Empowering Transformation Through People-centric Leadership!
In a world where organizational success hinges on the power of people, one visionary leader stands out for her unwavering commitment to shaping a brighter future. Meet Myra Anwar, the Chief People and Culture Officer at SMARTECH Business Systems, whose journey from a young dreamer to a trailblazing influencer has redefined the role of human resources in modern organizations.
From an early age, Myra sensed the potential within her to effect real change, a power she knew she couldn’t ignore. Her path to impact initially led her toward a law degree, but fate had a different plan. Choosing the road less traveled, Myra followed her heart into the realm of human resources, a decision she reflects on with immense gratitude. Despite her acceptance into a prestigious Law and Education program at UNSW, Myra’s choice to pursue her passion and reshape organizational cultures became her true calling.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Myra immersed herself in the study of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, crafting an intricate understanding of the dynamic forces at play within organizations and their profound impact on the workforce. Her ambition was clear: to cultivate engaged, fulfilled employees by championing their needs and interests, creating a harmonious equilibrium where everyone thrives.
“The HR field aligns perfectly with my aspirations, allowing me to play a role in transforming and shaping human behavior to achieve collective goals,” Myra explains. Her journey, which wove through diverse cultures, further ignited her desire to drive meaningful change in the communities where she works. This personal connection to cultures and communities underpins her vision for an inclusive workplace that respects individuality while fostering collaboration and growth.
As she journeyed through life, Myra discovered her innate strength and resilience, the bedrock of her influence on organizations. Her upbringing instilled an unwavering determination to strive for excellence, a quality that defines her leadership. Myra’s remarkable ability to empower others to embrace their authentic selves became her signature, creating a ripple effect of positive transformation within the organizations she has touched.
Myra Anwar is more than a corporate leader; she is a beacon of authenticity and empathy in a world often marked by impersonal dynamics. Her journey of personal growth has shaped her into a leader who comprehends the intricate workings of successful organizations. But it is her compassion and insight that set her apart as a change-maker within the human resources industry.
Below are the highlights of the interview!
Navigating Success Through Value and Unity
Myra firmly believes in the power of adding value as a fundamental gauge of success. For her, success isn’t just an abstract notion; it’s about witnessing concrete results that mirror her contributions, leading to substantial improvements in the company’s financial health. This involves setting clear objectives and persistently pursuing them, making sure the desired outcomes are realized. These outcomes, in turn, translate to positive gains for the shareholders.
However, Myra’s perspective on success goes beyond the balance sheet. It’s intricately intertwined with nurturing a dedicated and motivated workforce. She emphasizes the importance of alignment and collective effort in attaining the organization’s strategic goals. According to Myra, “When your team is driven, dedicated, and all moving in sync, it significantly bolsters the chances of achieving the company’s overarching blueprint. This collaborative endeavor not only fortifies the organization as a whole but also fosters individual growth and accomplishments. This, to me, is a vital facet of what constitutes success.”
Embracing Challenges
Myra Anwar firmly believes that challenges are essential cornerstones in shaping our character and fortifying our strength. She views them as catalysts that ignite personal and professional growth, propelling us beyond our comfort zones and into uncharted territories. Speaking as both a dedicated mother and a seasoned career professional, Myra recognizes that challenges are an integral part of daily life. She emphasizes that without challenges, life would lose its purpose, leaving our journey devoid of the transformative experiences that define us. “As humans, we’re naturally wired to learn, adapt, and evolve,” she states.
For Myra, challenges offer openings to acquire fresh skills, broaden horizons, and nurture resilience. They have the power to push us past our perceived limitations, urging us to face our fears head-on and embrace the winds of change. Each challenge encountered becomes a stepping stone on the path of self-improvement, helping us uncover the depths of our true potential.
“My professional journey has been lined with numerous obstacles, each bringing invaluable lessons,” Myra shares thoughtfully. These barriers, rather than blocking her way, have become valuable tests of her capabilities. They’ve demanded tough decisions and led her into unexplored territories. Instead of stifling her, they’ve stretched her abilities, fostering a mindset of innovation and unconventional thinking.
