Ismat Jahan
21+ yrsChief People Officer at Apex DMIT
About
Chief People Officer of Apex DMIT, leading group-wide human resources across Apex DMIT, Kazi Resort and Apex Property after three years as General Manager for HR and administration. She has spent more than fifteen years in the function across IT, telecom, real estate and training, including two years heading human resources at eGeneration, an IT-enabled services company of more than five hundred staff, and six years at BRAC IT Services. She is the founder and president of Women Empowering Women and has convened Women of Inspiration programmes at JCI Bangladesh. She holds an MBA in Human Resource Management from American International University-Bangladesh.
Expertise
Experience
Chief People Officer
Apex DMIT Ltd.
2026 — PresentGeneral Manager, Human Resources & Administration
Apex DMIT Ltd.
2023 — 2026Bangladesh•Led strategic HR initiatives that resulted in improvement in employee retention by implementing data-driven talent management and engagement strategies. •Overhauled the HRIS system to streamline processes for recruitment, performance appraisal, and payroll, enhancing overall operational efficiency •Spearheaded leadership development programs that trained people, fostering a culture of continuous learning and leadership growth across the organization. •Managed cross-functional teams in HR, Admin, and MIS, driving efforts to align business objectives with data-driven people strategies, aiming to elevate this approach with deeper analytical capabilities in the future. •Implemented workforce planning and succession strategies that reduced time- to-fill key positions and enhanced leadership pipeline readiness. •Managed cross-functional teams in HR and Admin operations, driving organizational excellence and aligning business objectives with people strategies to support company growth.
Chief People & Culture Officer
BetterStories Limited
2023 — 2023Bangladesh•Achieved significant growth in revenue per employee, reflecting enhanced productivity and value generation within the organization. •Streamlined operations by minimizing total headcount by 15% from August 2023 while maintaining revenue growth, showcasing improved efficiency and resource utilization within the organization. •Implemented efficient measures that led to a remarkable 35% reduction in administrative costs since July 2023 contributing to improved financial performance and operational effectiveness within the organization. •Achieved commendable milestone of having at least four ready successors for every critical leadership position, ensuring seamless transition, and sustained organizational continuity in 100% of such key roles. •Successfully filled 70% of the vacancies within the organization through effective succession planning, ensuring a robust talent pipeline and internal career growth opportunities.
Head Of Human Resources
eGeneration
2021 — 2023Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh•Oversaw all HR functions for a Public Limited IT Enabled Services corporation with over 500 employees worldwide. •Reduced employee turnover by 15% and increased employee satisfaction by 25% through the development of an employee engagement program. •Implemented a succession planning program that identified high-potential employees and provided development opportunities, resulting in 30% of these employees being promoted within 2 years. •Led the transformation of HR processes and systems to digital platforms, increasing efficiency by 40%. •Implemented a KPI-based Performance Management System and rolled out organization-wide Performance appraisal for the years 2020-21 and 22-23. •Established eGeneration Ltd - employees provident fund successfully and serving as Chairman of the PF Trustee Board since 2021 till date. •Successfully established the Employees Contributory Provident fund at eGeneration and completed the Employees Contributory Provident fund audit and shared it with the authorities for necessary compliance. •Introduced an advanced HR information system HRIS that streamlined administrative processes and improved data accuracy. •Facilitated change management processes during mergers and acquisitions, minimizing disruptions and maintaining morale. •Spearheaded strategic HR initiatives to align with company objectives, fostering a high-performance culture. •Directed the restructuring of compensation and benefits packages, ensuring competitiveness in the job market. •Provided support to employees with various HR-related issues and liaised with heads of departments to find resolutions.
Adjunct Faculty, MBA & EMBA Program
University of Development Alternative
2019 — 2021Dhanmondi, Dhaka Evaluated and selected texts and instructional materials to prepare course materials and lesson plans Provided objective and subjective feedback regarding student performance. Gave effective feedback on assignments and research papers to help students steadily improve over semester. Conveyed importance and significance of teaching and learning model to influence faculty candidates. Developed and adjusted curriculum to accommodate individual student needs. Designed hands-on, experience-based exercises to convey principles of subject matter. Prepared objectives and outlines to teach education courses meeting department of education standards.
