#Talentoverlabels: Meet Betul Genc, Senior Vice President and Head of Adecco ASEAN

“No one can whistle a symphony, it takes a whole orchestra to play it”

Starting off as a branch manager in Adecco Turkey, Betul Genc showcased exceptional skills in shaping workforce solutions amidst a rapidly changing economic landscape. Coupled with her unwavering dedication to nurturing talent, her abilities were immediately recognized, propelling her ascent to overseeing all of Adecco Turkey's operations and positioning it at the forefront of Turkey’s workforce solutions market.

Today, Betul is the head of Adecco ASEAN, overseeing offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, she holds the position as country manager for Adecco Singapore.

Widely renowned for her business acumen and empathetic nature, Betul has a remarkable ability to inspire others with compassion and enthusiasm – consistently winning the hearts of those who work alongside her.

Justin Tan , director of Adecco Singapore’s permanent division, describes it best when he says: “In this era, Betul's leadership is rare but necessary. She maintains sharpness in all business aspects, but her greatest strength lies in her ability to connect and empathize with people, which has propelled her to the top of this industry.”

Given Betul’s impressive track record of success, we recently had the opportunity to sit down with her to delve deeper into her career journey, perspectives on the changing workforce landscape in Singapore, and thoughts on the future of work.

If you had the opportunity to have a conversation with your younger self, what advice would you offer?

Betul: “When I was younger, I was immensely passionate about workforce transformation, a passion that still drives me. However, I would advise my younger self to balance passion with patience. Passion flows from the heart and is what keeps you motivated. However, for longevity, the mind and hands must exercise patience and prudence, working in harmony.”

As we look ahead to 2023, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in Singapore’s talent landscape?

Betul: “I believe that Singapore has a robust talent pool. However, we face challenges in terms of the widening skills gap. In the next three to four years, we can anticipate a substantial demand for reskilling and upskilling. To thrive, it is vital for individuals to adopt a lifelong learning mindset, and to recognize the importance of bringing transferable skills to organizations.”

With the current economic climate and increasing job insecurity, what advice do you have for jobseekers who face uncertainty about their career prospects?

Betul: “The pace of change has been accelerating rapidly. In the past, trends used to shift every decade. Now, they change monthly. To address this, it is imperative for individuals to be agile and efficient. This entails being adaptable to the ever-evolving market and undergoing a comprehensive skills assessment to align one’s capabilities with current market demands.

Recognizing this, General Assembly , Akkodis , and EZRA Coaching remain ready in assisting individuals at all levels to conduct a thorough skills assessment, upskill, and navigate the evolving workforce landscape with ease.”

Looking forward, how is Adecco Singapore planning to stay at the forefront of the market and provide greater value to our clients?

Betul: “Our key differentiator lies in our ability to offer end-to-end service solutions, encompassing everything from workforce solutions and talent placement to talent management and skilling. All of this is achieved while ensuring a seamless experience for our clients.

Our approach is guided by our 2023 strategy: simplify, execute, grow. We begin by simplifying the way we work by first ensuring that everyone is aligned with the collective vision of placing our clients at the forefront of all our endeavors. Subsequently, we simplify our operating procedures at all levels of our organization. This enables us to execute better than ever, ensuring our clients receive a streamlined and exceptional service experience. Consequently, this drives the growth of our market share, undergirded by a strong growth mindset and a commitment to continually surpass our achievements quarter after quarter.”

How does Adecco Singapore plan to support the people we work with to achieve their career and business goals?

Betul: “At Adecco, our presence in Singapore spans across decades. Since day one, our focus has always been to assist our clients, be it organizations or individuals, in successfully preparing for and thriving in the future of work. With our resources, unwavering customer-centric approach, global and local expertise, we are ever-ready to meet the diverse needs of our clients. To make the future work for everyone.”