From Corporate Leadership to Social Impact
Ines's remarkable journey has taken her across the globe, from leading talent and transformation at Unilever in Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and China, to establishing talent management functions at Bayer in Latin America and serving as Global Talent Director at Honeywell.
Her recent transition to the IDB was driven by a desire to create broader social impact: "It was connected with my intention to do something good for society and like somehow pay forward all that I have been receiving from these amazing global corporations into my region and make an impact in Latin America and the Caribbean," she explains.
At the IDB, Olano contributes to an organization committed to "improving lives in the Latin America and Caribbean region" with core objectives of "reducing poverty and inequality, addressing climate change, and bolstering sustainable growth."
How Cultural Diversity Shapes Leadership
Ines's approach to talent management has been deeply influenced by her experience working in multiple countries. "Working across various countries has profoundly shaped my perspectives in the way I see the world and also was enriching my personal and cultural influence," she shares.
This global experience has made her more adaptable and creative: "It has made me more flexible and adaptable. I feel like it sparks my creativity when I am able to talk with people from different perspectives and that I can truly understand what motivates them and what they can achieve or want to achieve."
During her time in China, Olano implemented innovative talent strategies, developing a trainee program to attract Chinese talent with international experience. "We were bringing talent that was impacting the culture, growing in the organization, and now taking the role of leader. So we were creating a strong pipeline for the organization," she notes.
Champion for Women's Development
As a passionate advocate for women's development, Ines dedicates significant time to mentoring and creating opportunities for women in leadership. She co-chairs a community of 800 women across Latin America focused on increasing women's representation on boards of directors.
"I am very passionate about women's development and I am passionate about mentoring," she says. "I always try to really start counselling women in my free time. I dedicate one hour each week to speak with women who are transitioning from one company to another or from one role to another."
Through her involvement with Women in Connection, which brings together over 150 women leaders from different sectors in Colombia, Ines works on "impacting public policies, but also increasing representation of women in different positions, in leadership positions, but also in board of directors."
Practical Networking Advice
For professionals at any stage of their career, Ines emphasizes the importance of networking: "Build a network. I really will recommend everyone to believe in themselves, of course. Ensure that they are self-aware of the opportunities they have to continue developing themselves. Have this growth mindset that everything is possible, but also create connections because the networks are super relevant."
She shares a simple yet effective networking strategy from her own experience: "When I joined the IDB, I decided to have lunch at a different table every day. So it was nothing so difficult. Sometimes it was working well and people were talking to me and opening conversations. Sometimes not that good, but I think that it is worth to try."
The Future of Talent Management
Looking ahead, Olano anticipates significant shifts in talent management approaches: "In the coming years, I anticipate a shift from focusing on years of experience to focusing more on skills and unique contributions that the talent can do. And the key question for me will be what skills, what values, what leadership traits does this person bring to the organization that help us to advance in our projects?"
She advocates for a more flexible approach to hiring criteria: "If we only select talent because the requirement is X years of experience or master degree or postgraduate degree, but we don't see other dimensions, we are missing the possibility to bring different talent to the organization."
Working at the IDB
For those aspiring to work at the Inter-American Development Bank, Ines values "passion for creating impact and doing something good for society, creativity, curiosity... but also discipline on execution. I love people who not only plan, but also ensure that they are executing different things and willingness to really give the extra mile and ensure that I'm having fun as well."
Enjoy this insightful conversation with Ines Olano. Listen to the full episode to learn more about global talent management, women's development, and creating meaningful social impact!