By Amy Schabacker Dufrane, Ed.D.
When I was a grade school student, geography was one of my favorite subjects. Encompassing places that seemed far away and exotic to me, it also examined how humans interacted with cultures, economies, and their environment. Little did I know as I sat at my desk that years later, this interdisciplinary field would take on yet another dimension. As we wrap up 2025 here at HRCI, I can proudly say we have traveled far and wide, meeting our global community wherever they are.
As the business-critical field of HR continues to evolve, we’ve seen similarities – as well as profound differences – around the world. Both mature and emerging regions are experiencing high demand for modern HR practices. Access to global labor markets, data analytics, cross-cultural competencies, and digital literacy top the list of concerns in even the most established markets, such as the Nordics, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and the Netherlands.
In central Asia, Kazakhstan is seeking to align its human capital with its mining and oil production. The labor market is so competitive that university graduates may receive two or three job offers at once, raising concerns about retention and engagement. Vietnam is an emerging economy experiencing an influx of foreign-owned enterprises that are disrupting the long-standing “age and experience” pay systems, and its deeper involvement in trade agreements, including ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asia Nations), is accelerating efficiencies. The UAE (United Arab Emirates) is a thriving business hub with an unusually high reliance on expatriates, necessitating a knowledge of cross-cultural workforces.
Taking cross-cultural workforces a step further involves the impact of Western influence from the U.S. and Europe in economies – such as Eastern Asia – that have regional similarities but sometimes vastly different governments and regulatory requirements. For example, “traditional” Asian values like group orientation and teamwork become challenging when considering individual-based performance evaluations and career pathing. People management can be nuanced, varying from country to country within the region, and also heavily influenced by higher education rates for women and the rise in dual-earner families. Combining the best of both styles requires HR professionals to blend employee engagement, compliances, social mores, and cultural variations.
To borrow an idiomatic reference, this is the tip of the iceberg. This year alone, HRCI traveled to Vancouver, India, Dubai, Canada, Kuwait, and Milan, and crisscrossed the U.S. from Las Vegas to South Carolina, Texas, California, and back again. We delivered more than 160 webinars plus assisted HR professionals in Nigeria, Brazil, Morocco and more. We signed an agreement with the Liberia Institute of Public Administration to launch the HRCI program in that country and welcomed a new managing director for HRCI in India. Most of all, we supported HR professionals as they addressed new challenges, from labor market conditions to economic fluctuations and from supporting mental health programs to implementing new AI technologies.
Whether our travels have been physical or virtual, one constant prevails: the HRCI ENGAGE community. Built specifically for HR professionals, it’s a complimentary online community where you can network with your peers, learn from experts, and unlock exclusive HRCI discounts and rewards. We’re especially thrilled to see the deep regional engagement of HR professionals from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
HR is one of the most dynamic disciplines in any organization. We rise up in times of crisis, bridge gaps between managers and teams, drive culture change through new service offerings and innovate strategically to advance business goals. More than ever, HR needs to be proficient in the dimensions of wellness programs, ready to measure progress in workplace ethics, and know how to manage a hybrid workforce. To design and deliver these services and other relevant frameworks on a local, regional, and global basis means that being part of the HRCI community is more important than ever before.
