Lindy Chin spoke to HRD about the company’s teamwork and fit-for-purpose initiatives
Managers and leaders at Amer Sport don't wear sports gear to work just because they manage some of the biggest brands in sportswear and outdoor leisure - it's also part of the company's approach towards a greater sense of teamwork.
HRD spoke with the the organisation's Head of Human Resources – whose portfolio of brands include ARC’TERYX, Salomon, and Wilson – who noted sticking to a rigid hierarchy isn’t necessarily the way to go.
“Everyone should be able to speak to everyone. Our country manager is the epitome of our culture – he’ll be in the warehouse if we’re short on staff, we rock up to work wearing sports gear, we play table tennis or go for a run at lunch, we communicate,” Lindy Chin emphasized.
“As a leadership team, we try to make sure touch points are there for everybody, even our retail staff. We make sure employees work in outlets to better understand customer experience no matter what role you’re in. Creating that better understanding and transparency is key to building a positive culture,” she added.
Chin also outlined that this has a direct impact on change management – making it “seamless” because of the positivity and humility shown by all staff, regardless of their role.
“Whilst we’re growing, it’s important we keep that small company feel,” she emphasised.
Much like the products that Amer Sports’ brand sell, the initiatives put in place for employees must be fit for purpose – with as little “fluff” as possible, which Chin told HRD is something other businesses need to follow.
“Businesses need to try and avoid doing something that’s not got any substance to it – and that looks different for everyone. Most of the time, things are implemented because employees ask for it – and utilising data to monitor that is important.”
“Employee surveys, focus groups, taking a deep dive into what we’ve been told and then analysing if needs are currently being met. When a business consults their people and uses data points to affirm, you’re on the right track.”
Giving people the freedom to do their best work is key to a business like Amer Sports, according to Chin. It’s this autonomy that allows workers to feel trusted and empowered.
“Trust is a big part of our ethos – but so is teamwork. We work together and we train together, we run together, we go to events together. This sort of stuff makes our employees feel like they’re part of something bigger and gives them the feeling they’re genuinely valued.”
“And, of course, because we’re a sports brand there’s a lot of freebies and discounts on our products – which is also a bonus,” she said.
Chin’s career, which has spanned almost 20 years, began at energy firm Jemena in 2006 before moving to HR manager at Partners Wealth Group in 2016. It was during her time in the energy sector, she noted, that her passion for change management blossomed.
“We were taking over companies that were larger than ourselves and it gave me so much exposure to how these things effect all levels of a business. I was progressing every two years just because of the opportunities that were presented.”
“I learned a lot about the inner workings of mergers and takeovers – and maybe didn’t do things perfectly all of the time – but that better informed my practice later down the line which I’m very grateful for,” Chin added.
After falling pregnant with her first child, Chin found what she described as a “sweet spot” working for smaller companies who were just forming their HR function – as it allowed her to spend more time with her family.
“Using all the skills I learned, I was able to set a lot of foundations of HR and worked at quite a rapid rate – rightly or wrongly, I started a new challenge every two years or so, just because of the speed everything was changing.”
After a few years, Chin found Amer Sports and hasn’t looked back – because of the ethos of the company and the impetus on face-paced change.
“We have got a really fast growth trajectory for retail for these brands,” Chin highlighted, “so no two days are the same.”
