Tech upgrades will create new jobs: Unilever HR head

A new set of jobs will be created for expansion of automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, contrary to what people think, said a top Unilever official.

“I do still feel optimistic that more jobs can be created,” said Leena Nair, chief HR officer of Unilever, while addressing the chief executives of multinational companies and foreign banks at a session styled 'Thriving in an Upside-down World'.

Unilever Bangladesh organised the event at The Westin hotel in Dhaka on Sunday to mark Nair's visit.

She is the first female, the first Asian and the youngest ever chief HR officer of Unilever. At present, she is responsible for the human capital of Unilever, which operates in 190 countries.

In her address, Nair said the world and the organisations are going through an unprecedented pace of change.

The rise of digital, decreasing barriers of entry, new business models and changing needs of the newer generations are some of the factors contributing to the change.

“These changes do not only affect our consumers but employees as well.”

She urged leaders to keep pace with the dynamic world inside and outside for thriving in the upside-down world.

Growing skills gap calls for a new era of lifelong learning, she said, adding that there is a huge need for it. 

“What I learnt yesterday is irrelevant today,” she said, while highlighting the need for diversity as well.

She emphasised on increasing the need to focus on talent development, up-skilling and re-skilling and being 'more human' in the digital era.

Companies with purpose last and brands with purpose do better and people with purpose thrive.

Unilever focuses on ensuring gender balance in the organisation; 46 percent of the managers in the organisation are women.

On any day, 2.5 billion people use products from Unilever's 400 brands, giving them the opportunity to touch billions of lives, according to the company.

In Bangladesh, Unilever is the leading fast-moving consumer goods company: 8 out of the 9 households here use Unilever products every day.

At the event, Unilever Bangladesh CEO and Managing Director Kedar Lele, and its Human Resources Director Kunal Sharma also spoke.