More HR directors should consider trying to become CEOs, according to Simply Health CEO Romana Abdin.
Abdin, who was speaking at the HR Strategy & Innovation Challenger meeting, organised by ExpediteHR, was formerly people director at the healthcare provider.
She said she was part of the 4% of CEOs who don’t come from a finance, operational or sales and marketing background. “Why is it CEOs only come from those backgrounds?” she asked, adding that when she was asked to consider applying for the CEO job she at first looked at the specifications and thought: “There’s 40% of this I can’t do.”
“But being CEO is about leading an organisation, not being an expert in every field of business,” she said. “What I’m good at is creating a good team around me.”
Abdin added that when working in other organisations she found it “tough when the business is investing in sales and marketing, but investing in people is seen as a cost”. At Simply Health she is focused on investing in leadership, culture and people. “People bring an organisation to life. In too many organisations I’ve worked in there hasn’t been enough investment in people.
“Many organisations I’ve worked in have lots of management but not enough leadership,” she said, explaining how Simply Health is working on developing leaders at every level. “It’s not just about leadership that is positional, but acts of leadership across the organisation.”
On culture, Abdin said she “obsess[es]” over it. “If your culture isn’t aligned with your strategy then your strategy isn’t going to be delivered,” she added. “Culture is the one differential for any organisation. It’s a shame you can’t put on your balance sheet how great your culture is, because it drives your business.”
However, she warned firms to be aware of the “dark side of culture”, where people are likely to hide mistakes, for example.
Closing her speech, Abdin again encouraged the HR professionals in the room to consider aiming for the top job. “I’m part of the 4%, but most of the 4% aren’t people directors,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be great if that number doubled and you were the next generation of CEOs?”
Her comments came as Robert Half released figures on the most common backgrounds of CEOs in the FTSE 100. The firm found 55% of FTSE 100 leaders come from a finance background.
