Markets Media spoke with Melanie Tan, Head of HR – APAC at Marex, who won Excellence in Talent Management at the 2024 Women in Finance Asia Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

I am extremely honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of our global team. This award is deserved recognition of the tireless effort that our dedicated group of professionals puts in day in, day out, and I am privileged to be part of this team.

What have been the main drivers of your success?

It might be cliched but I believe that hard work and communication are two of the key drivers of success in any profession. It’s about taking the time to talk to people, understanding the issues, having strong follow-up, and then being persistent and consistent. By definition, Human Resources is about people and so I believe in treating others with respect in all situations.

What are your tips for an effective talent management strategy?

In order for any talent management strategy to succeed, it must fit the organisation’s particular needs and culture – therefore going with the trend of the day may not ultimately be beneficial.

What’s more important is taking the time to speak to stakeholders and understanding what type of talents they are looking for, and when and where they are needed. When you understand that, you can have a meaningful discussion on sourcing, particularly given our uniquely entrepreneurial and agile culture.

Once the talents are in the door, it is then vital to engage them so that they want to stay and thrive. The key to achieving this is often a combination of effort between HR and the business to ensure that there are meaningful work assignments for everybody.

One of the key differentiators of Marex is the breadth of our market access and solutions, and that provides our people with a rich variety of opportunities. We always look to ‘grow our own’ and make Marex a place that ambitious, hardworking and talented people choose to build their careers.

Lastly, it’s also critical to organise community activities that create a sense of identity and bonding, as well as ensuring that we are helping our people to manage their own wellbeing.

What’s something you’re really proud of and why?

I am really proud to be part of the Marex growth story, particularly in the APAC region which has tripled in size since I joined two years ago. I like to think that I played a role in that success through partnering with the business to grow the talent pool and manage the people aspects of the various acquisitions that we made over the last two years.

What’s your favorite aspect of working at Marex Spectron?

I enjoy how dynamic the organisation is. No two days are the same. The leadership is always looking forward to new areas of growth, and driving the company onward. I am surrounded by some of the smartest people I have come across in my professional career and that is both fulfilling and exciting at the same time.