World Award for local Thought Leader

Dr Louise van Rhyn, CEO of Symphonia Leadership Development has been awarded the HR Leadership Award at the World Human Resources Development (HRD) Congress held at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai.

The World HRD Congress is a not-for-profit event organised by Global Advisory Council to further the professional cause of HR as a means of adding value and enhancing organisational performance.

“Dr van Rhyn’s leadership and contribution to the HR field is well known,” says Michael McDonald, Global Chairman. “She is a thinker and a doer and the position she occupies in the fraternity is strategic and iconic. We see her as a role model and a believer in change.”

Louise van Rhyn was thrilled by the being recognised by the World HRD congress for this award and said it affirmed Symphonia’s aims and mission.
Symphonia is an Organizational Development Consultancy that works with leaders to enable them to engage their workforce and to maximize the talent, creativity and vibrant energy within their organizations.

“When people are engaged in their work, everybody benefits,” says Louise. Louise is concerned by the numbers of people not working to capacity in the country. “These are people who are not working creatively and not finding any joy in their work,” says Louise.

“When I meet with HR professionals in South Africa, they estimate that more than 80% of the people in their organizations are disengaged. What worries me is that they don’t seem overly concerned about this. Surely at times of financial and cost pressures this the one place where we need to focus our attention!

“Imagine what could happen if we engaged just 20% of the people who are currently disengaged and get them enrolled to enthusiastically support their organization’s initiatives,” says Louise. “Just image the possibilities. That is the vision that drives Symphonia.”

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