Date: 03 November 2024, Boston, MA
ITL Corporation is a trailblazer in Vietnam’s logistics and supply chain management sector, committed to delivering innovative and efficient solutions across Southeast Asia. With a vision to become a key player in the region’s logistics landscape, ITL has consistently focused on leveraging technology, fostering talent, and driving sustainable growth. In 2024, this commitment was recognized on a global stage when ITL Corporation was awarded the World’s Best Employer of Choice at the ITLA 2024 by SoftwareVerdict. This prestigious honor highlights the company’s excellence in human resources and its efforts in creating an exceptional work environment that prioritizes employee engagement and continuous development.
Simon, Vice President HR at ITL Corporation, shares his journey, insights, and the strategic HR initiatives that are shaping the future of ITL. He discusses how the company’s HR transformation, employee-centric approach, and focus on innovation helped ITL earn this distinguished recognition.
In September 2024, ITL Corporation achieved a significant milestone by receiving the World’s Best Employer of Choice award at the ITLA 2024. This award, granted by SoftwareVerdict, solidifies ITL’s position as a global leader in HR practices, particularly for its forward-thinking strategies in talent management, fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, and implementing cutting-edge employee engagement programs.
Simon reflects on this achievement: “This award is a testament to the collective effort of our HR team and leadership in creating a work environment that not only attracts top talent but also nurtures and retains them. At ITL, our employees are our competitive advantage, and this recognition validates our approach to building a world-class HR function.”
“I started my career as Deputy General Director HRM & QMS at a leading FMCG trading company,” Simon recalled as he recounted his early days. His journey through various roles in retail and B2B trading eventually led him to ITL Corporation in 2016 as HR Director. By 2020, Simon was appointed Deputy General Director and VP of Human Resources.
Simon expressed that throughout his career, he recognized that employees are the true competitive advantage of any organization. “Our Board Management, Chairman, and Group CEO’s employee-centric approach has been a great source of inspiration for me,” Simon shared. With a deep commitment to transforming ITL’s human resources, Simon has been on a mission to build a competitive team that will position ITL as a logistics leader in the ASEAN region.
Simon highlighted the key challenges faced by the logistics industry in Vietnam, particularly the shortage of experienced professionals and young, creative talents with advanced technological knowledge. “To tackle this, we’ve implemented a strategy to build a team of young potential employees from top universities through initiatives like competitions and our specially designed Management Trainee (MT) program,” Simon explained. Over the past seven years, ITL has developed over 50 MT members ready to take on key positions in new projects.
Retaining and developing Gen Z talent is another challenge that Simon is keenly focused on. “We help them build their self-image, establish their position, and create value for both the company and themselves,” Simon emphasized. By aligning challenges and opportunities with their aspirations, ITL ensures that its young employees remain engaged and motivated.
“We conduct extensive training activities, mostly led by our internal instructors—Heads and Directors who share their knowledge and experience with our staff,” Simon shared. ITL’s culture of continuous improvement is deeply embedded in its training programs, aimed at fostering personal development and creating clear career paths for employees.
Simon highlighted the spirit of ownership that ITL encourages across the organization. “We inspire our employees to take initiative, innovate, and share ideas for improving work processes,” Simon mentioned. The annual Innovation Award (initiated by Group CEO) and Mentorship Award (initiated by Chairman) are just a few examples of how ITL recognizes and nurtures these ideas.
Employee well-being is also a top priority for ITL. “Our health care activities, including physical and mental health consultations, ergonomics improvements, and more, support employee engagement,” Simon explained.
Simon expressed that ITL’s ambitious vision for the logistics industry in Vietnam is the most compelling attraction for top talent. “Our goal of doubling revenue from $500 million to $1 billion within five years is an inspiring journey for both current employees and potential candidates,” Simon said. The ITLA 2024 World’s Best Employer of Choice award further amplifies this ambition, positioning ITL as the employer of choice in a highly competitive market.
ITL also creates an engaging work environment characterized by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I). “We focus on ensuring that every employee creates value for our partners, customers, and the company, which in turn creates personal value for themselves,” Simon shared.
Looking ahead, Simon outlined the HR priorities for ITL Corporation from 2024 to 2027, marking the third transformation phase aimed at achieving $1 billion in revenue. “One of our key priorities is the transition of leadership from the Chairman and Group CEO,” Simon emphasized. ITL is developing new CEOs to manage the business pillars of the Group while reinforcing the company’s platform, including HR, Finance, ICT, SHE, Legal & Compliance, and more.
Simon is also focused on nurturing young, enthusiastic talents and upgrading all management teams according to ITL’s 3S criteria (Sharp, Speed, Solid). “We are transitioning from being HR business partners to HR pioneers, forecasting labor market risks and trends to advise each CEO and plan responses,” Simon explained.
“Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are integral to ITL’s HR practices and overall company culture,” Simon mentioned. ITL’s comprehensive Employer Branding (EB) and Employee Value Proposition (EVP) activities create a DE&I environment that employees enjoy. “For us, CSR is not just a movement but a form of well-being that employees fully engage with,” Simon expressed.
Through CSR activities, ITL conveys its culture and sustainable development strategy, which includes initiatives like Green Logistics, Green Health, Green Seeds, and Green Social. “Our HR team acts as a catalyst and bridge for CSR activities, promoting the company’s sustainable development and helping employees understand the significance of CSR” Simon shared.
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