Nga Nguyen CMHRNZ

What led you to a career in HR/ the position that you are in currently?  

Perhaps I’m not the first one to say this, I did not choose HR instead was “chosen” by HR at a point of my career growth through the career development review process at Schindler.  I was inspired (by my superiors) that “you will make HR great”. That vision excited me and has become my mission since. Looking back, I think I am where I am now because of my aspiration to achieve a vision not a title, the mindset that in order to succeed “HR must be a trusted partner of people and business”, and because of the trust, support and commitment that I’ve got from the leaders and colleagues across Schindler. 

What do you love about working in HR?  

The connection with people. There are many ups and downs working in HR, every day is different. Staying connected with people energises me and helps me to see different perspectives. This includes supporting them to overcome challenges, to achieve further, and to grow professionally and personally together. It is also satisfying to see the outcomes of people’s growth turning into business results and organisational growth. 

Are there any specific highlights of your career that you wish to share?  

Professionally, the highlights would have been developing a platform for leadership development, and field competency development for both Schindler Vietnam and recently Schindler New Zealand. Personally, it would have been my decision to move from operations to HR, and most recently being a HRNZ chartered member. 

What are your thoughts on Chartered Membership? How do you feel about being a Chartered Member?   

Going through HRNZ charter process was satisfying. It was a robust and well-structured process that helped HR professionals in mapping their knowledge and experiences not only towards a framework, but also making sure we stay relevant to the evolvements of HR in NZ and globally. 

What motivated you to work towards becoming a Chartered Member?  

Having been working in HR for over a decade in total, with the major part of it in Vietnam and the last recent 4 years in NZ, the HRNZ Chartered Member application process helped me to validate my knowledge and cross-cultural experience in New Zealand. It’s extremely satisfying and proud to say that what I have accomplished together with the team in Schindler (both in Vietnam and NZ) so far, played significant role in my HRNZ Chartered Member recognition. 

What are your next steps in terms of your career now that you are a Chartered Member?  

There won’t necessarily be any change to what I’m doing, but I’m pleased that being a Chartered Member also means that I can start offering my mentorship to HR professionals in NZ to work on their chartered member application. I think it is important that we keep transferring our knowledge and experience to support others' growth, and subsequently we will also keep ourselves learning through that process.