Out of all C-Suite leaders, the chief people officer carries with them the responsibility of sculpting the workforce of tomorrow.

People Matters Unplugged featured the insights of Ewan Clarkson, chief people officer at PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong, regarding the critical role of leadership in developing talent.

Outside-in approach to people leadership

Clarkson believes fostering a meaningful work environment can have a lasting impact on employees and their communities. After all, workplaces are shaped by broader societal dynamics.

"From a business perspective, we take an outside-in approach, really understanding the external environment, what [current events] mean to our business and our clients, and then putting people at the heart of the solution," Clarkson said.

The PwC leader stressed the importance of aligning the company's goals with the shifting realities of the outside world, from the challenges of climate change and the pandemic to the looming economic downturn and geopolitical tension. "Our purpose is about building trust in society and solving important problems. In recent years, we've seen the very best and worst in leadership as we came through COVID, [as well as] the difficult environment that we've seen with the cost of living and inflation and some geopolitical challenges," he said.

Such alignment demonstrates how businesses flourish by focusing their strategies around their people, particularly during uncertain periods.

"We are redefining what leadership looks like regarding leading in this uncertain and different environment. What's enabled us to be successful in the past won't necessarily be the same in the future. And so, we focused on [building] a trusted leadership and looking at how we can empower everybody at every level with the skills and the capabilities we believe are important."

Inspiring, empowering and evolving talent

Clarkson views leadership through three lenses: inspiring, empowering, and evolving talent amid uncertainty.

"By doing all of that, we inspire those around us to be the best version of themselves. Inspiration is critical moving forward," he said.

"Second is empowering our people to embrace challenges. [Leaders] trust others to make decisions, but also to be flexible in helping others move through difficult times and instilling confidence in our people. But they also speak the truth even when it's hard.

"Finally, the role of leadership evolves in terms of building inclusive communities where diverse people can grow, and ideas can thrive. Ultimately, we focus on helping people learn and stay curious. If we can ensure that people are inspired and empowered and help them evolve, we'll be in a better shape to help our clients and broader society within this uncertain environment," he said.

"Our business is all about trust. And every interaction we have every day is all about trust and ensuring that our people are operating with integrity."

Leaders are tasked with creating an environment where respect and open dialogue thrive and empathy is an important element of people leadership. Clarkson also highlighted key aspects of PwC's value proposition as an employer, including its work environment.

"The notion of rising with the best, working with smart and top-talented professionals, and offering challenging and meaningful work by creating a great environment for people to live, learn and effectively develop," he said.

"It's also about upskilling for the future, creating an opportunity where people get the right experience and build skills relevant for the future."