The success of any organization hinges on the development of its employees’ skills. For RELX | Reed Elsevier, the shared services arm of RELX, close involvement and hands-on mentorship from its leaders are at the core of their approach to talent development.
Recently, multi-awarded publisher Youngsuk “YS” Chi, Director of RELX Corporate Affairs and Chairman of Elsevier visited the RELX | Reed Elsevier office in U.P. Ayala Land TechnoHub to meet with the local RELX team, where he has now personally mentored over 100 Filipino employees and managers.
As the Chair of the Association of American Publishers and a world-renowned figure in academic publishing and information analytics, YS brings valuable insights on assembling a team capable of meeting the evolving demands of these industries. His mentorship role gives him the opportunity to share his expertise with the RELX | Reed Elsevier team.
“As leaders, we have the responsibility and privilege to make a difference in two very different ways. One is at the collective level, and there’s also the individual-level relationships that aren’t usually in your job description,” explains YS. “When taking care of our people, we prioritize quality over quantity. Through personal mentoring and learning and development initiatives, we ensure consistent results that drive success company-wide.”
The various industries served by the RELX group including events and exhibition management, risk management, and information analytics and tools in the legal, scientific, technical, and medical fields, require a flexible approach to employee development.
“Employee variety and individuality play a crucial role in our work at RELX,” says YS. “We have to have a diverse organization, and the only way to actually achieve diversity is through customization, through one-on-one relationships. It takes a lot of time, but it also has the highest return on investment.”
HR Director and Manila Site Lead Seset Lopez speaks on the impact of YS’ mentorship and the shared mindset of all leaders at RELX. “YS’ mentorship has been a game-changer for my professional career, pushing me and the team to continuously learn and develop skills in fields that we never thought we could excel in. Through YS’ years of involvement with the RELX | Reed Elsevier team, we have formed a highly competent and versatile workforce, equipped with domain expertise across various disciplines.”
The personalized guidance provided by the likes of YS and other RELX executives has resulted in the cultivation of a skilled and adaptable workforce within the shared services arm. This has cemented RELX | Reed Elsevier as a center for professional growth and domain expertise across the legal, tech, marketing, sales, finance, human resources, and customer service industries.