Exploring The Evolving Landscape of Organizational Development

Meisha Rouser, Director of Global Leadership Development and Organizational Effectiveness, Trident Seafoods

Meisha Rouser is the director of global leadership development and organizational effectiveness at Trident Seafoods. She is responsible for overseeing companywide goals in development, performance, change management and culture. With over 15 years of industry experience, Rouser remains successful in fostering workplaces that achieve organizational objectives while promoting a sense of belonging and community.

In an interview with HR Tech Outlook, Rouser shares her insights on the latest trends and developments in the organizational aspects of the seafood industry.

Can you briefly outline the journey at Trident Seafoods that led to your current position as the director of global leadership development and organizational effectiveness?

Initially, I got on board with Trident Seafoods to focus on change management and leadership development in response to the absence of dedicated departments for organizational effectiveness. However, the advent of the pandemic had a severe effect on the industry, leading to unprecedented changes and a transition to remote work options. This necessitated rapid adaptation, with the company requiring my efforts to be directed toward designing and implementing global leadership and performance strategies to help leaders navigate the transformation.

Over the past two years, the industry has had a concerted push to build and formalize departments for leadership development and management efficiency. My organization also jumped on the bandwagon, but it was a significant challenge, especially considering our traditional reliance on manual processes. So, there is an imperative need to automate various processes, build a better ERP system and educate the workforce to adapt to the new normal. Ever since then, my goal has been to focus on helping unify the company’s global operations and streamline processes.

"One way to empower the workforce with actionable insights is to upgrade current human resource information systems and leverage the latest technologies to produce better data intelligence "

A significant hurdle to this plan was the differences in systems, languages and resources in the various branches of our company worldwide. Despite these complexities, there is a shared commitment to fostering cohesive and efficient work environments, which looks promising.

How do you foresee the future of the industry, particularly with the evolution of the workforce and the emergence of Gen Z?

The recent research I did in my Ph.D. program on Gen Z and workforce motivation immensely helped me garner insights into the advantages of having a new, younger generation of individuals within the business. I believe embracing the entry of Gen Z into the workforce presents an opportunity for a fresh perspective and innovation within the industry. Companies are striving to create workspaces that encourage creativity and collaboration, allowing young employees to contribute meaningfully to organizational goals.

Despite this favorable shift, there is a critical need in the space to effectively utilize data. One way to empower the workforce with actionable insights is to upgrade current human resource information systems and leverage the latest technologies to produce better data intelligence.

What do you think are some of the strategies that young professionals and peers can adopt to stay ahead of the game amid these challenges?

Adaptability is paramount in navigating the organizational side of your company. Young professionals must prioritize forward-thinking approaches and a culture of continuous improvement when it comes to adopting methods to better utilize data and technological advancements. By embracing change as an opportunity rather than a setback, seafood companies can navigate challenges and emerge stronger in the evolving industry landscape.

Leaders in the industry must concentrate on strategic planning that drives growth and creates change within the organization to maximize outcomes. This involves constant scrutiny of the internal operations to identify the key aspects that benefit the processes in a positive way. Exploring various system providers to understand the latest technologies and trends can significantly create a competitive edge over counterparts in the field. In addition, focusing on improving data intelligence to better equip the team with abilities to leverage the technologies will drive the efficiency of the workforce