Jannes van Aswegen, HR executive at Innovation Group South Africa, believes that not every lightbulb moment happens under fluorescent boardroom lights because he has learnt that the quieter moments can be the most productive ones.
The spotlight is hardly unfamiliar territory for him, having spent years engaging senior decision-makers and commanding large audiences, but he has found stepping away from the spotlight has proved just as valuable.
“People are often surprised to learn that despite spending much of my career presenting to boards, executives, and large audiences, I am naturally quite reflective and enjoy quiet time to think, read, and strategise. Some of my best ideas emerge in moments of reflection rather than in meetings.”
The quiet advantage
According to him, those quieter moments give him room to look beyond the immediate issue and consider what the constant pace of change means for the people expected to keep up with it.
“The challenge I think about most is how we continue creating an environment where employees feel engaged, supported, and able to perform at their full potential in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. Balancing business transformation with employee wellbeing is a responsibility I take seriously. People are at the heart of every organisation, and ensuring they remain connected, resilient, and future-ready is a constant focus.”
Jannes believes HR is at its most effective when it understands what the business needs to succeed, and at Innovation Group, there is plenty to keep the people function close to the business.
“Innovation Group South Africa partners with banks, insurance companies, OEMs, dealerships, and other clients to design, implement, and manage value-added products and services on their behalf. Our support extends across the entire value chain, from product development and pricing to sales, policy administration, customer servicing, and claims management. In essence, we provide an end-to-end solution that allows our clients to focus on their core business while we manage the complexities of delivering these products and services to their customers.”
“HR plays a critical role in enabling this success. Our business is driven by talented people across a diverse range of specialist functions, so attracting, developing, and retaining the right talent is essential. We focus on building capability, fostering a high-performance culture, and creating an environment where our people can deliver exceptional service to our clients and their customers. Ultimately, HR helps ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills and mindset, to support our clients' growth and long-term success.”
Beyond the HR brief
And while he believes having the right skills can get a business moving, he also believes culture is what keeps it moving in the right direction.
“Our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and a genuine commitment to people. What makes it different is the balance between performance and care. We have ambitious goals, but we recognise that sustainable success comes from engaged employees who feel supported and respected. We encourage innovation, celebrate diversity of thought, and continuously look for ways to evolve while staying true to our values.”
It is a perspective that takes him back to the reason he chose HR in the first place. “What initially attracted me to HR was the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives while contributing to business success. Early in my career, I realised that organisations achieve exceptional results when their people feel valued, empowered, and connected to a shared purpose. What has kept me in HR is the unique ability to influence both business outcomes and individual careers. Every day presents an opportunity to help someone grow, solve a complex challenge, or shape a workplace culture where people can thrive.”
“The aspect I enjoy most is helping people and organisations reach their full potential. Whether it is coaching leaders, supporting career development, leading transformation initiatives, or improving the employee experience, I find great fulfilment in seeing positive change take shape and knowing that HR has contributed to that success.”
The opportunity to make a difference may have drawn him in, but experience taught him what it takes to make that difference count. One of the lessons that has stayed with him throughout his career is that people pay close attention to whether leaders do what they say they will do.
“One of the most important lessons I learned is that trust is earned through consistency and authenticity. People may not always agree with a decision, but they will respect transparent communication and genuine intent. As a leader, I have found that being approachable, listening actively, and following through on commitments creates an environment where teams can perform at their best.”
Switching gears
After spending the week thinking about people, performance and transformation, his weekends offer a different kind of reset.
“You would most likely find me spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, or planning the next travel adventure. The pace of HR can be demanding, so I value opportunities to recharge, create memories with loved ones, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.”
The travel plans are not just about collecting destinations, either. For Jannes, they are another way of learning from people who see the world differently.
“One item on my bucket list is to travel more extensively across the world and experience different cultures firsthand. I believe there is so much we can learn from people with different perspectives, and travel is one of the best ways to broaden our understanding of the world and ourselves.”
