Laurence Smith

Laurence Smith, Chartered Fellow CIPD

Thought Leader in Digital Mindset & Transformation

Laurence is most recently the Chief People Officer (CHRO) of the world’s first pure play universal digital bank, soon to launch in Dubai, UAE.

In this role, Laurence worked with the CEO, CTO & Chief Data Officer to completely re-think how a data-first digital bank operates, and the implications for organisation design, staffing & capabilities. The challenge was to create an innovative TechFin culture that is 100% compliant to today’s Central Bank regulations, while also innovating into the future.

This required developing a Culture, Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and Employee Experience to attract the best digital, banking and technology talent from around the world and meld them into a cohesive organisation while meeting tough deadlines and managing investor expectations.

Prior to this, Laurence worked on and advised various Digital Transformation projects across Asia, and also contributed to the design and setup of national Digital ‘Future Skills’ initiatives in Singapore and Thailand. He was also on the Digital Advisory Board of Danone Asia.

Previously Laurence was Managing Director Human Resources and Group Head of Learning & Talent Development at DBS Bank in Singapore. He is most recognised for his work with the CEO on defining the Bank’s Purpose to ‘make Banking Joyful’ and the innovative & award winning #DBSHackathon series. The overall Digital Mindset initiative & associated hackathon series was credited with helping develop the innovation culture that led to DBS being recognised as the ‘World’s Best Digital Bank’ in 2016 and 2018. Laurence personally received the CEO’s Asian Banking Innovation Award for this work.

Laurence is a frequent conference speaker, trainer, writer and thought leader on Digital Mindset & Innovation Culture, as well as a frequent mentor & judge at Hackathons, including the Singapore Government’s nationwide ‘Skills Future’ Hackathon.

In recognition of his thought leadership and contribution to the field of HR, Laurence was in 2019 recognised as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

A British national, Laurence has previously held senior roles as global Chief Learning Officer at LG Electronics in Seoul, APAC Head of Learning & Development for GE Money in Tokyo, & with the Organisation Design Practice at McKinsey in Boston. He has spent over 20 years in Asia and holds an MSc in Organisation Design & Knowledge Management from the US.

He is currently a digital Nomad and startup entrepreneur working out of Bali and reinventing himself with the gig economy mindset.

He is available for webinars, workshops, conferences and coaching by Skype, Zoom or any other means you can come up with.