Why am I able to help you achieve your results?
I have an extensive corporate career in HR & business transformation, leadership development, change management, culture change, and business strategy development, and have assisted many organizations to increase their productivity through culture change and business transformation inside out. I have worked across many industries including Regulatory, Telecommunications, IT, Financial Services, Real Estate, Retail, Utilities, Manufacturing, Government, Supply Chain, Transport & Logistics, Not for Profit, Automotive, Education.
Every organisation is different, so is my approach in resolving your particular challenges. My approach is not about “ticking the box”. I am passionate in creating change at personal and organisational level, helping leaders and organisations build a long lasting, sustainable difference.
About Alma
Alma has over 35 years of experience in general HR/IR, leadership development, career and leadership coaching and mentoring, business transformation, culture change, strategy development, change management. She has been consulting to various industry sectors; Blue Chip Multinational, Global Organisations, NGO/NFP and Public Sector. Involved in design, planning, implementation and stakeholder management of various organisational integrations and business alignments; strategic planning, change management, organisational changes, culture change and business transformation programs. With her exceptional leadership, rapport building, influencing, collaborating and people management skills, she can deal with complex challenges and influence change within multiple organisational levels. Her coaching style is caring, engaging, encouraging and supportive, enabling her to build the trust with clients very quickly. She likes to understand organisational culture and individuals she is working with, so that the best approach can be applied. She has personable communication skills, while able to have candid approach when needed to have difficult conversations. Her clients say that she is very intuitive and exceptionally perceptive given her work experience and inquiring character, which enables her to have constructive discussions, leading them to achieve the best results. People say they love her passion, positivity, high energy, can-do-attitude and fun personality. She is a speaker and program facilitator.
Qualifications:
- Board Leadership Program, Leadership Victoria
- NLP Practitioner & Coach – The Coaching Institute Melbourne
- Post Graduate Diploma in HRM & IR – RMIT
- Bachelor of Law, Major in Industrial Relations Law – University of Law, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Professional Associations:
- Consulting Member of Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc.
- Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association (EDRA) Commitee Member
- Former Forbes Couches Council
- Member of International Speakers
- Former State Councillor – Australian Human Resources Institute (FCPHR)
- Former Board member at African-Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services (AAMEYS)
- Former Board Director at Crohn’s & Colitis Australia
How I Can Help You
Leadership Coaching
& Mentoring
Facilitation &
Workshops
Keynote
Speaking
HR | Culture Change &
Change Management
Staff Transition
& Outplacement
TESTIMONIALS
Angela Potter – Strategic Sales | Business Development | Account Management | Account Development | Client Partner | Account Director
I identified Alma as the perfect candidate for her expertise in HR and Change Management. Alma assisted me with an evaluation of my client’s major change management project and performed the task exceptionally well. Alma demonstrates the highest of qualities and her drive and determination to delivery quality is never ending. As an ultimate professional and her approach to the business world is highly regarded. I have no hesitation in recommending Alma to the business world and hope to partner with her again in the future.
Angela Potter - Strategic Sales | Business Development | Account Management | Account Development | Client Partner | Account Director
Jenny Liakopoulos – Strategic Leadership | Stakeholder Engagement | Relationship Management | Business Development | Coaching | Mentoring
Alma is an impressive HR Executive with extensive experience in change management, organisational capability, business transformation and industrial and employee relations. In my dealings with Alma both as a candidate and a client she has impressed me with her ability to deliver strategic and tactical advice to key stakeholders in a manner that is practical and commercially sound. Furthermore her unique style and engaging personality allows her to deliver best practice methodologies and be a confident decision maker who can impact leadership teams and the broader business.
Jenny Liakopoulos - Strategic Leadership | Stakeholder Engagement | Relationship Management | Business Development | Coaching | Mentoring
Elizabeth Bremner – Learning & Organisational Development – Coaching – Leadership Development – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
I am currently working with Alma on an organisational alignment program. While working directly with her, I have found Alma to always strive for a high standard in her work. Alma is excellent at engaging others in her work to ensure that everybody is on board and along for the journey. Above all, Alma strongly believes in and is very passionate about change and organisational transformation and is keen to share her vast knowledge in this area with others. This has made her a very valuable mentor for me in the organisational development arena. Alma has a bright outlook on life which is quite infectious and is a pleasure to work with. I would not hesitate to recommend her for future employment opportunities.
