Present during the partnership signing ceremony were: (seated, second from right) Cliff Meng Adora, LinkedIn Director for Enterprise Accounts; and representatives of PLDT and Smart, namely (seated from L to R): JM G. Co, FVP for People Group Operations; Gail O. Mercado Vice President for Talent, Gina P. Ordonez Chief People Officer; Maye M. Rubio, Head for Organization Planning and Optimization; (standing from L to R) Ria T. Nuqui, Head for Total Rewards and Performance Management; Ted L. Tuason, Senior Manager for Talent Management; and Monica M. Consing, VP for People Group Operations.

Philippine leading integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are doubling down on investments in their people to win in this fast-evolving business environment.

The Group partnered with LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, to help build a workforce that will deliver more innovations to customers, drive better business outcomes, and strengthen its brand as the employer of choice.

“As we navigate the new world of work and find the right organizational rigor, Linkedin will be in step with us on market intelligence, talent engagement and learning, to help achieve our aspiration of becoming the best workplace,” said Gina P. Ordoñez, Chief People Officer at PLDT and Smart.

The Group will tap LinkedIn solutions to find, engage, and retain premium talent. To help harness skills, thousands of its employees will gain access to over 20,000 courses on LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn’s GLINT platform will help spur employee engagement through regular intelligence on overall organizational health, while the LinkedIn Talent Insights system will provide real-time employee data and trends.

“LinkedIn research shows that one of the top priorities for professionals when choosing or staying at a job, is having adequate learning and development opportunities. By investing in all aspects of managing the employee experience, the PLDT Group shows that they are serious about building a people-centric culture, as well as an agile and resilient workforce. LinkedIn is uniquely positioned to help them quickly spot market trends, plug any vital skill gaps, as well as attract, engage and retain their talents effectively,”  said Atul Harkisanka, Head of Emerging Markets for the Philippines at LinkedIn.

The LinkedIn engagement is part of PLDT and Smart’s transformation journey on people and culture, and hinges on the vision to become an organization that customers advocate for, employees love, competitors admire, and shareholders value.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Group’s Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values refresh, and underscores its aspiration to create a future-ready Philippines. This likewise highlights its commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.