Stanbic IBTC Holdings tasks employees on digitisation, upskilling

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, a member of Standard Bank Group, has urged employees to embrace digitisation and build career resilience through diversity and upskilling in order to be outstanding in the workplace.

Olufunke Amobi, Country Head, Human Capital, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, gave this advice during a Virtual Learning Series themed “Building Career Resilience”.

Amobi revealed that forces of change such as globalisation and rapid technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, cognitive technologies and crowdsourcing, amongst others, are the rationale for the evolution of careers and their shift from traditional to contemporary.

She noted that the traditional career path was defined in terms of linear progression up the firm’s hierarchy while seeking to obtain greater extrinsic rewards. The contemporary career trajectory, on the other hand, focuses on experiences and competencies that exist across firms, driven by values that are more flexible and dynamic.

The Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc Country Head of Human Capital encouraged participants to build contemporary careers as well as a strong network to enable them attain success in their professions. She also advocated the need for workers to invest in technology and exploit various websites for free online courses to develop their digital literacy skills.

Amobi further stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace culture, emphasizing that workers that would survive these times are those that can easily adapt in the rapidly changing world. She counselled employees to acquire various skillsets to enable them to respond to changes in the workplace, noting that “we are in a Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous (VUCA) world.”

According to her, the internet age bordered on contemporary career, which is self-directed and non-linear. “Building diversity and depth of skill are key in multiplying knowledge and skillset and making them future proof. That is the reality of the 4th industrial revolution that sees a rise of the internet age” she said.

She cited how most jobs during the lockdown were done remotely and online, adding that the dexterity in such times will be considered during recruitment processes. She however encouraged workers to build their careers based on their passion as that is a sure way to build their network faster while on the job.

She also urged workers to respond to the new normal by being proactive and not reactive. “There is the need to be creative, innovative and knowledgeable about digitization and the wave of change” she said.

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Iheanyi Nwachukwu

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.