We were proud to welcome René Behr, Chief People Officer at IWC Schaffhausen, onto the EMEA Recruitment podcast.

“True success lies in shaping a future where people and business grow in tandem, leaving a legacy that transcends time.”

René has always been fascinated by human dynamics and interactions. He believes that Human Resources is the most influential function in business, because people are critical to success. He cites figures like David Ulrich, the “Father of Modern HR”, inspirational speaker Simon Sinek, and former Google VP of People Operations, Laszlo Bock, as key influences. He also reveals the unexpected profession he’s trained in.

Reflecting on his 25-year career, René is most proud of the lasting impact his efforts have had on businesses and people - an impact that goes beyond any single achievement or project.

He shares a story about an apprentice from a challenging background who was initially resistant to positive change. Through persistent effort, the apprentice passed his exams and went on to open his own business, where he now educates young apprentices with similar backgrounds.

When asked what he would do differently if he had his time again, René highlights that failure makes you stronger. He emphasises the importance of listening to your gut - though it should inform your decisions, not lead them, he adds.

Paul highlights the quote René shared on his LinkedIn profile: “Be the change you want to see” by Gandhi. René explains that he interprets this as championing change and leading by example, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The conversation then turns to IWC Schaffhausen’s resilience programme, which has been rolled out from the senior team across the organisation over a two-to-three-year period. This holistic programme equips teams to manage stress, adapt to change, and face challenges. It includes in-person workshops and lunch and learn sessions aligned with monthly themes, exploring personal resilience and extending into leadership. The sessions aim to break the stigma around mental health, with the goal of creating a supportive environment where conversations can lead to real changes in practice.

René stresses that the programme’s success is measured both qualitatively and quantitatively through engagement surveys, tracking productivity, job satisfaction, and retention rates. It’s not just about making people feel good; burnout can be far costlier if not addressed. It’s also a long-term KPI that can’t be measured during the interview process or when onboarding new hires.

When asked what advice he would give to his 21-year-old self, René focuses on embracing challenges and failures as learning opportunities, taking risks while remaining authentic, and staying curious.

René’s next big dream is to continue shaping the future of work by creating an environment that empowers colleagues to innovate, collaborate, and grow. He looks forward to helping the company navigate changes in its business model and being part of a future where HR has a permanent seat at the table.

The episode ends with René sharing his gratitude. He is thankful for his first manager, who saw potential in him and helped him transition into HR, and for his partner, who has supported him unconditionally. René reminds listeners to work on your personal relationships just as much as your business ones - don’t stop.

If you’d like to learn more about René’s career, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.

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To find the part of the episode most interesting to you, please use the timestamps below:

01:15: The last thing that made René smile
03:50: Why René pursued a career in HR
07:00: René’s biggest career success
09:40: What René would change in the past
12:15: “Be the change you want to see”
14:00: Holding himself accountable
16:15: The Building Resilience to Power Performance programme at IWC
25:50: Measuring success
31:15: Advice for René’s 21-year-old self
33:10: His next big dream
36:05: Gratitude and what René appreciates most

EMEA Recruitment is proud to partner with Operation Smile. To learn more about their vital work around the world or to donate to the cause, please visit: https://www.operationsmile.org.uk/partners/emea-recruitment/

If there are any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes, please reach out to [email protected]