Sail the Seas Successfully: 6 Tips from Banglalink’s Head of Talent Management
“I remember traveling to the beach in Saudi Arabia as a child,” tells Ayesha. “I would collect seashells. I can still picture the clear blue water. It was beautiful.”
Ayesha grew up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (her father worked at a bank there). That’s where her love for the sea began.
“I really enjoyed finding all sorts of different seashells. They have deep meaning to me,” recalls Ayesha.
What’s interesting is that seashells are truly more than just an object from the sea. Many spiritual gurus say seashells bring unique messages since each one differs from the other. Moreover, seashells can serve as powerful tools of transformation, as they’re said to carry positive energy and can provide guidance for our lives.
For Ayesha, now head of talent management at Banglalink, those early experiences on the beach collecting seashells served as a launch point for sailing the high seas of life. After hearing more about her adventures here, you’ll be ready to journey off land, too!
1. All aboard!
When the captain yells all aboard, you board the ship. Or else you’ll be left behind. Don’t be hesitant. The wonderful unknown awaits.
“I love traveling to St. Martin’s Island, one of Bangladesh’s most breathtaking places. Each time I board the ferry to go there, I just start smiling,” states Ayesha.
For Ayesha, this idea of just getting on the boat and seeing where you can go applies to her work as well. Before Banglalink, Ayesha worked at a bank as an HR generalist. It was there that she began challenging her capabilities.
“At the bank, all the practices and processes were in place. We were trained and didn’t have to implement anything. It was at a mature stage. But we had to localize initiatives and tweak things to fit the talent market here. This is where I began to test what I could create.”
Ayesha’s work at the bank motivated her to venture further out to sea. That’s what led her to Banglalink, where she would take command of her own ship.
“I first worked as an HR business partner (HRBP) at Banglalink. This involved working with more than 500 people. The HRBP function was still a new concept, which meant I had the chance to implement new ideas and apply my skills. It was the challenge of doing something new, being able to start something from scratch, and have a big impact that brought me to Banglalink.”
Though she’s has run into rough waters along the way, Ayesha has learned how to overcome those difficulties. The secret is having creativity and innovation.
“I’ve learned that, if I’m working on a problem, the best solution should lead you to a simple yet effective path. To find that route, start by looking at the pain points. The process is kind of like avoiding choppy parts when sailing at sea.”
2. Rock the boat
Every member of a ship’s crew has a job to do. But what should you do when the established structure just isn’t taking the ship to where it needs to be?
Here’s the obvious response: You don’t let it sink! You rock the boat. And change the way it runs.
Yet you must be careful not to get thrown off the ship. Leadership experts say this necessitates that you emphasize developing emotional intelligence so that you can “motivate, inspire and build strong connections with the team” around you and learn how to introduce and implement revolutionary ideas — without throwing you or someone else overboard.
This is precisely what Ayesha has done at Banglalink. She’s pushed for change in the right way and hasn’t been afraid to navigate through even the toughest conditions.
“As an HR business partner, I strive to work closely with business leaders. Gaining acceptance from leadership for a new approach was key. This required effective change management,” notes Ayesha.
To accomplish that, Ayesha first worked on establishing a consultative role for her stakeholders. After all, a ship runs best when everyone is working together towards the same (and right) destination.
“For my role, I focused on partnering HR with the technology function. I went and pitched initiatives to leaders. They weren’t always fully open to new ideas, but I was persistent. This was difficult, as such changes would have a major impact. I had to prove myself as a business partner. I did this by building connections with leadership and focusing on what were the right decisions for HR and technology.”
3. Don’t be left high and dry
“You know the biggest thing my son has taught me? It’s patience — the patience to help him learn about the world around him and the patience to remain a voice of calm during the storm.”
Similarly, the sea won’t always listen to you or bend to your will. What you need is the patience to chart the right course.
You also must assemble a team that can help you steer the ship correctly. Without the right people by your side, you’ll be left high and dry (or stranded with nowhere to go).
As head of talent management, Ayesha understands great teams don’t come together overnight. It takes patience to build, as you have to find the competencies you need for new tech roles and grasp what type of candidates will succeed. That’s why she’s been doing an internal index study of Banglalink and its people.
