October was all about HR growth and inspiration for many of you.
Indeed, two major industry events took place in the same week: the 2024 HR Conference in Montreal and the World Employer Branding Day in Amsterdam. Good news—sept24 was among the keynote speakers at these events, and we’re excited to share the key trends and insights here to inspire your thinking for 2025.
On both sides of the Atlantic, the major topics taking center stage included breaking down silos to create better synergy (a trend intensified by remote work), the tough reality of being a manager today (navigating generational gaps, new technologies, and an unstable economy), and numerous variations on organizational transformations (if your organization is going through upheavals, believe us—you’re not alone!).
Artificial intelligence remained notably in the background, with few daring to delve into it. Similarly, training also stayed in the shadows this year, though it’s a vital area employers need to keep top of mind to support ongoing transformations.
A solution for enhancing both the candidate and employee experience was presented through Employer Brand Building™, a methodology developed by sept24 to enable any employer, regardless of size or industry, to align their pillars and employer brand statements with actionable outcomes.
With a concrete tool—whether virtual or physical—HR leaders can identify where impactful decisions lie, ensuring alignment, consistency, and unity as an employer.
“For 90% of the clients who contact us after establishing their employer brand, it’s stored as a zip file,” Gabriel Tremblay told the 800 leaders at World Employer Branding Day. The audience responded with nods and laughter, recognizing the reality all too well.
Employer branding is an extraordinary, effective, and game-changing tool. It needs to be adapted and brought to life within each organization, tailored to its unique realities.
“We don’t build a brand in a few months. There’s a story to tell, a feeling to build. Take Nike as an equivalent brand image example—they’ve done the work to truly understand their audience and developed sub-brands that resonate with consumers. The same goes for employer branding: we need to understand our different audiences and their realities!” Alexis Carignan, emphasized on stage.
Roxanne Champagne explained that an employee’s reality goes beyond their role, seniority, or department within an organization. Truly understanding employees allows us to align our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) through our employer brand. Ideologies, personalities, and personal or family contexts all impact our professional lives. What if 90% of your employees were dog owners and would greatly appreciate being able to exchange some unused benefits for pet care? This could be a great way to bring the values of openness, flexibility, and care to life in your employer brand with a personalized approach.
Kareen Emery closed the conference with these words: “You have the power to change thousands of lives through their interaction with you, their appreciation of their day-to-day at work, their productivity, and their well-being. It’s truly extraordinary—it’s in your hands. So, as Nike says, Just Do It!”
Feedback was unanimous: both conferences were a success. Some participants in Amsterdam shared their appreciation!
- “Incredible stage presence & loved the EVP wheel! Well done to you and Kareen! 👏🏼” – Jake Bustos, Employer Brand Director, The Coca-Cola Company
- “The presentation was no doubt one of the highlights of the day—so entertaining, hilariously spot-on, and insightful at the same time! I loved the energy and positive vibes. You guys ROCK! 🤘” – Jana Pienaar-Josifkova, Ex-Google Recruiter and JetBrains Senior Recruiter
That said, the first step is to understand how Employer Brand Building™ works. It’s not a product, it costs nothing; it’s the tool that will lead you to integrate your employer value proposition and employer brand pillars wherever they matter.
Want to learn how?
Sign up for our December 4th webinar!
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