Biography

HR Professional with more than 18 years of HR regional and international experience. worked for a Management consultancy firm (in Cairo) an Oil & Gas Multinational for 7 years (in both Egypt and Italy) and in Bechtel as an HR Country Manager for 1 year- Also worked for 10 years in Borouge, a semi governmental Petrochemical Company in the UAE before moving to Al Jaber Group - one of the largest private groups in the UAE and the Middle East- as HR Director.

Best career advice I ever got

Sometimes people are surprised to realize what an inside game career management is. In fact, if you are not sure about what major to choose or what career to pursue or what job to look for next, a great first step would be to start envisioning what your ideal career or job looks like. This can only come from the inside! Only you know what you prefer and how you would like to live. Stick to your career beliefs throughout your work journey and do not get drifted by the money only.

Favorite Job task I ever had to do

Creating HR systems and applications from scratch. It is challenging however you see it growing, developing and succeeding right in front of you.

Most dreaded job task I ever had to do

Terminating staff for redundancy / financial crises could be sometimes very painful.

Best career decision ever made

Having a generalist HR role and not specializing in one aspect only. This gives you a helicopter vision and helps you a lot in consolidating your managerial HR capabilities

Weirdest career decision ever made

Leaving a stable post in a Multinational to join a state owned organization in different country.

My Biggest Professional Challenge

Managing the HR function of a group of 30 diversified line of business with more than 40,000 employees

Icons who have influenced my career progression/Role Models

I was lucky with all the CEO's I worked with. I believe all of them had their own management style but they all added to my leadership treats.

Most recommended readings (Websites, books) for people interested in my filed of work/ industry

I think www.shrm.org is the most valuable website for HR professionals.

In another life, my perfect job would be

A TV Broadcaster, without a doubt

My living and working in UAE experience has so far been

Very Good

A successful career thought/ Motto that I live by (and advise others to consider)

Quick moves from one job to another is not healthy. However, calculated moves in your early career could add a lot to your skills, competencies and professional expertise.