Linn Huse-Amundsen is Director of People and Technology at Save the Children. She has solid experience in competence and organizational development, HR and strategy. Here, Huse-Amundsen shares her experiences and explains that diversity management is a priority at Save the Children.
What is your top priority for HR going forward and how are you tackling this?
- Four points in particular are a high priority for HR this year. The first three are somewhat interrelated:
- Flexibility - adapting working life after the pandemic.
- We're moving in January 2023, so ensuring that process is as seamless as possible is high on the agenda.
- Sick leave - we are also seeing an increase in sick leave in the wake of the pandemic.
- Diversity - Save the Children's work is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 2 of the Convention clearly states that no child should experience discrimination of any kind. The same applies to all of Save the Children's work. We want to work even more systematically on this internally as well, which means, for example, investigating different ways of measuring diversity at Save the Children, training employees in diversity management, raising awareness of what diversity means and how we can use diversity as an asset.
- In all this work, HR works closely with other management, employees, AMU and employee representatives. In our experience, this is undoubtedly the best way to achieve the best results. In addition, we are careful to explain why we do things and how everything is connected from top to bottom. Everything we do, both large and small changes and initiatives, we do because we want to achieve as much as possible for children. Everything is linked to our vision that all children should have their right to survive, learn and be safe. We are committed to clarifying the common thread for all employees and making it clear what each individual's important role is in making the world a better place.
You mention that diversity management is a high priority at Save the Children, what are your main ambitions for development at your organization?
- My wish is for Save the Children to be one of Norway's best workplaces - diverse in the broadest sense of the word and, not least, a fun place to work for everyone. Therefore, my ambition for development is clearly that development is a natural part of everyday working life. I believe in learning through practice. Learning is a natural part of life, also at work. I believe the best learning happens in everyday life, continuously, when you perform your tasks, talk to colleagues, etc. Learning by doing, as good old John Dewey said.
What have you done to further develop your own skills?
- I'm keen to develop my own skills all the time, just as I want for the entire organization. Specifically, I love breakfast meetings, newsletters, podcasts and articles I find here and there and feel I learn new things every day! And most of all, I learn from my fantastic colleagues at Save the Children. It's a great privilege to work with so many great people and to go to work and learn something new every single day.
What is the most important experience you have gained in the past year?
- That we can achieve an incredible amount of creative, wonderful and exciting things - even under extremely demanding circumstances with a pandemic in the second year.
Who impresses you and why?
- Most people! And especially my colleagues at Save the Children. In year two of the pandemic, they have rolled up their sleeves and stood up every single day to protect and demand children's rights. It's so inspiring to be a part of! And now when the war in Ukraine broke out. I started working at Save the Children just before the pandemic, so to see now how the whole organization turns around and mobilizes in a flash is very impressive.
What question have we not asked you that you would have preferred to be asked in this context?
"It's easy for you at Save the Children to create engagement around the organization's purpose. What are your best tips for organizations that don't necessarily have such an obvious social responsibility?"
- I think most organizations are founded on a desire to make a difference in one way or another, so it's important to highlight your goals and vision. I would also highly recommend partnering with an organization like Save the Children. There are few things more engaging for employees than contributing to a better world through Save the Children's work. Anyone who is curious is more than welcome to contact me.
