By Prinscilla Bulu
Former Global HR Director for BBC News and Current Affairs, Irene Asare, has shared her powerful career journey and lessons in leadership during an interview on the GTV Breakfast Show on December 3, 2025.
Irene, a Ghanaian HR expert with more than 25 years of experience, recently stepped down from her role at the BBC, where she led people strategy for over 6,000 employees across the world. Before joining the BBC, she held senior positions at major companies including Vodafone, Tullow Oil, and Sun Oil, earning a reputation as one of Africa’s most respected HR leaders.
Speaking about her early life, Irene said her ambition started from childhood.
“I’ve always had a drive and a desire to do something bigger,” she said. “My father’s strong work ethic shaped me. I was always willing to take on the hardest tasks.”
Although she was born and raised in London, Irene explained that her Ghanaian identity had always been important to her. This influenced her decision to move to Ghana in 2010 to work with Vodafone and later Tullow Oil.
“I didn’t want to be someone who only calls herself Ghanaian from afar,” she said. “I wanted to live and work here and experience it.”
Irene described the BBC recruitment process as “very rigorous,” involving six to seven rounds of interviews with the organisation’s top executives.
“I was interviewed by the CEO, CFO, the Group HR Directors, and several leaders. It was intense,” she recalled.
Irene also explained that managing HR in a global news organisation comes with high pressure, especially because news happens 24 hours a day.
She said some of her biggest challenges involved supporting journalists working in war zones such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Russia.
“You have to think about their safety, wellbeing, and the HR policies that protect them and their families,” she said. “These are issues you don’t usually experience in Ghana.”
According to Irene, leading teams across different cultures taught her to adapt, stay flexible, and understand what motivates people in different environments.
On the topic of diversity and inclusion, she also said the journey is never smooth.
“Oh gosh, no. There are always hurdles,” she said. “We all have some level of unconscious bias. That’s why diversity, equity and inclusion programs are so important.”
She stressed that inclusion means giving everyone equal access and valuing different perspectives, regardless of background.
Irene shared that one of her toughest moments was when she moved to South Africa to lead a team in an area outside her direct expertise.
“The way I used to lead wasn’t working. I felt like I was going to fail,” she said.
A difficult but honest conversation with her boss at the time helped her reset, grow and eventually succeed.
When asked about her life after BBC, Irene explained that, she is stepping into a new chapter, as she has become a Strategic HR Advisor, helping organisations redesign their people strategies and prepare for future skills.
She also added that she works as an executive coach, supporting senior leaders facing major decisions or career challenges.
According to Irene , she will launch her flagship programme, “Seen and Heard”, designed to help professionals understand themselves, build confidence, and grow into stronger leaders in January .
Before ending the interview, she shared five practical business and career tips that “Be visible by letting your value be known, deal with imposter syndrome by not letting self-doubt stop you,create a personal development plan, get constructive feedback from at least three colleagues and continue investing in your personal and professional development.