Myra’s confrontations with challenges have taught her perseverance, adaptability, and creative problem-solving. Far from demoralizing her, failures have been transformed into springboards for growth. Each setback has served as a classroom, teaching her to dissect situations, pinpoint areas for refinement, and extract wisdom from her mistakes. The insights gleaned from these experiences have empowered her with enhanced efficiency, strategic prowess, and a nimble approach to her professional pursuits.
Pioneering Across Industries to Shape HR Excellence
Before becoming a key figure at SMARTECH, Myra Anwar embarked on a diverse professional journey, leaving her mark across industries, including ASX-listed and global enterprises, where she spearheaded HR divisions across Asia Pacific. Her roles varied, revealing a multifaceted understanding of the business landscape.
“In my prior positions, my role involved shaping and implementing actionable HR strategies across various nations within the region. This experience was a treasure trove, granting insights into the complexities and opportunities that lie in different markets. Now, equipped with a decade of experience and having overseen numerous markets, I find myself confident and driven to explore avenues for further growth,” Myra reflects.
At this juncture, Myra seized the moment and secured a pivotal role at the forefront of the technology arena, joining the ranks of SMARTECH. Taking on the mantle of Chief People and Culture Officer, she assumed leadership for the Asia-Pacific region. This role was more than a position; it was an opportunity to fuse her expertise and experience into a singular force, perfectly aligned with her yearning for professional advancement.
Orchestrating People and Culture Excellence
As the Chief People and Culture Officer at SMARTECH Business Systems, Myra Anwar spearheads a dedicated regional team overseeing people and culture functions across diverse territories, including Australia, New Zealand, and the expansive Asia Pacific Region. In this dynamic role, she shoulders a range of responsibilities that revolve around shaping the company’s people and culture strategies.
Within her sphere of influence, Myra ensures the establishment of robust work performance systems and the formulation of comprehensive people policies. Guided by a commitment to professional growth, she crafts career development programs and conducts quarterly talent reviews, all while championing initiatives that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization.
Myra’s role also extends to strategic workforce planning and active participation in mergers and acquisitions, lending a significant hand to the company’s inorganic expansion. Furthermore, her dedication to employee well-being is manifested through the implementation of work health and safety programs, as well as her leadership in sustainability and corporate social responsibility endeavors.
Reflecting on her impactful tenure, Myra highlights, “My expertise has played a pivotal role in fueling the growth and triumph of SMARTECH Business Systems. When I joined the organization two years ago, we were navigating a transformative phase, requiring a modernized workforce approach to thrive in the competitive technology landscape. Tasked with the development of a high-performance culture sought after by the CEO, executive leadership, and shareholders, my role was instrumental in this organizational restructuring.”
Transforming Cultures, Catalyzing Growth
In her inaugural year at SMARTECH, Myra Anwar set out on a mission to reshape and redefine the organizational landscape. Her unwavering focus centered on the comprehensive reconstruction of global HR policies, orchestrating talent sourcing and retention strategies, and collaborating closely with the executive leadership team to re-craft the bedrock values and culture of the company.
This dedicated emphasis on cultivating an invigorating work environment, intricately aligned with the overarching goals of the organization, proved instrumental in erecting a sturdy foundation for future accomplishments. The collective synergy of these efforts, buoyed by shareholder backing and guided by our Group CEO’s astute leadership, bore fruit in 2023. SMARTECH achieved an astounding transformation, catapulting its earnings to unprecedented heights, a remarkable feat considering the preceding years.
This meteoric rise owes its genesis to the adept execution of talent development strategies, the nurturing of an ethos steeped in excellence, and the optimization of work performance systems. Through these measures, Myra and her team infused renewed vigor into the company’s fabric, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and high performance.
