Can businesses really transform if the function responsible for their people hasn't evolved? 

As Malaysian companies pursue productivity gains, AI adoption, and workforce transformation, many still view HR as an administrative function. Malini Vijaya Rajah, Managing Director of PROMERITUS and HRCI Malaysia, joins us to explain why HR may be one of the most overlooked drivers of business performance. 

We explore the gap between traditional HR and strategic workforce leadership, and why "human capital strategy" could become a competitive advantage.

We discuss:

• Beyond Payroll & Hiring: Why treating HR as a support function could be limiting productivity and slowing transformation efforts.

• The Transformation Blind Spot: Are companies investing in technology and automation while neglecting the workforce strategy needed to make them successful?

• Malaysia's Talent Challenge: Why skills shortages, employability concerns, and workforce readiness may be symptoms of deeper planning issues.

• AI Changes Everything: How HR's role is expanding from managing people to redesigning jobs, skills, and organisational capability.

• From HR to Business Partner: What separates strategic HR teams from the rest, and what leaders should be doing differently.