“Our job in HR is to coach and elevate the performance of individuals, teams and organizations – and if we have reliable data it helps us win and if we don't have reliable data, it makes winning a lot harder.”
Linking theory to practice is a key component of Columbia University's Master of Science in Human Capital Management program. Matthew Breitfelder, CHRO & Senior Partner at Apollo Global Management, joined Dr. Solange Charas’ Finance for Effective Human Capital Management class to discuss Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the value of metrics and data in measuring human capital effectiveness.
Matt took the students through a discussion on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion about, leveraging a recent Harvard Business School case study. He discussed examples of where diligent HR practices, supported by rigorous and consistent human capital metrics, help solve complicated organizational issues that impact enterprise financial outcomes. Students engaged in a spirited discussion around best practices in using people analytics that enable HR professionals to become much more focused and efficient in bringing about sustainable value. Key takeaways from Matt’s discussion include:
- People analytics must be complemented with sound advice and coaching in order to be effective in driving change.
- HR practitioners, regardless of your area of expertise, must develop deep business knowledge, establish partnerships with stakeholders and serve as change leaders.
- The criticality of speaking the language of finance and data, supported by data analytics so that HR leaders are better able to communicate and support their ability to impact financial outcomes.
As Matt said, "I love the focus of this course. It’s exactly the training the next generation of HR professionals need."
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