Hiring is not about choosing between permanent or flexible talent. It is about knowing when each model makes sense.

In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Graham Halton to unpack how fractional hiring is being used alongside permanent recruitment, not instead of it.

This episode is proudly powered by Alaan, the Middle East’s leading corporate card and expense management platform, helping finance teams gain more control and visibility while eliminating manual processes.

As businesses grow, restructure, or enter new phases, there are moments where full-time headcount is not the right first step. Fractional professionals allow companies to access senior expertise quickly, test structures, and build confidence before making long-term hiring decisions.

Graham shares how this model is supporting businesses across the UAE, how it fits into wider recruitment strategies, and where it is delivering the most value for clients today.

This is not about replacing traditional hiring. It is about giving companies more options to build stronger, more agile teams.

What you will hear in this episode:

📌When fractional hiring makes sense and when permanent hiring is the right move

📌How businesses use fractional roles to support growth and transformation

📌What the fractional model looks like in real organisations

📌How visas, payroll, and compliance are managed

📌Real examples of how this approach has helped clients

How Alchemy Search supports you

✅We manage the full end-to-end process, including:

✅Visas and work permits

✅Payroll administration

Whether you are hiring permanent leaders or exploring flexible talent, this episode will help you understand how to build the right team for where your business is today.

Listen to Alchemy Uncensored.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Why does finding the right role in Dubai feel harder, even when the market looks busy?

In Part 3 of our Season 4 market special, we turn the spotlight on Dubai and unpack what is really happening behind the surge in competition, shifting salaries, and changing hiring priorities.

If you are navigating the UAE job market, feeling the pressure of longer hiring processes, or wondering why roles feel more selective than ever, this conversation will give you the clarity most professionals are missing.

In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Anchal Kalra shares a real, on-the-ground view of how the Dubai market has evolved in 2025. From mid and senior level hiring trends, to the rise of contract and fractional roles, to the impact of AI and automation on traditional positions, this episode breaks down what is driving decisions today.

We also explore why Dubai remains a key hub for finance and tax talent, how oversupply is affecting salary expectations, and what professionals can do to stand out in a more strategic market.

You will learn:

📍 What the Dubai hiring market really looks like in 2025

📍 Why competition has increased and how employers are responding

📍 Which skills are most in demand

📍 How AI, automation, and SSCs are reshaping roles

📍 Why contract and fractional hiring is growing

📍 What candidates must do to stay competitive

This is the final part of our three-part market review series, following our Abu Dhabi and Tax market deep dives. Together, these episodes give you a complete picture of where the UAE hiring market is heading and how to position yourself for success.

Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New episodes every Wednesday.

This episode gives you a clear and practical view of the UAE tax hiring market in 2025.

This is Part 2 of our three-part series, and we focus on a question every tax professional is asking: what is really happening across Abu Dhabi and Dubai Tax Hiring market right now?

If you…

Are trying to decide between Abu Dhabi and Dubai,

Want to understand which skills are actually in demand,

Or feel uncertain about how the tax market has changed…

This conversation gives you the clarity most professionals struggle to find.

In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Rutika Hardikar breaks down the UAE Tax Market from the inside. From hiring trends and seniority shifts, to contract roles and salary expectations, this episode explains what shaped 2025 and what it means moving forward.

We also explore the real pros and cons of Abu Dhabi versus Dubai for tax professionals, how Corporate Tax has driven demand, and why hiring processes are taking longer than before.

You’ll learn:

📍 The key differences between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for tax careers

📍 How hiring demand shifted across 2025

📍 Why Corporate Tax dominated recruitment

📍 The rise in senior-level hiring and decline in junior roles

📍 How salaries and benefits have stabilized

📍 Why contract hiring increased so sharply

📍 What candidates should focus on in 2026

This is Part 2 of the series. The final episode will complete the picture with a broader UAE recruitment outlook and what to expect in the year ahead.

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Listen to Alchemy Uncensored. New Episodes every Wednesday!

Spotify: bit.ly/4sFt2q2

Apple Podcast: bit.ly/4865jHN

This episode will completely change the way you see the UAE hiring market.

This is Part 1 of a three-part special, and it starts with something every professional wants to understand: what is really happening in Abu Dhabi right now.

If you…

Are considering Abu Dhabi for your next move,

Want to know where the real opportunities are,

Or feel confused by how different the market feels compared to before…

This conversation gives you the clarity most candidates never get.

In this first part of Alchemy Uncensored, Weam Kamel breaks down the Abu Dhabi hiring market from the inside. From how roles are being approved, to how security clearance affects hiring, to why packages look the way they do, this episode gives you a real-world view of how decisions are actually being made.

We also explore how compensation is structured, why Abu Dhabi has been offering stronger overall packages, and how the market is beginning to evolve as it becomes more established and competitive.

You’ll learn:

📍 What the Abu Dhabi hiring market really looks like in 2025

📍How companies assess risk and candidates

📍Why some roles move quickly and others don’t

📍How salaries, bonuses, and benefits are put together

📍What professionals should know before targeting Abu Dhabi

This is just the first part. The next two episodes will take you deeper into the UAE market, giving you a complete picture of where hiring is heading and how to position yourself for it.