Elizabeth Bremner - Learning & Organisational Development - Coaching - Leadership Development - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Valerie Benson – Manager at Department of Human Services
I have found Alma to be very professional and supportive in our mentoring relationship. Alma has demonstrated significant understanding of change management strategies and transformational initiatives and has been of immense assistance.
Valerie Benson - Manager at Department of Human Services
Mary Giang – Project/Policy Officer
Alma is highly energetic with a warm personality. She has the ability to influence, coach and lead the team of people she works with at all levels. Alma was able to hit the ground running by being action and solution focused, taking a strategic approach in identifying and tackling major issues and problems from day one. Alma left her legacy by building a high performing IR team, taking ownership and successfully delivering the Award Modernisation Project. It was a pleasure to work closely with Alma because of her open, honest and straight forward approach and most of all, she always made time for her team.
Mary Giang - Project/Policy Officer
Chris Bakowski · Senior Consultant, Policy, Framework Governance at National Australia Bank Limited
During my period at Telstra, Alma was a key support person for our Credit Management Team and provided critical support and advice to assist us in the effective management of our operations.
Chris Bakowski · Senior Consultant, Policy, Framework Governance at National Australia Bank Limited
Jaco van der Merwe – Multi-faceted freelancer; Facilitation, Training, Coaching & Project Management
Alma's straightforward and factual approach to giving guidance and advice is refreshing. I think one of her best strengths is her ability to address the core issues and concerns with minimal fuss.
Jaco van der Merwe - Multi-faceted freelancer; Facilitation, Training, Coaching & Project Management
Mayada (Maya) Haddad – Recruitment Consultant | Talent Acquisition Specialist
Meeting Alma Besserdin was defining moment in my professional life. Alma has been very inspiring and supportive in every single step I took in my career here in Melbourne. She helped me in overcoming challenges and in defining my career objectives. Alma offered a fantastic coaching and mentoring program that truly fit my individual needs and provided me with a structure, unbelievable support and inspiration. Alma guided me through a crucial process of self-reflection and building my value proposition. As a result of our coaching and mentoring process, I developed the clarity and self-confidence I needed to move forward and have made a successful move into HR consulting within two months.
Alma has been inspiring to work with, she has a great personality, filled with warmth and genuine care. Her insight, dedication and integrity are second to none. She is great coach and mentor. Without any doubt, it was invaluable investment for my career and for my life too. It has been privilege and pleasure to work with her. I look forward to working with her in the future.
Mayada (Maya) Haddad - Recruitment Consultant | Talent Acquisition Specialist
Elena Theinschnack – Distribution Development @ AGCO Corporation | Business Development: Strategic Planning
I connected with Alma on LinkedIn and from the first minute on I felt like I had a helping hand. I remember my feelings after our first meeting - I went home with a new set of wings and a ladder to climb over a brick wall. Not many mentors offer you to utilize their own network and introduce you to the right people. Her willingness to help and ability to handle multiple projects was unlike any I've seen before. I would recommend Alma for everyone who decided to make a shift in their career.
Elena Theinschnack - Distribution Development @ AGCO Corporation | Business Development: Strategic Planning
Rita Interlandi – Senior Policy & Program Officer – Office for Prevention of Family Violence and Reform
I connected with Alma on LinkedIn and from the first time I met her I felt like I had a helping hand. Alma is an amazing coach & mentor and wonderful woman, a combination of a can-do attitude, a natural talent and shaped mind along with such a warm great personality. Her willingness to help others and her support in the career journey, it is something I have never seen before. The passion she has in what she does is absolutely an amazing source of inspiration for everybody. Alma guided me through the difficult process of self-reflection and help me to develop the clarity and self-confidence I needed to move forward on my career. She changed my perspective and my life. Without any doubt, I would highly recommend her to everyone who wants to clarify their career goals and undertake a new challenge. It has been a pleasure and privilege to be coached by her. I look forward to working with her in the near future.
