Global HR Trends Summit Toronto Speaker Interview
Ahead of the Global HR Trends Summit Toronto, we got a chance to interview Erica Briody, Senior Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at IQVIA.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey, how did you decide on HR?
I have been very fortunate in my career, I have had the opportunity to work in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia within the HR space. I started as a researcher and slowly advanced my way up the corporate ladder to Regional Manager with a staffing agency in Miami, Florida. I still remember the day I was promoted to being a recruiter, I was so excited. I placed an engineer with a company and was thrilled to receive a bouquet of flowers on my desk with a card saying “Thank you, you have changed my husband’s life, he can now arrive home at a decent hour due to the office being so much closer and actually make it home for bath time with the children. I have never seen him happier!”
Knowing that I had made a positive difference in someone’s life had sold me on the art of recruitment. At that moment, I knew HR was my vocation and I have never strayed from that calling.
Several years later, I opened my own executive search firm which specialized in technology recruitment. I enjoyed the feeling of being an entrepreneur, being responsible and accountable for employees and their livelihood. I learnt so much during that period of time and just before the internet bust, I was fortunate to sell the company.
Through my husband’s work, we were transferred to Asia. I was then intrigued by the evolution of RPO and worked for an international group called Management Recruiters International based in Hong Kong. I was fortunate to get into the talent consultancy space and sold and implemented the very first RPO into China with Standard Chartered Bank. Working across China and Hong Kong was a fantastic experience and I still try and keep my Mandarin language skills up to date.
Upon returning to the U.K, I fulfilled a dream and completed an M.B.A at Henley Business School which helped me think about taking my experience and applying it to the corporate world. I wanted to build a staffing company or an RPO inside a company. I have now had the opportunity to work with some amazing companies building out customized HR models and Talent Acquisition functions.
You have worked for Novartis, IBM, GE and now IQVIA. How do the different roles, industries and companies compare in terms of HR?
No matter how large or small the company, the industry or the geography, finding the right talent at the right time at the right cost is vital to the business achieving its objectives. The differences emerge based on the model one designs. One model does not fit all! At each company, I conducted a resourcing diagnostic to determine what was the right model for the business today as well as what they wanted to achieve in the future.
At the Global HR Trends Summit in Toronto, you will be discussing different Integrated Talent Strategies and ways to drive corporate strategy through HR. Can you give us a preview of what the audience can expect from your session?
Having an integrated strategy aligned to the business objectives ensures that Talent Acquisition and HR understand the future direction of the company – so that we are pro-active to the needs. For instance, being integrated with Talent Management ensures that the succession plans are accurate and gaps are spotted early. I will be sharing some key learnings and stories to ensure that the summit participants learn from the challenges I have faced in my career across the globe.
What are some of the projects that you have worked on & are most proud of?
Building out a Talent Acquisition Academy with online MOOC support training for both Hiring Managers and recruiters is something I feel added tremendous value.
Building out Supply and Demand forecasts to align with the future direction of the business made a huge impact.
Part-time program for expat women in Hong Kong was a huge success.
Predictive analytics utilizing performance reviews and the correlation of data specific to sourcing channels was an eye-opener.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
Calls with Asia and Japan in the early morning. Meeting with business leaders on upcoming projects. Coach and discuss challenges and approach with my leadership team. Concentrate on EMEA up to 2 pm in the afternoon and then switch to the Americas
What would be your advice to building a successful career in HR?
Be passionate about people. Believe it when we say people are the primary source of sustainable competitive advantage. Act accordingly.
You are currently based in London, how would you compare the working environment there with the rest of the world?
A lot is talked and documented about the varying working cultures and environments in the world. Having lived and worked in America, Europe, Middle East and Asia, I can certainly relate to those differences. However, I believe that the core values of trust, transparency and integrity translate across locations and cultures.
You are presenting at the Global HR Trends Summit in Toronto this fall, what are your expectations from the destination?
Having the opportunity to visit Toronto has always been on my bucket list. I understand that the mixture of art, music, culture, gastronomy and architecture makes it a city to enjoy. My aim is to find the time to stroll the streets and enjoy a coffee in a local café.
About Erica Briody
Erica is an experienced leader of business change who has spent twenty years building a ‘talent mindset’ across the organizations she has represented. An accredited GE Six Sigma Greenbelt, Erica is the Senior Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition for IQVIA and was most recently Global Head of Talent Acquisition for Novartis. Previous positions include Talent Acquisition Director for GE and VP of Recruitment Process Outsourcing for Kenexa IBM. Nominated by the industry and won the ‘HRO Superstar Winner 2014’ award for EMEA; The Alcon/Novartis ‘Achieve Breakthrough’ award in 2013 and GEs ‘Leader Amongst Leaders’ award in 2011 at Crotonville.