Leaders should model a digital mindset, infuse digital practices, upskill the workforce – EY’s Jason Seng

Empathetic, adaptive, and people-focused leadership is vital for success in today's competitive business landscape, according to Seng.

In the dynamic landscape of Asian businesses, effective leadership stands as a cornerstone for success, especially in an era marked by profound changes and global challenges. The need for strategic management, particularly in the realm of People Advisory Services, has become paramount for organisations seeking not just survival but sustainable growth.

As a judge in the Asian Management Excellence Awards, Jason Seng, a People Consulting Partner at Ernst & Young Advisory Pte. Ltd., sheds light on the intricacies of business leadership and the evolving role it plays in the Asian business sphere.

With a wealth of experience in People Advisory Services and broad international exposure, Seng brings a unique perspective to the table. Based in Singapore, he helps clients in steering large-scale global and regional transformations. Seng's focus on the future of hybrid work and client HR functions underscores his commitment to staying ahead of industry trends.

In this article, Seng delves into crucial aspects of contemporary business leadership, offering strategic insights and actionable advice. From the imperative of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as organisational metrics to the challenges of fostering a digital culture, Seng provides a roadmap for organisations aiming to future-proof their strategies.

Empowering organisational excellence

Diversity, equity and inclusion have become an essential framework in modern business. With this, Seng suggested some ways for companies to strengthen and further cultivate this culture within their respective organisations. 

He advocates for companies to include diversity, equity and inclusiveness (DEI) as a reported organisational metric, conduct purposeful DEI training that goes beyond online courses or webinars, and facilitate a true mindset shift to strengthen the workforce and workplace.

“Build improved levels of understanding to create a true mindset shift on how to use DEI to strengthen the workforce and the workplace, instead of simply ‘making decisions to meet quotas,’” Seng stressed.

In the era of digital transformation, Seng further highlighted that leaders must model a digital mindset, creating a digital culture that becomes embedded into the organisation. Simultaneously, they must infuse digital practices into organisational ways of working. Lastly, he stressed that upskilling and re-skilling the workforce is important, particularly when it comes to digital readiness and fluency that is required by their respective job levels.

Business leadership in the evolving landscape

Drawing from his HR consulting experience, Seng identifies essential skills and qualities for business leaders, emphasising the need for strong, empathetic leadership that balances goals and people.

He further underscores the importance of adaptability to change—highlighting that such a trait was exemplified best by great leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic—and the ability to identify, develop, and retain key talent within the organisation. “This demands adopting a people-oriented approach coupled with organisational agility—for example, moving talent within jobs, departments, or functions to keep them motivated and skilled up,” he said.

As one of the judges in the Asian Management Excellence Awards, Seng outlined key characteristics he looked for in entries, including the impact on employee well-being, job security, career development, organisational business or client impact during periods of growth or adversity, and contributions to society, country, or industry.

Through his insights, Seng provides a comprehensive view of the evolving landscape of Asian business leadership and the strategies required for sustainable success. By delving into the intricacies of effective leadership, he offers practical guidance on fostering a workplace culture that prioritises employee well-being, navigates growth and adversity, and makes meaningful contributions to society, country, and industry.