, and we work tirelessly to create opportunities and strengthen the support they need to succeed and thrive. We want to bring out the best in them, make OCBC a place where they enjoy coming to every day, and a place where the best wants to work.
Our approach to achieving this goal is multi-faceted and includes championing a skills-first workforce, sharpening our talent and leadership development focus, strengthening our people practices and building workplace diversity. These are among the many strategic areas that we have doubled down on in the last three to five years.
Embracing a skills-first approach
Making strides towards a skills-first workplace is an important pillar of our HR strategy and sets the foundation for our talent development and mobility efforts. It is something I have spoken about often in the past year, and it aligns us with the Singapore government's initiative to foster a skills-first approach.
When candidates and colleagues ask me, “What exactly is a skills-first workplace, and how is OCBC striving towards one?” My answer is simple: We prioritise skills in everything we do – from recruitment to development and talent management. We believe that the true measure of an individual's potential lies in their ability to adapt, learn, and grow, as well as their capacity to take on greater responsibilities.
Our commitment to becoming a skills-first workplace also challenges us to look beyond academic qualifications and embrace a meritocracy of skills, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.
OCBC Ignite, an accelerated banking career programme for polytechnic students launched in May 2024, is an example of our skills-first approach.
The programme comprises an internship during the students' final year of their studies, and a structured full-time apprenticeship after they graduate. At the end of the 18-month learning and development journey, OCBC Ignite participants are fast-tracked to take on university-equivalent roles at the bank.
The first cohort of more than 100 participants began their journey in March 2025 and I am excited about the alternative pathways this programme provides for polytechnic graduates to gain valuable real-world industry experience and practical skills that can give them a head start in their careers.
In support of our strategic efforts to uplift skills-first growth and mobility within the organisation, we dedicated our second edition of our annual learning festival – which we called 'Grow Your Way with MOBI' – to skills showcases and career coaching. A cornerstone of this edition of Grow Your Way was the introduction of MOBI, OCBC's AI-powered opportunity marketplace for employees to discover career possibilities.
To further bring the skills and mobility narrative to life, OCBC Malaysia created its very own MOBI card game, adopting a gamification approach to engage our people. These activities created a buzz about MOBI, while also empowering our employees to own their individual career journeys.
In 2024, we also explored new ways to help our people gain new skills. Since May 2024, close to 40 colleagues have participated in internal gigs – short-term assignments outside of their usual roles that they take on within the Bank – that ranged from three to 18 weeks.
Some of the gigs that participants have completed are Data Explorer (with Group Data Office), Risk Assurance Investigator (with Group Risk Management) and Cub Reporter (with Group Brand and Communications). These gave them valuable experiences in business and support functions.
Internal gigs like these bring about multi-fold benefits: Employees acquire new skills, broaden their networks, and have the chance to explore different roles, and managers receive additional assistance and a fresh outside-in perspective.
In terms of development, this new channel of learning is not nearly as far along as our mainstream offerings. Even so, I am proud of what we are doing to push the envelope in learning innovation.
Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Board Member of MAS, and Ms Helen Wong, OCBC Group CEO, lighting the flame of the OCBC Ignite logo to mark the launch of the programme on 12 June 2024.
Communicating OCBC's employer brand
While I take pride in our programmes and initiatives, I find it equally important to focus on communicating our distinctive narrative to both our employees and the broader community. To share our unique OCBC story, we put together a showcase to profile who we are as a community, inspire pride in our people for the amazing work we have done, and reflect our rich 92-year-old heritage.
We proudly launched our Employer Brand Showcase across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and China from March to July 2024. Engaging over 9,000 employees, we celebrated OCBC's progress and paid tribute to the accomplishments that illustrate our collective growth, commitment to progress and dedication to delivering value to build the bank we need for the future we want.
Ensuring the well-being of our employees
Even as we pursue our purpose-driven and values-led strategic priorities, we remain committed to cultivating a healthier and more resilient workplace. We are ever-vigilant when it comes to supporting our employees' wellness – encompassing their physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being.
In 2024, we introduced the MyWellness Champions programme, which brings together a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about helping others. I am very encouraged by the overwhelming number of employees who put their hands up to take part in this.
I look forward to these Champions actively engaging with colleagues to promote workplace mental health and point them towards the right resources and programmes.
Not resting on our laurels
Our dedication to our people has not gone unnoticed, earning us several accolades across our core markets last year.
Leading HR, organisational development, and leadership consulting firm Kincentric named OCBC one of the Best Employers in Singapore and Malaysia.
In Hong Kong, we were honoured with the 'Employer of Choice Award' by JobMarket, one of Hong Kong's leading recruitment media publications. We also received the 'China 2024 Top Employer Award' from 51Job, China's leading Human Resources service provider. These recognitions further solidify our reputation as an employer of choice.
Here at HR, we play the long game by building long lasting relationships with our employees, customers and communities, investing for a better future through putting our focus on building skills and creating sustainable value.
As we celebrate our achievements and the progress we have made in 2024, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of enabling our people's aspirations and making OCBC the best employer.