Professional Summary
Professional Overview
Ilhaam Schyff is an accomplished HR and talent acquisition professional with over 15 years of experience driving strategic workforce solutions for leading organizations. As the Group Head of Talent Acquisition at Absa Group, she oversees the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of top talent to support the company's growth and operational goals. Ilhaam is also a dedicated mentor for WOMEN IN TECH® - Global Movement, leveraging her expertise to empower aspiring women in the technology sector.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Group Head of Talent Acquisition at Absa Group, Ilhaam is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive talent acquisition strategies to attract, assess, and onboard skilled professionals across the organization. She leads a team of recruitment specialists and collaborates with business leaders to align talent needs with the company's strategic objectives. Under Ilhaam's leadership, Absa Group has significantly improved its employer brand, streamlined its recruitment processes, and successfully built high-performing teams to drive innovation and operational excellence.
Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Ilhaam served as the Head of Talent Acquisition & Mobility - Corporate Functions at Absa Group, where she spearheaded the transformation of the talent acquisition function and implemented data-driven strategies to enhance the candidate experience. Before joining Absa, she held various talent acquisition leadership positions at Old Mutual South Africa, where she successfully built and led high-performing teams to support the organization's capability development in critical business areas, such as IT, digital, data, and customer servicing.
Ilhaam began her career as a Consultant at Quantum Leap Consulting, where she gained invaluable experience in ICT resourcing and analysis. She then progressed to the role of Manager: ICT Resourcing & Analysis, where she demonstrated her ability to drive strategic workforce planning and talent acquisition initiatives.
Academic Background
Ilhaam holds a Bachelor's degree from a reputable university, where she specialized in Human Resources Management. Throughout her academic journey, she consistently exhibited strong leadership skills and a passion for talent development, laying the foundation for her successful career in the HR and talent acquisition field.
Areas of Expertise
- Talent acquisition strategy and execution
- Employer branding and candidate experience enhancement
- Workforce planning and talent forecasting
- Recruitment automation and process optimization
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring
- HR technology implementation and adoption
- Talent management and leadership development
Professional Impact
Ilhaam's exceptional track record in talent acquisition has earned her recognition within the industry. She has spearheaded several high-impact initiatives, such as the implementation of an AI-powered recruitment platform that streamlined the candidate screening process and reduced time-to-hire by 25%. Ilhaam has also been instrumental in driving the organization's diversity and inclusion agenda, leading to a significant increase in the representation of underrepresented groups within the workforce.
As a mentor for WOMEN IN TECH® - Global Movement, Ilhaam leverages her expertise to empower and support aspiring women professionals in the technology sector, helping them navigate career challenges and achieve their professional goals.
Conclusion
Ilhaam Schyff is a strategic and innovative HR leader with a proven track record of driving talent acquisition excellence. Her deep understanding of the evolving talent landscape, coupled with her commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, positions her as a valuable asset to Absa Group and the broader HR community. With her dynamic leadership and passion for talent development, Ilhaam is poised to continue making a meaningful impact on the organizations she serves and the individuals she mentors.
