By shaping the correct corporate culture, you can make a difference to the company and to the individual people working within the organisation
What is your current role?
General Manager – Human Resources for Sigma Pharmaceuticals.
What qualifications do you hold?
BA (hons), MBA.
Why did you get into HR?
By shaping the correct corporate culture, you can make a difference to the company and to the individual people working within the organisation. While the right culture leads to improved shareholder returns, it also builds engaged employees. Engaged employees enjoy coming to work and making a positive contribution. HR is the one profession that can impact every aspect of the business.
How did you get into HR?
I was originally an accountant and given the opportunity to work on a multifunctional team to change the culture of the organisation. I suddenly found my niche in work. While the work at times is frustrating, it is very rewarding to be able to impact both the company and the individuals.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Still at Sigma, continuing to be part of the growth story as Sigma continues to evolve and ensuring that HR is delivering value to the company.
What has been your biggest career high so far?
Building a highly motivated, empowered HR team at Sigma that is well respected throughout the company. Their advice is actively sought on business issues. They each individually and as a team make a strong impact on the business performance.
What do you think it takes to succeed in HR?
Strong influencing skills and a sense of timing together with tenacity.
How do you manage relationships with senior executives?
In the words of Stephen Covey, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” It is critical to listen to understand what senior executives need so HR can shape the initiatives appropriately. I believe that we have to deliver on our promises and have to deliver measurable value to the company, to give HR the credibility to do the job.
Who is your biggest professional inspiration?
One person who shaped my early career was a general manager in mining that I worked for about 10 years ago. He took a risk on promoting me into a role when I did not have the relevant experience. He was always giving me new challenges that he termed “opportunities to learn and develop”. Since then I have tried to give new challenges and opportunities to my team.
Although I have worked with a range of great individuals, I think that I have taken a lot of lessons from some of the worst leaders that I have seen. Each time I see poor leadership in action, it cements a strong belief to do the opposite and become a better leader myself.
What advice would you give to graduates considering a career in HR?
To work in HR, you have to be above reproach. Every word and action is visible to the organisation and you must always be role modelling good leadership behaviours.
Also I would recommend that HR professionals must understand the business in which they work, as every initiative must be tailored for the company or division. In HR, you have to be both flexible and strong at the same time.
Describe yourself in three words
Committed, passionate, tenacious.
Andria Wyman-Clarke – career history
2005 to current: Head of Human Resources, Sigma Pharmaceuticals
2003 to 2005: General Manager HR, Coles Myer Supply Chain
2000 to 2003: HR Director (Employee Environment) at General Motors, Holden
1998 to 2000: General Manager, Human Resources, Westrac Equipment
1991 to 1997: Rio Tinto (Argyle Diamonds, Hamersley Iron, Novacoal) in a variety of roles including Finance Manager, Supply & Services Manager, HR Manager
Pre-1991: Accounting and Finance roles in Australia, USA and UK
