Inside Org Design: What Leaders Get Wrong and How to Fix It: Iwan de Leeuw, Global Organisation Design Leader, ABB
Iwan de Leeuw is the Global Organisation Design Leader at ABB, where he leads enterprise-wide strategies to optimise structures, capabilities, and performance. With over 2 decades of international HR experience, he has held senior roles across GE, Techcombank, and Toll Group, specialising in organisation design, talent development, and large-scale transformation. He began his career in executive search in Japan before joining GE in the U.S., later moving to Singapore where he led HR functions across ASEAN. His experience spans financial services, manufacturing, and logistics. Iwan holds a Master’s in Japanese and Management from Leiden University.
This conversation delves into the true essence of organizational design, debunking the misconception that it's merely about structure. Iwan shares insights from his diverse career journey, which spans the military, recruitment in Japan, and various HR roles across different countries. Iwan discuss the intricacies of HR transformation projects, the importance of iterative processes, and the ongoing need for adaptability in organizational design. Through real-world examples from ABB, the conversation highlights the significance of understanding current systems, involving stakeholders, and ensuring continuous feedback in achieving effective organizational change.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Welcome to the HR Impact Show
01:39 Guest Introduction: Iwan de Leeuw
02:02 Iwan's Unconventional Career Path
09:13 The Concept of Portfolio Career
10:24 Specialization vs. Generalization in HR
12:03 Design Thinking in HR
14:00 The Importance of Organizational Design
15:17 Challenges in Organizational Design
25:19 Big Bang vs. Iterative Approach
32:41 Ensuring Sustainable Change
36:26 The Ideal Workplace of the Future
39:56 Rapid Fire Questions
44:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources
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About The HR Impact Show
Join top global people leaders for honest conversations about how to build and transform high-performing cultures.
Hear from CHROs and HR experts from global and world-renowned organisations as they share their top people analytics tips, leadership journeys, lessons and challenges while navigating the complexities of transformation and the multi-generational and diverse cultures in Asia.
Hosted by Dorothy Yiu, EngageRocket's CEO & Co-founder and Fung Tai, EngageRocket's VP of Customer Success.