Rita Interlandi - Senior Policy & Program Officer - Office for Prevention of Family Violence and Reform
Robyn Vogels – Australian based International Relocation Specialist – Global Network and Author
A mentor needs to give clear direction and that is certainly what Alma gives me. In business today we are bombarded with so much information of what is the "right thing to do" most of which is not applicable to my business focus. Alma certainly cleared the wood from the trees for me, gave me a platform to work from and a clear focus going forward. I look forward to many more sessions with Alma and long-standing relationship with this energetic, pragmatic and highly professional businesswoman.
Robyn Vogels - Australian based International Relocation Specialist - Global Network and Author
Rosie Pritchett – Dentist
I was lucky to be paired with Alma through Leadership Victoria's Health Sector Leadership Program to benefit from her extensive knowledge of mentoring and issues that affect women and migrants. As a mentor to me over the past year Alma has helped me define my key skill set, improve my employment profile, actively seek out and chase new opportunities and changed the way I approach planning my future career. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alma as a mentor and coach.
Rosie Pritchett - Dentist
Lissett Ordonez – People and Culture Officer at Public Record Office Victoria
It is my pleasure to write a recommendation for Alma. I wish to express my gratitude for Alma’s professional advice and more importantly her encouragement and support. Alma is a fantastic coach and always has the right words for every situation.
She is a positive person with great energy and each session with her is empowering. Her honesty and pragmatic approach will help you to achieve and improve your career path. As Alma once said to me” We are a work in progress”.
Alma is very flexible with her timing always working around your time and your needs. I am privileged to be coached by Alma and I highly recommend her services.
Lissett Ordonez - People and Culture Officer at Public Record Office Victoria
Giovanna Szalkowicz · Program Coordinator | Project Manager | Snr Project Coordinator | Snr Research Officer
I am writing this testimonial with immense pleasure. Alma’s encouragement, support and professional advice have helped me think about my career and professional development. Alma possesses every quality you would want in a great mentor. She is positive, honest, intuitive, and pragmatic. Alma is very generous with her time and always works around your time and needs. If you are looking to transform your career, I highly recommend you working with Alma.
Giovanna Szalkowicz - Program Coordinator | Project Manager | Snr Project Coordinator | Snr Research Officer
Ana Paula Ferreira · Environment Advisor at Rio Tinto
I am glad for having Alma as my career coach. She is a fantastic professional who will always go a step further to ensure you understood her advice and recommendations. Alma is also very generous with her time and will spend extra time with you whenever is needed.
I feel more confident now to apply to jobs in my field, thanks to Alma! I highly recommend her service.
Ana Paula Ferreira · Environment Advisor at Rio Tinto
Kara Abbasnejad – Senior Procurement and Contracts Officer
I am so grateful for having Alma as my career coach. Her coaching and leadership abilities as well as her beautiful personality helped me to achieve one of my goals. She is great and I really recommend her.
Kara Abbasnejad - Senior Procurement and Contracts Officer
Aman Kaur – ASG Group
I am writing this recommendation with immense pleasure about my experience with my mentor - Alma. Alma is a highly energetic professional who is always approachable. Alma is very informative, courageous & motivating. I have learnt a lot from her coaching and polished my interview skills. I am looking forward to learn & gain from ongoing mentoring from Alma. On a personal note, I also find Alma very spiritual refined human being! She is a strong woman & I am privileged to be mentored by Alma.
Aman Kaur - ASG Group
Asmaa Yousaf – Infrastructure Partners Investment Fund
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Alma. Alma is an excellent career coach and industry mentor. She is incredibly intuitive, an excellent listener and highly pragmatic. Alma is part strategist, part thought provoker, and part cheerleader. She has a way of repackaging your own, sometimes confusing, thoughts in a way that adds meaningful direction. I am very grateful to have worked with her during a challenging period professionally and highly recommend her services to anyone who is looking to transform their career.
Asmaa Yousaf - Infrastructure Partners Investment Fund
Elizabeth Trewhella -SheWorks Manager at Fitted for Work
I had the pleasure of attending Alma’s ‘Combatting Bias to Build an Inclusive Leadership’ Workshop last year. Alma is such an engaging presenter, sharing her expertise, she brought the content to life through her interactive approach. Her session empowered me with new knowledge on how to practice inclusive leadership and I left eager to start applying learnings in my workplace and continue research on the topic.