Consultant (HR & OD )& Trainer
FutureLeaders™
2019 — 2021Banani, DhakaA. Responsible for Consultancy on Organization Development (OD), People Development, Performance Management Framework Development, Company Policy Development & enforcement, HR Operational Process re-engineering, Com & Ben structure development & re-structuring, etc. of different national and multinational organizations. B. Served as HR Consultant for HR OD Policy Review of different organizations, conducted training for multiple clients on behavioral skills and managerial skills development. • Developed human resource models for 11 companies, especially in IT companies in Bangladesh. • Reviewed & Amended HR Policies of companies • Conducted 32 workshops on Managerial Skills Development for 15 local and multinational clients. • Reinvigorated Performance Management System of 1 multinational IT company and 2 local conglomerates successfully • Scanned competitive marketplace and restructured Organizational compensation & Benefit philosophy utilizing the compensation & benefits survey tools.
Head Of Human Resources
BRAC IT Services Limited
2016 — 2019BRAC IT Services Limited• Introduced data Science elements in HR practice like predictive analysis of manpower and salary, trend analysis, and descriptive people analytics to ensure real value-adding business partnerships from HR • Developed, amended, and implemented HR policies & practices from time to time based on the organization's needs and industry & country law's demand • Provided leadership and management of the full range of HR functions of BRAC IT Services Ltd. • Managed HR operations for a company with over 550 employees, including recruitment, training, benefits administration, and compliance. • Developed an onboarding program that reduced time-to-productivity by 50%. • Maintained a 100% compliance record with Country labor laws. • Reinvigorated the performance appraisal system of the organization and launched a scientific and effective Performance appraisal system. • Developed and implemented a Flexible working hour policy, work-from-home policy, company code of conduct, sexual harassment guidelines, grievance handling policy, etc.
Manager HR Operations & Communications
BRAC IT Services Limited
2013 — 2016Dhaka, Bangladesh•Implemented learning & development programs for line functions to create succession and build leadership and managerial Pipeline and ensured 85% ROI. •Worked in partnerships with the business leads to provide strategic support on resource workforce planning that meets current and future needs. •Led the end-to-end comprehensive performance management system to ensure performance measures are being used to effectively manage operations. •Worked on employer branding in different scopes. Completed Industry- academic collaboration via MoU for conducting joint IT programs/ interventions with 15 different universities. (Apprenticeship, Industrial Attachment, etc.) •Designed talent assessment programs for mid-level managers which helped them to grow and ready to take over senior roles in specific periods.
FutureLeaders
FutureLeaders™
2012 — 2013Gulshan, Dhaka• Assisted in the delivery of HR training programs that improved team performance and engagement for over 200 participants across various organizations. • Supported the development of training materials focused on core HR practices, enhancing participants' knowledge in areas like employee relations, performance management, and recruitment. • Collaborated with senior trainers to analyze training effectiveness using basic data metrics, contributing to a 15% increase in participant satisfaction scores. • Gained foundational skills in data-driven decision-making by participating in projects that involved analyzing training feedback to refine program content.
Senior Executive Human Resources
Banglalion Communications Ltd
2009 — 2012• Responsible for leading the recruitment process starting from job posting, CV sourcing, CV reviewing, interview scheduling, interviewing, and onboarding • Transferred the total recruitment process into a G-suite-based online system • Successfully implemented HR Management Software/HRIS for the HR department • Made travel arrangements and organized accommodation for Senior Managers • Conducted 100+ recruitment in 15 months (written test for 850+ candidates, 200+ Interview sessions, 25 technical test sessions and 100+ onboarding with orientation program).
Human Resources Executive
Ranks Telecom Limited
2007 — 2009• Assisted in recruiting and onboarding over 50 employees, streamlining the process to ensure a positive candidate experience and efficient integration into the team. • Coordinated with cross-functional teams to manage employee records, payroll, and benefits administration, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance with company policies. • Supported the implementation of employee engagement initiatives, contributing to a 20% increase in overall team morale and participation in company activities.
Executive, Business Development
Global Access
2006 — 2007•Identified and pursued new business opportunities, expanding the client base and driving a 20% increase in revenue. •Developed and executed strategic sales plans to target key markets, enhancing brand presence and market penetration. •Built and maintained strong client relationships, leading to a 30% increase in customer retention and satisfaction.
Internee
Standard Chartered Bank
2005 — 2006