Wrapping up the 2024 edition of Accace Circle Forum, we sit down with Alžbeta Košinár , the Community Development Coordinator of Accace Circle, to discuss the forum’s main objectives, the key topics discussed and what lies ahead for this dynamic community.
What inspired the choice of the theme, “Unlocking Talent: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention”?
This year’s Accace Circle Forum was a remarkable success, imbued with a unique energy. The theme, “Unlocking Talent,” was chosen to address one of the most pressing challenges facing all industries today: the talent shortage. In a world that is increasingly digital and global, the competition for skilled professionals has never been more intense.
The pandemic accelerated shifts in workforce expectations, with talent now prioritizing flexibility, purpose, and work-life balance. Additionally, demographic changes, such as aging populations in many parts of the world, have led to a shrinking talent pool in crucial sectors.
For the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) sector, this issue is even more pronounced. As the demand for outsourcing services rises, the need for a skilled, adaptable workforce becomes essential. However, we often find ourselves in a market where qualified talent is scarce, and attracting and retaining the right people is more challenging than ever. Research indicates that high turnover rates and the struggle to find skilled candidates cost companies valuable time, resources, and competitiveness. This year’s forum provided us with the chance to dive deep into these issues.
This talent challenge has been a significant one over the past few years. Were you able to discover new strategies for addressing it?
Absolutely. The spirit of collaboration within the Accace Circle community is exceptional. Representatives from various countries and shared industries come together, openly exchanging their expertise and insights. Nobody left the forum without learning new approaches.
The agenda included three workshops and three presentations. The presentations highlighted success stories meant to inspire, while the workshops allowed us to delve deeply into the talent challenge. We explored our current approaches, learned about others’ strategies, and then engaged in real-world, day-to-day scenarios. This exercise enabled us to understand the perspectives of employees and employers alike, revealing why employees may choose to leave or why they may not apply in the first place, and examining how HR and management could handle these situations better. The closing workshop allowed us to collaboratively create real Employer Branding Strategies.
However, it’s important to note that none of this would have been possible without the openness and willingness of every participant to share their knowledge and insights.
Alžbeta Košinár
Community Development Coordinator
That sounds like an intense agenda with a lot of valuable knowledge sharing!
Yes, it was an intense program, but absolutely worth it. As I mentioned, we left with many new ideas and strategies, and we are committed to continuing these conversations. This is what the Accace Circle community is all about. I’m grateful that we can dive into meaningful topics, share knowledge, and plan our future initiatives.
The networking sessions were also a key part of the event. On the first evening, participants engaged in an empathy-building game, which helped us connect on a personal level and set a positive tone for the rest of the forum. The following day, we enjoyed a city tour that concluded with a beautiful dinner overlooking Bratislava Castle. These moments not only strengthened our bonds but also deepened our relationships in a memorable way.
Do you have any feedback on the event so far?
Yes, quite a lot! I’m pleased that participants have shared positive feedback both during the forum and afterward, even publicly. None of this would have been possible without their engagement and the dedicated work of our team behind the scenes. I’d like to highlight their feedback with a real response from our member companies, who were asked, “What inspired you the most from the workshops or presentations?”
“You have common concerns, worries, stresses, problems and also we can be inspired from each other to solve or mitigate them.”
“Brand ambassadors – how to leverage employee advocacy to strengthen our employer brand and attract top talent.”
“We are not alone in this world, we have the same problems in spite of different cultures, knowledge sharing, we are stronger together, the warm family atmosphere.”
“Workshop 2 on talent retention was the one I was most excited about. Everyone’s intense participation and the simulations done touched on very deep and heartfelt human elements.”
“The involvement of all components of the event.”
“Teamwork, positive attitude, organization.”
“Change! Things are changing and we must keep up with staffing requirements, trends, etc.”
“The interest of the topics given their relevance and the involvement of everyone.”