What does it really take to create a workplace where people feel connected, supported, and able to perform at their best? In a world where talent expectations are shifting fast, employee experience is no longer a “nice to have.” It has become a strategic priority that directly impacts performance, trust, and financial outcomes.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, we bring together two leaders reshaping how organisations think about culture and connection: Killian Fitzgerald from Workvivo by Zoom and Ruth Dance, founder of the Employee Experience Exchange, a growing UAE community for HR and people leaders.

Together, they break down what employee experience truly means beyond perks and surveys. They explore why culture is a business driver, how leadership behaviour shapes trust, and why CFOs should care about the hidden costs of poor employee experience.

Killian and Ruth also discuss the growing momentum in the UAE, the data leaders should pay attention to, and the simple actions any organization can take to build a people-first culture that performs.

Whether you are a business leader, HR professional, CFO, or someone passionate about transforming the workplace, this episode will redefine how you see employee experience and why it matters now more than ever.

What does it take to build a culture where people truly thrive? In today’s world of rapid change and high pressure, leadership isn’t just about driving results — it’s about leading with empathy, clarity, and purpose.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Sabahatt Habib, Chief People & Culture Officer at The Giving Movement and a LinkedIn Top Voice, who is redefining how People & Culture can become a true growth engine for business.

Together, they explore the real foundations of performance — how leadership behavior shapes mental health more than any wellness initiative, how to support the whole person beyond their job title, and what it means to build trust, fairness, and psychological safety in the workplace.

Sabahatt also shares her take on the “sports-team mindset”: fostering accountability, clarity, and collaboration that elevate teams to perform at their best, while still keeping humanity at the heart of success.

Whether you’re a people leader, an aspiring manager, or someone passionate about the future of work, this episode will reshape how you think about culture, leadership, and well-being at work.

What does it take to master finance across borders and cultures? Today’s finance leaders are more than number keepers; they are connectors, strategists, and enablers of global growth.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Olga Drevina, a global finance leader whose career spans multiple countries, industries, and transformation stories.

Together, they unpack what defines the modern CFO — how the role has evolved beyond traditional boundaries, what it takes to stay close to the core of finance while driving strategy, and how today’s leaders can balance being both visionary and grounded.

Olga also shares her approach to unlocking potential and building high-performing teams: understanding individuals’ strengths and passions, structuring teams for impact, leading as an enabler rather than an expert, and mastering the art of delegation to empower others.

Whether you’re an aspiring finance professional, an experienced leader, or someone navigating an international career path, this episode offers practical wisdom on growth, leadership, and the power of people in finance.

#financeleadership #cfoinsights #AlchemyUncensored #globalbusiness #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #highperformingteams #financetransformation #professionaldevelopment #businesspodcast

What does it take to turn finance into a true growth partner for the business? The role of today’s finance leader goes far beyond numbers — it’s about storytelling, collaboration, and enabling smarter decisions.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Luca Rossi, a globally experienced finance leader with a passion for tech-enabled businesses and fast-scaling environments. From his early days in London, moving from film financing to senior roles at Time Magazine, The Sunday Times, and The Financial Times, to leading finance at Property Finder and now Aldar’s flexible workspace venture in Dubai, Luca’s journey spans industries, continents, and transformation stories.

Together, they explore how finance can evolve into a strategic engine — from rethinking budgeting as a storytelling tool, reframing ROI as investment, and building diverse, empowered teams, to communicating effectively with non-finance leaders and turning finance operations into true intelligence.

This episode is a must-watch for finance professionals, aspiring CFOs, and business leaders who want to understand what modern finance leadership really looks like.

What does it take to build the financial engine behind a high-growth startup? The role of a startup CFO is not just about managing numbers. It’s about strategy, resilience, and creating the foundation for sustainable growth.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by James Evans, CFO at prop-tech rocketship Holo. With extensive experience driving financial transformation in the tech sector, James shares a candid look into the world of startup finance and the realities of scaling in a competitive market.

Together, they explore what it takes to raise capital in the MENA region, how to navigate investor pressure, and why mentorship and leadership are key to thriving as a young executive. James also opens up about the mindset and adaptability required to succeed in a fast-paced startup environment.

This episode is a must-watch for ambitious finance professionals, aspiring CFOs, and anyone eager to understand what it truly takes to build and lead in the startup world.

What does it take to step beyond finance and lead at the very top? The journey from CFO to CEO is more than a change in title — it’s about vision, influence, and the ability to inspire transformation across an organization.

This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by John Nolan, who shares his leadership journey from CFO to CEO. With years of experience navigating complex financial landscapes and driving organizational growth, John offers powerful insights into what it truly means to lead from the front.

Together, they unpack the challenges of transitioning into broader leadership roles, the mindset shifts required to succeed at the highest level, and the lessons that aspiring executives can learn from real-world experience. John also reveals how mentorship, resilience, and a people-first approach have shaped his career and leadership philosophy.

This episode is a must-watch for finance professionals, future leaders, and anyone aspiring to make the leap into senior executive positions.

#Leadership #CFOtoCEO #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveInsights #Podcast #AlchemyUncensored