Insights on HR Leadership Business Alignment AI Integration & Coaching from Asma Lata Aker Solutions

In this insightful discussion, Asma Lata, Vice President of People and Transformation (Global Projects), Aker Solutions, shares valuable advice and perspectives for young HR professionals. She emphasizes the critical need for HR practitioners to deeply understand their business context, including the nature of the organization’s operations and its stakeholders. Asma stresses that HR strategies must align with the core business drivers—whether innovation in an R&D firm or efficiency in logistics—and that connecting directly with business teams on the ground enables HR to truly address real challenges. She highlights that HR is fundamentally a business function, not merely administrative or “fun and games.”

Regarding emerging technologies like AI and Generative AI, Asma notes that younger HR professionals are well-positioned to leverage these tools since they are digitally native. However, she cautions that the human, empathetic element must remain central to HR decision-making despite technological advances.

Asma also underscores the transformative power of coaching in leadership and talent development. She explains that coaching is distinct from mentoring, training, or counseling, acting as a partnership that helps individuals unlock their potential. She advocates for greater adoption of coaching beyond traditional corporate environments—into education, healthcare, and other sectors—as organizations increasingly recognize its impact on leadership growth and career transitions.

Overall, Asma’s insights provide a comprehensive roadmap for emerging HR professionals to become strategic, business-savvy, and empathetic leaders who can harness technology and coaching to drive organizational success.

Key Insights

🤝 Business Understanding is Foundational: Asma stresses that the first and foremost step for any HR professional is to understand the business they serve—the industry, revenue model, and operational focus. This foundational knowledge allows HR to align policies, programs, and talent management strategies with what truly drives organizational success. For example, an R&D-focused company prioritizes innovation, requiring HR initiatives that foster creativity, whereas a logistics company prioritizes speed and efficiency, shaping HR towards operational excellence. This alignment ensures HR is seen as a strategic partner rather than an administrative function.

🔍 Stakeholder Awareness and Customized Engagement: Knowing who your stakeholders are and tailoring HR approaches to their unique needs is critical. Different stakeholder groups—whether leadership, employees, or external partners—have diverse expectations from HR. Asma advises HR professionals to identify these groups clearly and develop targeted communication and engagement strategies, ensuring HR delivers relevant value to each segment.

🚀 Field Immersion Bolsters HR Credibility: Asma encourages HR professionals to spend time in the field with business teams. This immersion helps HR understand frontline challenges directly, enabling the creation of well-informed, practical people programs. Such hands-on involvement strengthens trust, demonstrating that HR is not detached but fully invested in solving business pain points. This approach elevates HR’s role from transactional to transformational.

🤖 Digital Fluency Among Young HR Professionals: The current generation of HR practitioners has grown up with digital tools and AI technologies, giving them a natural advantage in leveraging these innovations. Asma contrasts this with earlier eras that relied on manual processes, highlighting how AI tools like ChatGPT now facilitate data analysis, decision-making, and operational efficiencies in HR. This digital fluency can accelerate HR’s strategic impact if harnessed wisely.

❤️ Human Empathy Remains Irreplaceable: Despite AI’s growing role, Asma cautions that the human element—the ability to empathize and understand holistic employee experiences—cannot be sidelined. Technology should assist but not replace human judgment, especially in sensitive decisions involving people’s emotions, career aspirations, and wellbeing. This balance between tech and empathy defines the future of effective HR management.

🎯 Coaching as a Distinct and Powerful Development Tool: Coaching is not training, mentoring, or counseling; it is a partnership focused on unlocking individual potential. Asma’s background as a brain-based coach adds depth to her perspective, emphasizing neuroscience principles in coaching. She highlights coaching’s effectiveness in leadership development, career transitions, and reintegration of employees into the workforce. Coaching fosters self-awareness and goal attainment, proving invaluable in today’s dynamic workplace.