HR Engage Podcast Ep 33 with Tony Ting

33 years in HR, 3 continents, and one saxophone soaked in whiskey — this one's got it all. Jonathan Mamaril sits down with Tony, a LinkedIn Top Voice and one of the most consistently recognised HR influencers online, for a conversation that goes well beyond the usual HR talking points. Tony's journey started as an architect standing over a drafting table for eight hours a day — and somewhere between sore backs and blueprints, he found his calling in people, not buildings. From there it's been Malaysia, the Netherlands, China and now Australia, each stop rewiring how Tony sees HR, leadership and what it actually means to look after people. In this chat with Jonathan Mamaril, Tony gets refreshingly honest about courage over neutrality, the myth of the "AI expert," and why being liked and being respected are two very different things in HR. In this episode, we cover: - Tony's journey from architecture into HR - Lessons learned working across Malaysia, the Netherlands and China - Why HR needs courage, not neutrality - The importance of commercial acumen and business literacy in HR - Cutting through the noise around AI in the workplace - Coaching, mentoring and staying curious in HR careers - Tony's surprising side hustle as an actor - Book recommendations for HR professionals - A very unexpected saxophone story If you want to grow in HR, don't just get comfortable — get curious, get uncomfortable, and start using your voice. South Geldard Lawyers — HR & Employment Law Support: southgeldard.com.au What's one hard conversation you've had to have in HR that changed how you approach the role? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the HR Engage Podcast — where real HR leaders share real stories. Produced and published by Law Firm Marketing experts, Practice Proof