CIPD Middle East Podcast

Rethinking how organisations grow leaders With Hazem Alaboud, Chartered FCIPD (UAE Federal Tax Authority) | Hosted by Dr Adrian Waite What does effective leadership development look like in today's organisations? In this episode, Dr Adrian Waite speaks with Hazem Alaboud, Chartered FCIPD and HR leader at the UAE's Federal Tax Authority, about leadership, organisational culture and the role of HR in supporting sustainable change. Drawing on experience gained across Nokia, Microsoft and the UAE public sector, Hazem reflects on his leadership journey and explores how organisations can create environments that enable people to learn, grow and perform at their best. The discussion examines leadership capability, psychological safety, innovation and the importance of creating the right conditions for success. The episode also considers the value of measuring ROE (return on expectation) alongside traditional ROI, lessons from a successful tax hackathon, and Hazem's perspective on modern HR: "Speak human, but bring the spreadsheet with you." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As organisations across the Middle East deepen their commitment to inclusion, this episode offers a timely exploration of what neurodiversity really means for today’s workplaces. Dr. Adrian Waite Chartered FCIPD is joined by Gemma Morris Assoc. CIPD, HR Business Partner at Savills Middle East, who brings a blend of professional expertise and lived experience to a conversation that cuts through assumptions and focuses on what truly matters for people at work. The episode looks at neurodiversity through a practical HR lens: how different thinking styles show up in everyday tasks, interactions, and expectations, and how small, intentional adjustments can significantly improve the employee experience. From clearer communication and reduced ambiguity to flexible environments that support focus and wellbeing, the discussion highlights the kinds of practices that help people perform at their best. Gemma offers insight into the often‑unseen pressures neurodivergent colleagues may navigate, and how thoughtful support can make work more accessible, sustainable, and empowering. Rather than treating neurodiversity as a specialist topic, the episode reframes it as a natural part of every workforce—and a key consideration for HR teams striving to build environments where people feel understood and able to contribute fully. At its core, this episode is a reminder that inclusion is built through everyday actions. It provides HR professionals with grounded, actionable perspectives on how to create workplaces that are more human‑centred, more supportive, and better equipped to help every individual thrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in Dubai during CIPD’s 10‑year anniversary, this episode brings together Dr Adrian Waite FCIPD and CIPD CEO Peter Cheese for a grounded, engaging conversation about how people strategy is evolving across the Gulf. Drawing on Peter’s nearly 14 years leading the CIPD and four decades in HR and consulting, the discussion blends regional insight with long experience of how work and workplaces change. The Gulf’s momentum comes through clearly: youthful populations, long‑term national visions and sustained investment in education are creating the conditions to build people systems with unusual long‑range clarity. Adrian and Peter explore how organisations are rethinking work before digitising it, shaping people strategies that reflect nationalisation priorities and cultural context, and equipping individuals with the human skills that support increasingly “squiggly” careers. They also look at what it means to extend wellbeing, safety and representation to large site‑based and blue‑collar workforces, and how data and AI can be used more intentionally to turn fragmented information into early signals and meaningful insight. Throughout, they return to the idea of people investment as generational value—something that resonates with governments, investors and future talent alike. The result is a conversation that feels both celebratory and forward‑looking, capturing the region’s progress while opening up space for what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CIPD Middle East People Podcast Series continues with a significant moment: the first episode in our Saudi Arabia thread, and the first delivered entirely in Arabic. In this conversation, host Khalid Al‑Harbi speaks with Malek Qaisi, Chartered MCIPD, a young HR leader who entered the profession in 2014, just as Saudi Arabia began a decade of extraordinary transformation. His journey from operational HR to strategic, evidence‑based practice offers a grounded, human view of how the profession evolved from within. Malek reflects on how expectations of HR shifted in real time, the capabilities practitioners needed to build to keep pace, and how CIPD qualifications and membership shaped his development. His perspective is honest and practical; the voice of someone who didn’t just observe change, but grew through it. This episode sets the tone for the Saudi Arabia thread: thoughtful, accessible, and rooted in lived experience. It speaks directly to HR professionals navigating a field that continues to move quickly, offering clarity and reassurance at a moment when the profession is redefining itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emiratisation is not simply about opening doors through policy; it is about what happens once people step inside. The true opportunity lies in creating experiences that engage, develop, and retain Emirati talent in ways that are meaningful both to individuals and to the organisations they serve. In this episode, hosted by Dr. Adrian Waite, we hear from Ahlam Abdulla Al Marzooqi, Group Emiratisation Manager at Galadari Brothers, and Fatima Mohammad Yousuf Ali Alblooshi, Assistant Business Development Manager at Galadari Brothers – Motors Division, and the first Emirati talent to enrol in and graduate from Ruwad, the organisation’s Leadership Development Programme. Together, they share candid reflections on navigating Emiratisation roles, responding to evolving regulations, and confronting the realities of the ‘war for talent.’ Their stories underscore the importance of strong onboarding, recognition programmes that foster trust and inclusion, clear career paths that enable long-term growth, and the flexibility that empowers Emiratis to balance professional ambitions with personal responsibilities while contributing to their communities and nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.