The Business of HR

Prof. Dr. Stoyana Natseva, psychologist, researcher, and Founder of Happy Life Academy, argues that while organizations pour billions into digital transformation, they are overlooking the ultimate driver of their survival and success: the human mind. | Written by Prof. Dr. Stoyana Natseva Artificial intelligence is transforming business at an unprecedented speed. Every week brings a new technology capable of writing reports, analyzing data, optimizing operations, or automatin

Strong leadership starts with presence. Dr. Louise Lambert explores why paying attention, showing genuine interest, and being fully present can strengthen trust, wellbeing, and team performance. | Written by Dr. Louise Lambert Most managers think they are good listeners and they probably are. They care about their teams, ask questions, and make time when they can. And yet, one of the most common complaints employees have about their managers is not about workload or pay, but

As FIFA 2026 captures the attention of millions across the GCC, organizations face a unique challenge: balancing productivity with employee wellbeing. Kristina Vaneva explores how forward-thinking employers can turn World Cup fever into an opportunity to strengthen engagement, trust, and workplace culture. | Written by Kristina Vaneva, Employee Experience Professional and Founder of Beyond Plus The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and it's bringing a massive overtime shift for th

Common hiring assumptions continue to limit women’s career progression before it even begins. For organisations serious about building stronger leadership pipelines, the real opportunity starts much earlier: in how talent is identified, assessed, and recognised. | Written by Eng. Hamza AlKhalili Eng. Hamza AlKhalili, Training & Digital Transformation Director, AlHaya Medical Company Ltd. Let's be honest about the current Saudi job market: top talent is no longer evaluating op

In a world shaped by speed, AI, and constant change, Nitin Goil, Founder, Restoration Labs, reflects on why restoring trust, dignity, and human connection is becoming the real measure of leadership and performance. | April 2026 Edition The Happiness Perspective Toxicity often begins with silence, not conflict Culture is shaped in everyday behaviours, not big initiatives AI must enhance transparency, not reduce it Leadership courage builds dignity and trust Engagement must le

Nancy Zakharia shares how executive coaching creates space for senior leaders to navigate disruption, make high stakes decisions, and lead with clarity in constant change. | Written by Nancy Zakharia I often hear senior leaders say, “There’s simply no room to slow down anymore.” Executive leadership today looks nothing like it did a decade ago. The pace is faster, the stakes are higher, and expectations are broader. Leaders are accountable not only for performance and profit,

Norah Bindakhil, HRBP - West Gulf Cluster (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain), Takeda , reflects on HR’s role in steadying organizations during uncertainty, and why resilience, trust, and honest leadership design matter more than speed when the market starts shifting. | Written by Norah Bindakhil There’s a specific look leaders get when the market shifts. It ’s not panic, not yet. It ’s more like controlled alertness. The kind where calendars fill up, conversations become

| Written by Aruna Saravanakumar There was a time when HR was seen as the “support function,” the department you called when someone resigned or when policies needed updating. Fast forward to 2025, and that perception is obsolete. The CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer) has officially claimed a seat not just at the leadership table, but at the strategy table. And rightly so. Because here’s the truth that the most successful organizations have already realized: people strate

Anand Wong, Founder & CEO of Heron Resource Technologies, explains why HR transformation fails when treated as a technology deployment instead of an operating model and capability shift. | Written by Anand Wong Over the years, I have seen a consistent pattern when organisations talk about HR transformation. More often than not, it translates into a single initiative: implementing a new HR system and calling it transformation. The early stages are always energising. Product de

Maher Sabbagh explores why HR leaders lose credibility when they ignore commercial realities, and how business acumen, financial fluency, and strategic thinking redefine HR’s leadership impact. | Written by Maher Sabbagh If you have spent your career in HR focusing on people, culture, and engagement, you may believe that is enough to earn your seat at the table. I used to think proximity to people strategy naturally translated into business influence. After more than two dec