Leaders

Selma Kalkavan: Showcasing Leadership Skills Through Strategic HR Management

Selma Kalkavan: Showcasing Leadership Skills Through Strategic HR Management

Selma Kalkavan
CHRO

Whenever the term HR comes into our thought process, we could only think the possible job of an HR is to recruit and onboard the staff. But it is way beyond it as it also involves handling employee grievances and creating an ecosystem where employees can feel safe and develop. Giving a new outlook to the job of an HR, Dr. Selma Kalkavan is adroitly administering the HR domain at a worldwide level for Unifree Duty Free.

Selma is a great scholar, holding degrees like a Ph.D. and MBA as well as hold a vast experience in various domains of the industry. The multi-faceted leader is reflecting her leadership skills through effectively managing management systems and strategic planning for human resources.

Selma Kalkavan engaged in an interactive session with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine, here's the highlight.

Tell us about your important features as an HR expert. Brief us about your educational journey and prior industry experience.

As a leader in human resources, one of my distinguishing characteristics in this regard is my vast experience in strategy and system development. Strategic success, competitive advantage, and company outcomes all revolve around HR issues. So, as a leader, having worked in the finance, media, technology, and travel retail sectors, I am attempting to reflect the strategic perspective from beginning to end.

I earned a Business Administration undergraduate degree, a Capital Markets and Stock Exchange master's degree, and a Management-Organization Ph.D. My work experience in various departments and industries allowed me to assess and address pressing problems from a variety of angles I got the opportunity to learn about all of the company's processes during my time in the System Research and Development Department and to take part in projects to design systems for crucial procedures. In the banking industry, I gained exposure to and the opportunity to participate in how businesses shape their futures.

Tell us about your roles and responsibilities as a CHRO. How do you deal with the challenges related to your job profile?

Founded in 1975, Unifree Duty-Free has been running duty-free shops since 1984. Since 2019, we have sought to provide the greatest airport shopping experience in retail as the largest duty-free airport operator in the world. We provide our consumers with a distinctive shopping experience that features the most famous, luxurious, fashion, and beauty brands thanks to our creative store concepts. I oversee all HR procedures with the team as the head of HR and a member of the executive board. As an HR team, we make sure that everyone is treated equally and with respect, and we have a zero-tolerance policy for any infractions of our DE&I (diversity, equity, and inclusion) strategy.

"The role of hr is not simply to lead an employee but to help them learn and develop their skills by creating an ecosystem where they can comfortably transform themselves when needed and with their will"

The true business case for HR in crisis management was my team's remarkable performance in ensuring trust, a sense of security, and employees' faith in the organization at the highest level. The hiring of competent professionals in the retail, warehousing, and logistics sectors arose as a significant economic hurdle with the full reopening of Istanbul Airport, which had been partially closed since March 2021 due to the pandemic. However, this procedure was completed with the help of my devoted and knowledgeable HR team.

What is your success mantra for achieving milestones in your career?

One of the most significant turning points in my career was when I moved from the field of strategy to human resources and while doing so, prioritized training and development initiatives. Agility and adaptability are key components of creating a future-ready business, in my opinion. Successful change management strategies and ongoing learning tend to become the standard.

How do you foresee the evolution of various trends in the HR domain?

In light of the employees' true potential, a new problem arises: if staff members are set compelling targets to tap into their potential, a sizable percentage of them may not be motivated to meet these goals. A learned skill will be approximately half as valuable in just five years or less, according to estimates and reports, and much shorter for technical skills.

Creating an environment where employees can easily modify themselves as needed and at their discretion allows HR to assist employees in learning and skill development rather than just leading them.

As per your experience as a leader, what advice would you like to give to young women and girls who are aspiring future leaders in this domain?

First, I firmly advise investing a lot of time in developing your talents and learning about your strengths. In addition to their strengths, individuals should be aware of their primary motivators and determine whether those motivators will help them attain their objectives. One should also understand how to use the given resources for the benefit of the organization. Entrepreneurs must have resilience, growth mindsets, and strengths, but I would advise female leaders to treat others with grace and kindness. In addition to intelligence, courage and confidence are crucial success qualities in all aspects of life, not just the workplace. And it is a must to remember to celebrate yourself to keep your energy. Think also about the fact that we have many identities within us. I am a daughter, a sister, and a mother to Deniz and Nehir my 5-year-old twins. But I am also a lecturer, an academician, a coach, a supervisor, and a leader at the same time. It is essential to remember your identity as a woman.

Selma Kalkavan, CHRO, Unifree Duty Free

Kalkavanselma kalkavan is a multifaceted leader and with her expertise in the domain, she is directing her subordinates to optimally utilize the resources for the growth of the organization.