Organisational culture and values were at the heart of a powerful paper published by the ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) Ethics Board. The ICAS paper under the seminal “Power of One” series recognises that corporate culture is an organisation’s guiding force; and that successful organisational values are those that are “properly set, clearly stated and always lived”.
ICAS notes that, as a fundamental building block, the leaders of organisations must establish a set of clear values – and keep those values under review to ensure that they remain up-to-date and relevant. It is only fitting then that, as part of ITL’s 25th anniversary, we revisited the values we have upheld as our North Star for the last 25 years, to ensure that we are relevant and aligned for decades to come.
Commenting on the values refresh at our organisation as a pioneer in the Mauritian financial services sector, CEO Ben Lim reflects on the past and explains how the new values help ITL navigate the future with greater success: “The past 25 years have been remarkable, but I believe the best is yet to come. With our strong foundation and commitment to our refreshed values, I am confident that ITL will continue to lead, innovate, and make a positive difference for many years to come.”
Taking employees along on the values refresh journey
The ICAS paper also emphasises a clear need for alignment between the values of an organisation and those of its employees. There is some evidence that the younger generation has a stronger interest than previous generations in their organisations pursuing long-term, sustainable goals; this younger generation may therefore be instrumental in ensuring the success of organisations in the long-term. It is therefore essential that employees are involved in the process of determining an entity’s values – the employees need to feel empowered and part of the process.
Keeping this principle in mind, the refresh of our organisation’s values was conducted with a diverse group of ITL employees sitting around the table to reflect upon and reaffirm the company’s core values.
Setting the tone for the future
Moreover, the ICAS paper notes that, in today’s world, there is also wider stakeholder interest in the impact of business on the economy, communities, and society. This needs to be considered when organisational values are being developed.
Indeed, we firmly believe that these refreshed values not only reflect the 25 years that have passed, with our organisation going from strength to strength, but also set the stage for our future. They embody the spirit of ITL and will guide us as we continue to innovate, grow, and make a positive impact both within our organisation and with our partners and clients.
Unveiling the values charter: What our values look like
Our refreshed values encompass innovation, resilience, client-focus, responsibility, sustainability and collaboration.
To elaborate, here is the values charter that ITL is following to ensure that our organisation has a clear and stated focus on keeping employees and clients at the heart of what we do.
- We are Innovative Leaders: At, ITL we embrace new ideas and technologiesto drive progress. “Through ongoing training and mentorship programmes, we empower our team to master industry trends to drive our industry forward. We have fully embraced AI and have developed a comprehensive strategy around it,” says CEO Ben Lim.
- We are Client Focused: “We have built a culture that combines innovation while always putting the client first and making sure we know what we are doing. Indeed, our clients are at the heart of everything we do,” he adds. As a market leader, ITL’s client-centric approach means we anticipate needs, proactively seek feedback, and continuously refine our services to deliver exceptional value.
- We are Resilient: At ITL, we remain strong, perseverant, passionate,and resilient in pursuing long term goals and adapting to challenges. “We continually push forward, no matter the difficulties. This value is underpinned by our unwavering long-term focus, which guides our actions and decisions. We cultivate a growth mindset, viewing obstacles as opportunities for learning and improvement,” explains Ben.
- We are Responsible and Sustainable: At ITL, we lead with a sense of responsibilityandethics towardssocial and environmental impacts. “As a proud signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), we align our operations with its principles. Mauritius, as a small island state, is heavily impacted by climate change—just look at the current drought and the erosion of our beaches. ITL believes in leading the way in promoting ESG values, especially since we are directly affected by climate change,” he adds.
- Together, we are ITL! As one family, we support each other and work collaboratively. “The true strength of ITL is its family-like culture, where staff feel a close bond with each other and the directors,” affirms Ben.
Facing the future with greater confidence
Ultimately, a recent study by Blue Beyond Consulting and Future Workplace demonstrated the importance of values. According to the survey, 52% of workers would quit their job — and only 1 in 4 would accept one — if company values were not consistent with their values. In addition, 76% said they expect their employer to be a force for good in society.
As we go into the future with a new value system, we are confident that our employees are on board with the key focus areas for ITL, and we are going into 2025 with the best that ITL has to offer.
“I am proud of how far we have come, and the credit goes to each of our employees. Your dedication, hard work and teamwork spirit really shone through. Let’s carry these values with us in everything we do. They are not just words on a page, but the very essence of who we are as ITL,” concludes Ben Lim.
