On March 29th, 2024, the Human Resource Competency Development course at GHRM MBA had the honor of hosting Erica Sun, HR Director at Heineken Taiwan, as a guest speaker. The course, led by Professors Chen Shyh-Jer and Heidi Chang, provided an insightful session on Human Resource Competency Development in practices. Erica, a graduate of the Institute of HRM at NSYSU, brings over 20 years of industrial experience in HR across Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States. She has a rich background in people development, organizational development, culture transformation, and coaching.

The session began with a fascinating overview of the history and significance of beer, the world's oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drink, with over 140 styles to choose from. Erica highlighted how beer had been a companion to various cuisines globally, enhancing flavors and experiences. Transitioning to Heineken, Erica shared key facts about the company, including its status as the number one brewer in Europe and number two globally. With a presence in over 190 countries, Heineken boasts a diverse portfolio of over 350 international and local beer and cider brands. Despite challenges in 2023, the company has shown resilience and progress in its EverGreen priorities, focusing on revenue growth and sustainable value creation.

Erica emphasized Heineken's purpose, which is to bring people together and create joyful experiences through its brands. The company's values include a passion for customers and consumers, courage to pioneer, care for people and the planet, and enjoyment of life. Heineken's commitment to sustainability was highlighted, with initiatives such as carbon reduction, water balancing programs, and partnerships to address alcohol-related harm. The company also places a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with 28% of women in senior leadership roles.

Turning to Heineken Taiwan, Erica provided an overview of the company, which was founded in 2002 and has over 250 employees. She highlighted the recent acquisition of Neipu Brewery in Pingtung, showcasing Heineken Taiwan's growth and commitment to the Taiwanese market. The session delved into the importance of the People Function in enabling business success, especially in a rapidly changing landscape. Erica emphasized the need for HR to adapt to the future of work, which includes changes in organizational management, the workforce, and ways of getting work done. She highlighted the role of digitalization and the importance of upskilling and digital dexterity in the modern workplace.

The People Function Competencies Framework was introduced as a tool to guide talent acquisition, learning and development, career mapping, performance management, talent management, and succession planning. Erica emphasized the importance of embedding competencies in job descriptions, offering relevant learning curricula, and aligning performance reviews with competency levels.

Furthermore, she introduced the 70:20:10 model, emphasizing its role in achieving Personal Development Plan (PDP) SMART Objectives. This model advocates for 70% of learning through experience, including new responsibilities and challenges; 20% through others, such as experts and role models; and 10% through formal training like workshops and e-learning. Erica engaged the students in discussions, encouraging them to think deeply about how to apply this model to their own learning and development. This interactive exercise provided valuable insights into effective learning approaches in human resource management.

In conclusion, Erica shared valuable advice on work-life balance, building agility, and knowing one's passion. Her session provided students with a comprehensive understanding of HR competency development in a dynamic and evolving business environment. The class expressed deep appreciation for Erica's insights and practical wisdom, which will undoubtedly benefit them in their future HR roles