Elizabeth Trewhella -SheWorks Manager at Fitted for Work
Melinda Weston – Melinda Weston Career Coaching
Alma is one of the most passionate and pro-active people I have come across within the coaching and careers development space! Alma sat with me for a strategy session which was brilliant. She is so open with her knowledge and genuine in her approach - which is wanting to see her clients do well. I am so happy to have been introduced to Alma.
Melinda Weston - Melinda Weston Career Coaching
Maria Azzurra Tranfaglia- Department of Premier and Cabinet
Alma is a force of nature. She combines technical knowledge of HR/ER practices with a deeply empathetic and pragmatic approach to migrant women empowerment in the workplace. She is an advocate for the value of cultural diversity, and I am lucky to have her as one of my mentors!
Maria Azzurra Tranfaglia- Department of Premier and Cabinet
Sudha Pandey- Liability Specialist, EML
I had the opportunity to be mentored and coached by Alma Besserdin, who is one of the best Career coaches and mentor in the industry. Alma took genuine effort in understanding my strengths and provided the guidance that paved my way for success in a totally unknown market. With Alma, I was always honest in the areas where I needed training and coaching. She has always been easy and flexible with her timings, to an extent that she once even coached me for an upcoming interview from the hospital while taking care of her father. Thanks to Alma, I am a much more. Bolder, Courageous and Confident individual. Alma, thank you for your continued support, coaching and for being part of my career journey.
Sudha Pandey
Liability Specialist, EML
Rebecca Jones, Sales, Management, Customer Relations, PACCAR
Attending Alma’s workshop was a great chance to refocus my mind, understanding the little impacts that can make life easier and reset clear goals. Alma was able to show that by focusing on yourself first, you can achieve so much more. • Value Proposition, Branding & Career Goal Setting Playbook – Is an additional tool from the class, to use throughout life, career and personal goals. Alma herself was great to engage with, positive attitude and listened to everyone in the class. Sharing her personal and career experience was a great addition to all of her knowledge and experience in coaching and influencing.
Rebecca Jones, Sales, Management, Customer Relations, PACCAR
Debbie Brooks – Diversity Recruitment Leader, IPA
I have worked with Alma on a number of projects this year and have found her to be a knowledgeable and engaging professional who has a true passion for Diversity and Inclusion. Her insights, particularly around multiculturalism, are eye-opening. It is a pleasure working with Alma.
Debbie Brooks - Diversity Recruitment Leader, IPA
Theresa P Mills- CEO Money
Alma is an engaging presenter with a thought-provoking story to tell. Her experiences, insights and skill have the ability to help position enterprises to authentically integrate diversity into the modern-day workplace. If your enterprise wants to be an employer of choice, a destination for talent and get the edge on your competition you need to work with Alma.
Theresa P Mills- CEO Money
Adam Kent- Advocate RS Victoria
I thoroughly enjoyed Alma’s workshop on “Building an Inclusive Community”. Alma’s knowledge and passion were evident and helped me understand the complexities different cultures face with “fitting in” to our communities. I learnt new ways to be inclusive I would not have thought of. I’m much more aware of my “Blind spots”. I will educate my own children in the benefits of being inclusive and living in an inclusive community.
Adam Kent Advocate
RS Victoria
Amy Sylvester – South West TAFE
I loved Alma's energy and passion. I really enjoyed hearing her story and how she uses that as a positive to help others and influence change. In life there are choices, and even if we can’t see them right now, keep looking! Loved the NLP influence in Alma's presentation! Just because this is a habit, I have doesn't mean I have to be run by it and keep an eye out for that unspoken communication. I was also fascinated by the population growth statistics that were presented.
Amy Sylvester - South West TAFE
Leadership Great South Coast
We loved working with you Alma your facilitation style is energetic and infectious. Thank you.
Leadership Great South Coast
Neil Smith – Change Manager Credit Management
Alma is a fantastic manager to report through to. Always supportive, genuinely interested in understanding issues and highly energetic, Alma strives to deliver the best from her direct reports. Working with Alma to help deliver organisational change at Adecco has been highly informative and I have learnt so much over the last four and a half months that I will be able to apply over the balance of my career.
Neil Smith - Change Manager Credit Management
Con Lambros – Senior HR Executive
Alma has an advanced strategic and practical knowledge of business transformation and change management. Alma has been instrumental in facilitating large scale business transformation in large corporates successfully. Alma's straightforward approach and her superior HR generalist and specialist skills are what sets her apart. I would thoroughly recommend Alma's work.
