The Life at Work Awards Night (LAWA) 2023 hosted by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) has made a comeback with much glitz and glamour. The event showcased visionary employers who have made remarkable strides in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their work-life practices.
On Wednesday night, 700 guests gathered at M Resort and Hotel in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, to cheer and celebrate companies from various industries during the awards ceremony. These industries included financial services, professional services, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, global business services, healthcare, fast-moving consumer goods, retail, tourism, and information technology.
LAWA, TalentCorp’s transformative initiative, had a significant impact on businesses from 2013 to 2019 before taking a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
James (third from left) receiving the Overall Best Organisation award (International) from Sivakumar while Mathew (fifth from left) looks on.
The winners serve as inspirational benchmarks for organizations striving to enhance their dedication to their employees and the broader workforce. LAWA goes beyond just accolades and presents an important way to promote workplace excellence and employee well-being, shaping the future of work.
TalentCorp Group CEO Thomas Mathew highlighted LAWA’s commitment to establishing an inclusive environment where all employees, regardless of their backgrounds, can prosper and realize their full potential. He emphasized the growing imperative for Malaysian businesses to embrace a DEI-First approach and reassess their corporate culture as Generation Z professionals enter the workforce.
Generation Z individuals, born after 1996, place great importance on cultivating an inclusive work environment, advancing in their careers, and acquiring new skills. This is reshaping the modern workplace’s landscape.
Nora (fourth from left) receiving the Chief Human Resources Officer award from Mustapha.
Mathew also expressed TalentCorp’s commitment to increasing female workforce participation through initiatives such as childcare centers, flexible work arrangement workshops, women networking, and mentoring programs. He emphasized the need for companies to adopt a different approach to effectively engage Gen Z, Gen X, and Baby Boomers in a collaborative professional setting for higher productivity.
Captains of businesses were recognized for their outstanding achievements in employee engagement, diversity hiring, sustainability practices, and leadership excellence. The awards spread across eight categories, honoring 30 winners. Maybank received awards for Overall Best Organization for a Malaysian company and Outstanding Practice for Diversity Hiring. They also recognized their chief human resource officer Datuk Dr. Nora Manaf.
(From left) The RuMa Hotel and Residences Human Resources director Mohamad Shaukhi Hashim, Shell Malaysia recruiter Dinesh Jayabalan, Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) Real Estate Sdn Bhd Human Capital head Diyana Ibrahim@Musa, Human Resources Ministry, Manpower Department deputy director-general Kamaruzaman Md Ali and CIMB Talent Acquisition manager Qasmal Noor having a chat at the event.
CIBA Vision Johor Sdn Bhd (Alcon) received awards for Overall Best Organization for an international company and Outstanding Practice for HR Digitalisation. They also recognized their CEO, Dr. James J. Govindasamy.
James expressed his honor and humility to be recognized by TalentCorp in the Life at Work Awards 2023. He attributed his success to his amazing work team family.
In the public sector organization category, Yayasan Pahang won the Overall Best Organization award, along with individual awards for its chief human resource officer Datin Nor Aza Abdul Aziz. Isyraq Akram from the foundation also won the Promising Young Human Resource award. Nor Aza stated that winning the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) category is a testament to Yayasan Pahang’s dedication to fostering positive workplaces and mentoring future leaders.
Pos Malaysia Bhd Group chief executive officer Charles Brewer (centre in suit) shares the momentous occasion of being named CEO Champion, with colleagues at LAWA Night 2023.
The event was attended by Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, his deputy Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, and senior officials from various ministries and agencies. The awards were spread across eight categories, including Overall Best Organization, Chief Executive Champion, CHRO Champion, Promising Young HR, Best Leadership Team, Sustainability and DEI, Women in the Workplace, and HR Digitalisation.
Mathew emphasized TalentCorp’s vision for LAWA to become a driving force behind positive workplace transformation in Malaysia. The event also provided an opportunity for attendees to network and foster a thriving business ecosystem.
Guests at the event enjoyed a sumptuous dinner accompanied by classic and contemporary songs by Hazel Leong and Friends. Stand-up comedian Gajen Nad entertained the crowd with his jokes, and Aurora School of Dance presented a mix cultural performance.
TalentCorp, a Human Resources Ministry agency, collaborates with various partners to enhance local talent development initiatives and build a talent pool prepared for the future.