“As the years progressed into 2022 and 2023, my focus remained resolute. I’m committed to furthering our talent pool, enhancing our work performance systems, and ensuring that the right people occupy the right roles,” Myra articulates. Through these deliberate actions, SMARTECH stands poised to channel this momentum into sustained incremental earnings growth, underscoring Myra’s profound impact as a catalyst of transformation and growth.
Navigating HR’s Evolution
Myra Anwar keenly observes the ever-evolving landscape of the HR industry, acknowledging the indispensable role that technology and innovation now play. The seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to workforce management, necessitating HR professionals to seamlessly blend diligence, adaptability, a willingness to take calculated risks, and an unwavering human touch. While these traits might appear paradoxical, modern businesses grapple with the urgency to streamline operations while evaluating historical recruitment practices.
In this shifting terrain, technology emerges as a linchpin for successful recruitment. Collaborative teams, platforms like Zoom, and comprehensive candidate research have metamorphosed into indispensable tools for HR practitioners. These tech innovations imbue hiring managers with the prowess to orchestrate interviews with precision and make swift, well-informed decisions.
Reflecting on her experience, Myra proudly shares a pivotal endeavor she was at the helm of—a global HRMS implementation. This ambitious project, realized in May 2022, spanned an intensive six-month period encompassing diverse phases such as scoping, diagnostics, constructing a compelling business case, and gaining budgetary green lights from the board. The fruition of this labor manifested itself as a superior HRMS, replacing the erstwhile Connx with Employment Hero. The new system’s robustness, transparency, enriched reporting capabilities, and amplified visibility underscored its transformative prowess.
Nurturing Success
Myra Anwar strongly believes that a key ingredient for achieving success is to build a dedicated workforce that aligns harmoniously with a company’s goals and values. This connection, she emphasizes, goes beyond just fitting in; it’s about making employees feel like an integral part of the organization, which directly impacts their daily work and achievements. Myra proudly shares the results of a recent survey on employee engagement and satisfaction. The survey received an impressive participation rate of over 90 percent, with a remarkable 80 percent expressing contentment. What’s even more heartening is the unwavering trust these individuals place in the company’s commitment to their well-being.
At SMARTECH, the fundamental principle of treating employees as invaluable assets reverberates strongly. This means maintaining an ongoing cycle of communication and collaboration with everyone involved, both internally and externally. The principles of openness, responsibility, and inclusivity are seamlessly integrated into everyday operations, whether it’s interactions with customers or suppliers. And there’s more cause for celebration in 2023: SMARTECH’s notable participation in the distinguished Australian Employer of Choice program, a tangible reflection of their unwavering dedication to excellence.
“I’m bursting with pride as we spotlight our exceptional employees and the monumental steps we take each day to elevate our business,” Myra declares. And when it comes to her own professional journey, a shining beacon of achievement emerges from the pivotal role she and her team played in turning SMARTECH’s earnings around since 2021. The strenuous process of revamping the workforce, fine-tuning systems and processes, and nurturing an empowered employee culture to achieve this remarkable feat stands as Myra’s most significant professional accomplishment.
Gazing into SMARTECH’s future, Myra’s strategic approach revolves around empowering employees through impactful HR programs. The goal is to establish strong policies and practices that unleash the full potential of each individual. This, in turn, propels the executive leadership team towards their pinnacle objectives. Myra underscores the essence of their identity: while products and solutions hold immense importance, it’s the dedicated team members who genuinely set SMARTECH apart. They hold the reins for meeting the expectations of shareholders and customers, scripting the narrative of success, or averting setbacks.
With her sights set on the future, Myra’s roadmap is crystal clear: introduce initiatives that cultivate a positive workplace atmosphere, foster teamwork, and spark open communication and collaboration across all levels. The foundation? Acknowledgment and gratitude are the dynamic duo that nurtures a sense of responsibility, ignites motivation, and fosters loyalty. “Our strength lies in unity,” Myra emphasizes, reaffirming that the collective journey leads to achievements that far outweigh individual accomplishments.
