- Programme studied: MSc Organisational Behaviour
- Year of Graduation: 2014
John Raymund S. Almeda is a Professor and Resource Expert on Human Capital Management to Southeast Asian central banks, governments, and academic institutions in the Philippines. He completed our Master’s in Organisational Behaviour in 2014 and now heads up the Leadership Development Team of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippines’ Central Bank).
Tell us about your career journey since graduating from LSE.
After earning my postgraduate degree from the LSE, I eventually became the Chief of Staff to the Chief HR Officer of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In this role I contributed to the Central Bank of Myanmar’s management development and people management strategies for the Nepal Rastra Bank, Central Bank of Egypt, and Central Bank of Papua New Guinea. Alongside this I drafted a pioneering book chapter on institutional development and served as a Human Capital subject matter expert to various government agencies. I have recently concluded my stint as a Resource Person at the Asian Development Bank and as a Core Researcher for the Southeast Asian Central Banks’ Competency Development Project. I now head up the Leadership Development Team of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and I’m also an on-call Professor of Organisational Behaviour, People Management, and Human Behaviour in Organisations in a few Philippines universities.
How did your time at LSE influence your career journey?
My Organisational Behaviour Master's degree at the LSE helped bolster my career. The principles, theories, and studies on how organisations achieve optimum performance whilst maintaining highly motivated employees have formed the foundation of my work since leaving the LSE. My experience at LSE taught me to be a critical thinker which has been key to my career success so far.
What is your current role and what motivates you in your job?
As the Head of the Leadership Development Team of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, I embrace the opportunity to invest in managerial and leadership capacity initiatives, as they are the drivers for the overall direction, strategic operations, and high-impact people engagement, empowerment, and commitment.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career, and what have you learned from it?
The intricate hierarchy in the central bank initially impeded my creativity, driving me to strive for an increased fairness in the workplace. However, I was still able to contribute and make an impact on the lives of my colleagues. I realised that improving workplace culture would take time, therefore I focused my energy on fully understanding the values and behaviours of the team at the central bank, allowing me to create a more inclusive environment.
What is one piece of advice you would share with current students or recent graduates looking to follow in your career footsteps?
No age, religion, gender or role should hinder anyone from achieving their dreams. Knowing one’s true north is important, but being mindful of the track, no matter the hurdle is paramount.
Share with us your fondest memory of the Department of Management.
I extremely appreciated how valued I felt in intellectual discussions and projects throughout my time in the Department. I am also grateful that I can continue to connect with my former Professors, especially when they have provided pro bono learning sessions on leadership for my current workplace.
If you would like to be our Alum of the Month or if you would like to nominate a Department of Management alumni, please email dom.alumni@lse.ac.uk.