Chief People Officer Andrew Dawson shares how BVI is fostering an inclusive environment through its OneBVI initiative.
By Debbie Bolla
HRO Today: What’s the biggest challenge you are currently facing and what are your plans to overcome it?
Andrew Dawson: Over the past several years, we’ve expanded through multiple acquisitions and the opening of new global offices. Throughout this growth, we’ve remained committed to preserving our core culture while fostering a unified and inclusive environment.
BVI created the OneBVI program as an internal initiative aimed at fostering a unified and inclusive company culture. The campaign emphasizes the importance of collaboration, simplicity, transparency, and an entrepreneurial mindset. It seeks to align employees across various global locations with BVI’s core values and mission. Through the OneBVI campaign, our goal is to strengthen our organizational culture, enhance employee satisfaction, and drive the company’s mission of advancing eye care.
To build transparency, the program focuses on keeping employees informed and connected across continents through social media updates, internal newsletters, memos, and regular company meetings. The effort to create new ways of working under OneBVI was significantly influenced by employee feedback and it entailed a lot of listening and embracing change management, but we are stronger for it today.
HROT: How have you incorporated AI and what results have you seen?
Dawson: AI is here to stay, so we have embraced it by thoughtfully using AI tools to automate many of our administrative processes. The challenges we faced were common for the industry: administrative tasks were consuming too much of the team’s time and contributed to burnout, leaving less room for the high-value, human-centric work that truly drives a company culture forward.
Automating processes and maximizing the utilization of HR systems allowed our team to dramatically reduce the administrative burden on the internal team. Rather than replacing the human element, we used AI to create more space for our HR team to focus on areas like talent and professional development.
As a result, we’ve seen a measurable improvement in employee experience, stronger engagement in professional development initiatives, and a positive impact on retention across the company. While it hasn’t been easy, it has been a win not just for the HR team, but for BVI. It has helped us reinforce our commitment to balancing innovation with the company’s core value of keeping the human touch at the center of everything we do. The human touch remains crucial in this field but complementing it with AI to automate certain tasks has been really impactful.
HROT: In what ways is HR executing on coaching, upskilling, and talent development and what impact is it having on the workforce?
Dawson: HR is increasingly emphasizing the employee experience, recognizing that prioritizing skill development is key to creating an environment where employees thrive alongside technology. By empowering individuals with the tools and training they need, HR is enabling the workforce to perform efficiently and effectively in a rapidly evolving landscape.
One way HR is executing on coaching and development is by fostering open communication between managers and their teams. Transparent, ongoing discussions about performance, career growth, and organizational goals help employees feel supported, especially during times of change. Additionally, shifting the focus from deficiencies to strengths encourages a more positive work environment, where people feel valued for what they bring to the table. This strength-based approach builds resilience and drives engagement across the organization.
To keep pace with change, HR is implementing tailored training and learning programs that promote continuous improvement. These efforts help employees confidently embrace new technologies and adapt to shifting business needs. Furthermore, by offering opportunities for self-directed learning, HR empowers individuals to take ownership of their development, enhancing both individual performance and overall organizational agility.
The impact of these initiatives is a more resilient, engaged, and future-ready workforce that’s aligned with business goals and capable of thriving in a dynamic environment.
HROT: What is your favorite way to spend free time?
Dawson: In my spare time, I support my kids in pursuing their passion for soccer and volleyball as well as planning our next family trip! I also compete in triathlons and am currently training towards the World Champs in November.