“We do talent calibrations to identify successors for our key positions and also identify the skill gaps required to take the company forward . Using insights from this study, we put together resources to do an external market search and find the people with the skills and attributes we need.”
That’s quite the process. Ayesha takes it even further so that teams at Banglalink don’t get stagnant. She does this by focusing her hiring strategy on performance, new skills, and diversity.
“We were one of the first OPCOs to actually implement the VEON global performance management process last year. Right now, we’re also working with universities to identify young talents with the new skills we need. I’m also working with leaders on our diversity initiatives.
Additionally, Ayesha has started a new learning program for employees. By encouraging growth and development, she’s ensuring her crew remains strong for whatever waves lie ahead.
For all her great work in HR, Ayesha received an excellence award from Banglalink. To celebrate the achievement, her family even threw her a surprise party.
“At work, it’s awesome to have a wonderful team to support me. In my personal life, I get great support too. My son gave me a picture in a frame last Mother’s Day, and that not only made me happy, it also gave me strength to continue working hard in my career and personal life. Indeed, with great support around you, you’ll feel ready for any challenge.”
The deeper meaning here is clear: having close ones in personal and professional life means you’ll never be stranded (aka you’ll never be left high and dry).
4. Sail close to the wind
Ayesha remembers her childhood fondly, especially collecting all those beautiful seashells. But if there’s one piece of advice she could give her young self, it would be this:
“Don’t think you have limitations. Because when I was a child, I wanted to sing. I did take some music classes. Then, I thought singing wasn’t a piece of cake and quit. I wish I didn’t do that.”
As she grew up, Ayesha came to realize you shouldn’t believe in limitations. It’s because, even if you don’t know something, you can learn it.
“My first job was actually as a math tutor for a neighbor. Seeing my student’s progress inspired me to seek more knowledge. To this day, I’m constantly learning new things,” says Ayesha.
As head of talent management, Ayesha aims to ingrain learning in the culture. Because that’s how you get your team ready to sail close to the wind, challenge themselves, and achieve great things.
“Employees who are hungry to innovate are adapting very easily. There are other employees who are a bit hesitant. We’re having learning program contests to popularize the process.”
Motivating employees to learn shows just how much Ayesha cares for her team. She wants them to be the best version of themselves.
5. Batten down the hatches
William Arthur Ward, a famous writer of inspirational maxims, once penned this amazing quote:
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
If you ask Ayesha for career advice, she won’t take you to where the golden shores are. She’ll tell you to batten down the hatches (or prepare to perform), like the realist.
“There are no shortcuts. Don’t just learn bits and pieces. Get the whole picture. Make your work relevant to others and applicable to pressing problems. Actively communicate. Constantly strive to be more innovative and creative. Learn to think differently about doing things, or else you’re going to get stuck,” attests Ayesha.
That’s some honest and actionable advice right there. It’s also reflective of the reasons why Ayesha thinks young talents should join Banglalink.
“We have a great culture and set of values. We work collaboratively and take ethics seriously. If you’re able to perform, there’s an opportunity for you to grow in the company. You can even move to other functions. You can really develop yourself as a professional.”
6. Plain sailing in smooth water
It’s not always storming at sea. Often, the water flows smoothly, the sun shines brightly, and the sky emanates a beautiful blue. That’s when it’s time to relax.
“Whenever I have the free time, I love going to Cox’s Bazar, which is actually the longest continual sea beach on earth. Being able to get away and clear my mind shows me the value of being in the moment,” says Ayesha.
Ayesha places high importance on taking time for yourself. Because that’s how you avoid burnout and poor productivity at work.
“I always tell my team members and my own self to practice mindfulness. There are so many distractions that sometimes you don’t listen and give attention to what’s happening in the moment.”
In addition to enjoying the beach and sea, Ayesha loves spending time with family and traveling abroad. She’s made recent trips to Dubai and the USA. She also likes listening to music. Let’s play some right now!”
Master the seas!
You don’t always know what’s coming out there on the high seas. But, as Ayesha has taught us, with the right preparation, outlook, team, and commitment to continual improvement, you can overcome any danger — and ride the waves to the destination you hope to reach.