Nurturing a Flourishing Culture
As the Chief People and Culture Officer of SMARTECH, Myra Anwar takes on a pivotal mission: cultivating and fortifying the organization’s culture across the expansive Asia-Pacific region. Her focus centers on identifying, retaining, and nurturing exceptional talents in every country of operation. A central facet of her role is amplifying workplace engagement and driving employee productivity, a recognition of the potent link between employee contentment and overarching business triumph.
“By cultivating an environment where employees feel genuinely valued and driven, we unlock productivity and sow the seeds of positive outcomes. To achieve this, my role involves overseeing a medley of initiatives. These span reward and recognition programs, fostering information exchange, empowering our workforce, instilling a sense of organizational pride, ensuring job satisfaction, and championing employee well-being. These pillars form the bedrock of our journey toward a positive workplace that thrives on growth and productivity,” Myra explains.
Her daily endeavors span a diverse and dynamic spectrum. Myra participates in strategic planning sessions with the executive team to synchronize people and culture aspirations with the company’s grand vision. Collaborating harmoniously with her regional team, managers, and team leaders, she works diligently to imbue policies and programs that foster the growth and welfare of employees.
“I consistently allocate time to connect with employees across all echelons of the organization. Whether through town hall meetings, one-on-one conversations, or team-building activities, my aim is to foster unity and a sense of belonging,” Myra underscores. An embodiment of inspirational leadership, she strives to inspire through actions, ideas, and an unwavering commitment to fostering positive change. With an open heart and a fervor for contributing to impactful transformation, Myra paves the way by leading by example, motivating others to follow suit.
Juggling Responsibilities
Ensuring a harmonious work-life balance stands as a cornerstone of Myra Anwar’s approach to maintaining personal and professional well-being. In her role as a dedicated mother with a loving family including a 6-year-old daughter, Myra seamlessly weaves her parental responsibilities into her work commitments.
Reflecting on the role of modern technology, Myra notes its pivotal role in enhancing work-life equilibrium. She underscores how it opens doors to alternative modes of work engagement, offering employees the flexibility to deftly balance personal and professional commitments. Yet, Myra acknowledges that certain scenarios necessitate physical presence in the workplace due to conventional productivity expectations.
“In my present life phase, I consider myself fortunate to navigate both my personal and professional spheres with efficiency, thanks to the invaluable support and flexibility provided by my employer and my family. I am grateful to be part of an organization that recognizes the gravity of achieving this equilibrium. They understand that optimal performance can only be attained when all facets of life are effectively managed,” Myra shares with gratitude.
To her, the notion of work-life balance isn’t a uniform template that fits all situations. Rather, it’s a dynamic concept that varies based on individual circumstances and the distinct needs of employees. Some might have multiple children or unique obligations demanding tailored flexibility. In light of this, Myra asserts that employers need to exhibit empathy by acknowledging the diverse needs of their workforce and endeavoring to accommodate them accordingly.
Nurturing Leadership in Human Resources
Myra Anwar’s advice to emerging leaders in the human resource industry carries a profound message. She acknowledges the natural drive for personal income satisfaction and ambitious career aspirations, but she underscores the pivotal role of self-development, mentorship, harnessing personal life experiences, and anchoring oneself in personal values while pursuing professional success.
Drawing from her journey, Myra underscores that genuine job satisfaction transcends mere numerical achievements. She champions the creation of a work culture that celebrates collaboration, respect, and mutual support among team members. This nurturing environment, where each individual feels esteemed and empowered, has the power to substantially contribute to both personal and collective growth, she asserts.
Furthermore, Myra recognizes the significance of a supportive executive leadership team in realizing one’s professional dreams. “Guided by leaders who offer not just direction but also create avenues for professional growth and advancement, it can be transformational,” she affirms. Their mentorship, seasoned insights, and willingness to foster development can significantly shape the trajectory of one’s career and amplify leadership acumen.
Myra Anwar’s guidance resonates as a beacon of wisdom for those navigating the intricate landscape of HR leadership, reminding us of all of the manifold dimensions that lead to a fulfilling and impactful professional journey.