Con Lambros - Senior HR Executive
Jovita Gartlan – Senior Leader in McKinsey Company’s Transformation Team
Alma is a natural change agent. She knows how to make the impossible happen and quickly. People love Alma, they love her style, passion and fun personality. Alma brings the amazing and wonderful combination of a can-do attitude, a laser like legal detailed mind and a very personal care for others.
Jovita Gartlan - Senior Leader in McKinsey Company’s Transformation Team
Tarnia Sniadala – General Manager Human Resources Corporate
Alma Besserdin is a consummate professional offering end to end career transition professional coaching services which encompass truly partnering with the candidate in their career journey. From executives to early career staff, I would not hesitate to engage Alma knowing that staff would receive the highest quality 1-1 assistance. Alma’s leadership style builds confidence, knowledge and skillset in her clients which enable them to significantly further their professional careers. She is an exceptional coach & mentor whose passion has the ability to inspire across all ages, backgrounds, industries.
Tarnia Sniadala - General Manager Human Resources Corporate
Nikolina Josipovic – Program Coordinator & Administrative Support SLAVIC WELFARE ASSOCIATION INC
We approached Alma because our organisation Slavic Welfare Association Inc. needed governance and policy, and procedures developed due to being newly re-established. Alma is very knowledgeable, skilled and best of all a supportive and understanding professional. Her expertise and services helped our organisation form its underlying ground for successful and lawful operation. Alma’s positive, encouraging and enthusiastic personality and approach helped ease the overwhelming change and implementation processes we required to undertake as an organisation. We strongly recommend Alma and her services to others in need. Words cannot express how wonderful she is and we look forward to collaborating with her in the future.
Nikolina Josipovic - Program Coordinator & Administrative Support SLAVIC WELFARE ASSOCIATION INC
Sunjae Choi – Director Deloitte Australia
Alma, your presentation at CPA Small Business forum was uplifting and entertaining. You have demonstrated a great deal of knowledge in the area of managing change at the personal and organisational level. Your approach is very down to earth and using many practical examples that the audience could relate to. What a refreshing speaker and one that should be shared with many other people. You presented in a manner that was both humorous and entertaining, while still getting your message across to the entire audience. You connected with the audience really well and established an amazing trust and rapport. I am a frequent attendee of CPA events, and your presentation was one of the best that I have ever attended, if not the best. Again, thank you and I hope to see you presenting soon again.
Sunjae Choi - Director Deloitte Australia
Natasha Almeida
When you are at a stage as a professional where you wish to pursue a career, you can be assured of top-notch training and mentoring whilst working with Alma as she helps fosters a great working environment that drives any individual to perform to the best of their ability. Alma is not only passionate about the work she does but at every level transforms the way work is done. It has been a great privilege to have worked with Alma as not only did I learn new skills but also learnt how to keep evolving in a dynamic work environment where changes happen at every step of the way.
Natasha Almeida
LEISA MOLLOY – Director Business Psychologist Flourishing Minds Consulting
I engaged Alma’s support in undertaking some high-level business and strategic planning for Flourishing Minds Consulting. She provided exactly what was needed, leveraging her unique combination of skills and experience to deliver objective, yet insightful advice and suggestions. Alma’s warm, supportive and professional approach also made our session a highly enjoyable experience. I’m fairly sure our professional relationship will now extend for years to come!"
LEISA MOLLOY - Director Business Psychologist Flourishing Minds Consulting
Susan Quinn – Susan Quinn Senior HR Business Partner at Victorian Agency for Health Information
Alma is a skilled organisational change/organisational development professional. She applies a practical ‘best fit’ approach to organisational change, ensuring the change program fits the specific organisational requirements. Alma helped shift the organisation to achieve the organisational goal of being an ‘employer of choice’. Alma is a skilled communicator, able to communicate complex concepts to a range of stakeholders, while maintaining their engagement. Alma has a rare capacity with in the consulting profession, acting as an enabler as well as change advisor. I have continued to leverage the knowledge I gained while working with her, years after the completion on the project.
Susan Quinn
Senior HR Business Partner at
Victorian Agency for Health Information