Empowering People in a Digital World: HR’s Next Big Chapter

Culture isn't a fluffy add-on. It's the essential foundation for navigating today's multi-crisis environment.

#1about 2 minutes

Acknowledging the human side of leadership in transformation

Leaders face immense pressure during transformation, but choosing the role means accepting responsibility while also being allowed to learn and grow.

#2about 2 minutes

Navigating multidimensional transformation in a large organization

BASF addresses parallel cultural, digital, and market transformations by first acknowledging the multi-crisis scenario and focusing on a foundational culture shift.

#3about 4 minutes

Building a winning culture to drive business performance

The "Winning Ways" strategy shifts the company culture from slow and complacent to one centered on speed, accountability, and an improvement mindset.

#4about 3 minutes

The conflict between prioritizing speed and ensuring safety

In the chemical industry, a deeply ingrained safety-first mindset creates a significant challenge when trying to adopt a culture that prioritizes speed over perfection.

#5about 4 minutes

Approaching AI adoption in a traditional industry

While not an early adopter, the organization fosters high curiosity around AI, driven by the need for efficiency, while also addressing employee insecurity.

#6about 6 minutes

Aligning business, technology, and HR through shared culture

A unified set of "winning behaviors" applied from the CEO down to every employee helps break down silos between business, tech, and HR functions.

#7about 3 minutes

Using provocative language to activate cultural change

Behaviors like "fight for the best solution over compromise" use intentionally strong wording to spark discussion and activate the entire organization.

#8about 3 minutes

The evolving role of HR in a tech-driven world

HR must transform itself by role-modeling boldness and curiosity, particularly with AI, to enhance its strategic importance and lead the human-led future of work.

#9about 1 minute

A quick-fire round on modern leadership choices

A series of rapid "this or that" questions reveals a preference for AI co-pilots, fast decisions, experimentation, and bold transformation over traditional approaches.

#10about 3 minutes

Why curiosity and boldness are essential for the future

The most critical attributes for navigating the future of work are curiosity to explore new possibilities and the boldness to act on them.

Notes and resources

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Diana Westrich, Vice President Corporate HR Leadership & Development at BASF, about empowering people and leading transformation in a digital world.

They discuss why transformation is never just about technology, but also about culture, mindset, and leadership responsibility. Diana shares insights on fostering curiosity, balancing innovation with safety, embedding AI across organizations, and the evolving role of HR in times of uncertainty.