CEO of the Smollan Group, David Smollan, joins Alberto Lidji to share his thoughts on managing a global workforce of 80,000 in a caring and sustainable manner.
Being a mindful employer is important. David wants large-scale employers to think about “how mindful are we about the sustainability of human capital, and how we treat people, and how we develop them?”
The Smollan Group employs 80,000 people in 50 countries. The firm was founded in South Africa back in 1931 and has grown from modest beginnings into a successful venture representing some of the world’s best-known brand owners. David joined the firm in the early 2000s and he spotted an opportunity to deliver services around the world – not just in South Africa.
When the firm ventured into India, they noticed that in that market everything was being handled by manpower companies that provide labour to brand owners – these brokers simply charged a fee to brand owners and handled payroll. But, there was no consideration given to individuals' career progression, nor to their training, nor their development.
This was in stark contrast to how the Smollan Group had been operating in South Africa, where those individuals providing field services where actually employees, who were receiving training, who had a career trajectory – this was a different type of engagement and led to different performance.
One of the biggest concerns when employing 80,000 people is the need to think beyond wages and to think about employees’ welfare, their future, their career development and their career trajectory.
Treating people well and believing in people leads to increased staff engagement. We’ve all been in a relationship where someone made us feel engaged and we gave more; and we’ve also all been in a relationship where someone made us feel less engaged and we gave less. Think about how much more you’re willing to give people because of how they make us feel.
He expresses the view that the business of sustainability is a long-term game and that human capital results take time – you have to have patience. Financial results are a lag indicator for operating results, which are a lag indicator for human capital results. If you have the patience, the will and the heart then the results will be there.
On the topic of why he is so passionate about sustainability, David is candid: we all do things because we get pleasure from them. He intrinsically finds sustainability satisfying and it makes him feel good. He notes that: “it’s too small an achievement to build a commercially successful business, I think the real challenge is to build a business that is commercially successful, that is kind to the planet and is impactful on communities. That for me is the definition of great achievement”.
David’s key takeaway: for those listeners who have children, think about what the world will be like when these children have their own children; think about these little people who you really love and care about, and think about the challenges we have today with inequality and the environment – that should be enough inspiration for you to want to make meaningful change.
-- Full episode notes, guest bios and links are available at Lidji.org Please subscribe to this podcast if you’ve enjoyed it – thank you.
Frank Aswani, CEO of the Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), on creating an impact ecosystem in Africa
Lynette Bell, President of the Truist Foundation, on strengthening small businesses, developing career pathways for economic mobility and why philanthropy is fueling the marketplace of ideas
Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls and Co-Founder of the Brave Movement: working to end sexual violence against children and adolescents
Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation, and Melissa Stevens, Executive Vice President of Philanthropy at the Milken Institute, on corporate philanthropy
Kate Grant, Chief Executive of the Fistula Foundation, on receiving $15M from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and treating women with devastating childbirth injuries
Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, on children’s rights, girls’ education, and localisation
Ebrima Saidy, Chief Impact Officer of Save the Children International: Everything you need to know about the increasingly-prominent role of the Chief Impact Officer
Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director of MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and Vikrant Bhargava, Founder of Veddis Foundation: Following the evidence trail
Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation: philanthropy, family, and flexibility in funding
Don Howard, CEO of the James Irvine Foundation: Economic Mobility for California's Low-Income Workers
Andy Jarvis, Bezos Earth Fund's Director of Future of Food: Innovating for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Saleh Saeed OBE, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): Uniting for Global Humanitarian Relief
Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): Empowering Society to Protect Children
Delphine Moralis, CEO of Philea (Philanthropy Europe Association): Shaping the Future of Philanthropy in Europe
Tim Dixon, Co-Founder of More in Common: Bridging Divides in a Polarized World
Larry Kramer, incoming President and Vice Chancellor of the London School of Economics: reflections on his time at the Hewlett Foundation, lessons in philanthropy, and aspirations for the LSE
Maya Ziswiler, CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation: Philanthropy, Social Investing and Creating an Impact Economy
Jim McCormick, CEO of the Robertson Trust: Venturing into Impact Investing
Championing Diversity in Impact Investing: Nora Bavey’s Vision for Unconventional Ventures
Feeding the Future: Andrea Rasca’s Journey with Mercato Metropolitano
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast