The third edition of The Economic Times Future Forward Philippines Summit recently concluded at Hilton Manila, bringing together over 250 influential business and HR leaders from Southeast Asia. Under the theme ‘Innovate, Adapt, Lead: HR at the Heart of Business Transformation’, the summit generated critical discussions on the evolving role of HR in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
The one-day event featured more than 35 expert speakers and over 15 sessions, including keynote addresses, panel discussions, and masterclasses. These sessions covered a wide array of topics such as the rise of AI, the evolution of hybrid work, and the growing importance of skills-first hiring.
Yasmin Taj, Editor – Features at ETHRWorld and ETEducation, The Economic Times, opened the summit with a keynote that posed a provocative question: ‘Is HR ready to lead the business of tomorrow, or are we still catching up?’ Taj emphasized that HR is at a pivotal point where technology, shifting workforce expectations, and business reinvention are converging at an unprecedented pace. She highlighted that employees today seek not just jobs but meaning, flexibility, and growth, and HR stands at the intersection of these needs and business imperatives.
Following Taj’s keynote, Sha Nacino, a renowned Human Connection Keynote Speaker, delivered an inspiring session on ‘How to unlock potential and ignite possibilities through the power of human connection.’ She outlined the four levels of human connection and discussed how fearless leaders can inspire trust and loyalty within their teams.
Ira Reyes, Country HR Managing Director at Accenture in the Philippines, shared her insights on leveraging HR’s strategic role to drive sustainable growth and transformation. Her session, titled ‘Reinventing change: HR powering growth from the inside out,’ provided valuable perspectives on the impact of HR in fostering organizational growth.
Key highlights of the summit included a CEO power panel on ‘The HR edge – How people strategy fuels business reinvention.’ Executives such as Carlo Malana, President & CEO of ST Telemedia Global Data Centre, and Abigail Marie Casanova, President and CEO of SB Finance, shared their insights on aligning people strategy with evolving business goals in the digital age.
Another significant panel, ‘The rise of new collar jobs – Preparing for the next wave of employment,’ featured leaders like Annie C Caw, Chief Human Resources Officer at CIMB Bank Philippines, and Michael Angelo Malicsi, CHRO at UnionDigital Bank. They discussed the importance of adopting skills-based hiring practices to address the growing demand for a flexible and capable workforce.
The panel ‘From CHRO to Chief Business Transformation Officer – The evolving role of HR leaders’ saw Maggie Tan, Group CHRO at Primeline Philippines Incorporated, and Mark Lord Limson, SVP & Head of Human Capital at Maybank, sharing insights on fostering engagement and driving alignment with organizational purpose in today’s hybrid work environment.
In the discussion ‘The employee experience blueprint – Creating purpose-driven workplaces,’ speakers including DM Varun, Regional Head – ASEAN at Xoxoday, and Gauri Sharma, Human Resource Director-Country HR Head at CGI, explored strategies for designing employee experiences that connect purpose, culture, leadership, and technology.
The summit also celebrated trailblazing HR leaders through the ETHRWorld Southeast Asia HR Icons Awards, recognizing professionals who are leading the future of work with AI-driven innovation and inclusive leadership. Winners were selected based on their social influence, organizational impact, and cross-industry thought leadership.
This impactful event was made possible through the collaboration of visionary partners focused on driving HR transformation. Coursera for Business, Disprz, Darwinbox, and Xoxoday participated as Gold Partners, while Mercer joined as the Talent Assessment Partner. Additional support came from exhibitors like Tapplent and associate partners including Workbean, ZMG Ward Howell Executive Search, and SkillSync.
For more insights and updates on HR transformation, visit hrtechtrend.com.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/future-forward-philippines-summit-2025-transforming-hr-and-business-leadership/121397469. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.