Lyn Amor Doble is Deputy CHRO, Head of HR operations in Japan at Hitachi Rail in Japan. Hear more about her fascinating career journey and most significant achievements, the importance of celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day, and how she encourages inclusivity in her teams.
Pathway to Hitachi Rail
After spending several years in working across many corporate functions, I returned to the business, where I started my career years ago - Hitachi Rail.
They had an opportunity that needed a person to lead the Japan HR operations and support the CHRO office, playing the deputy CHRO role. It has been a unique and exciting journey so far, being at the helm of supporting a business to transform through a time of significant change.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of experiencing several notable achievements:
Starting as a teacher in a small college, where I interacted with and influenced learners, was one of my most remarkable experiences.
Working at a global company, contributing to the ATM manufacturing business in different roles, such as HR, procurement, and accounting, which gave me unique perspectives on the business and helps me in the HR partnering role I have today.
Having the opportunity to playing a crucial role in global talent management by rolling out company-wide talent review sessions covering more than 60,000 employees worldwide. This project brought me and my team a significant source of pride and was a great example of the power of determination and teamwork.
Finally, my new role as head of HR operations in Japan has been a great challenge and an achievement in its own right. My team and I daily navigate the complexities of running a global business with region-centric challenges. The future of mobility is exciting, and many opportunities exist to develop talent and add real value to the company. To grow the industry, we must also build our skills; every day offers a chance to learn something new, and my role allows me to be at the centre of this.
An open approach to learning from others
I was brought up in an environment where it was acceptable to ask for help, and it was expected that you would always extend support to others. This open approach has helped me seek opportunities to speak and network with many people throughout my academic and professional career. As such, I naturally ask questions and seek advice from my network; this is my form of mentoring. I have informal mentors across my professional and personal life. The benefit for me is that communicating with people with different experiences helps me see things through another lens.
Importance of Celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day
I think it is important to commemorate influential agendas in our business, and I’m excited to celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day in March, where we will focus on the other half of our workforce population: women. Every sector has different challenges, and it is vital to acknowledge and address them.
Encouraging Inclusivity in Teams
Inclusivity takes time, and investing the time to hear different perspectives and discuss various points of view is crucial. Perhaps most leaders are trained to be in "problem-solving mode," which is understandable. However, we need to communicate more openly to build more robust ideas. Taking the time to listen and discuss things is critical for inclusivity.
At Hitachi Rail Japan, we're thrilled to celebrate Women's Month by launching the Sakura Project! This pilot mentoring program is designed to support talented women in their career journeys. We've teamed up with our incredible Global Talent Management team to bring in some of the best and brightest leaders from around the world - both women and men - to serve as mentors for our mentees.
With the Sakura Project, we're giving our mentees the tools they need to grow their careers and make a positive impact on our business. Through this program, we're encouraging diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of our work, while also working to achieve the best possible results for our company. We can't wait to see the incredible things our mentees will achieve.
Future of the Rail Industry
People are social beings. They would always want to meet other people and go to different places so mobility will remain a priority in social infrastructure. What excites me is how we can give a better experience to our customers on mobility and how this industry continues to contribute to carbon-neutral efforts.
My journey to becoming the Deputy CHRO at Hitachi Rail has been exciting and fulfilling. I have learned to appreciate the importance of hard work, teamwork, and inclusivity in achieving our goals.
The future of mobility is bright, and I look forward to playing a significant role in shaping the industry.
