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In this episode of The HR & CQ Show, Emma Jordaan and Sarah Brooks delve into the timely topic of Emiratisation, the UAE’s national initiative to increase the participation of Emiratis in the private sector. Joined by special guest Shazia Bharuchi, a British career coach working closely with Emiratis, the trio explore the real-world challenges Emiratis face when stepping into multicultural workplaces in the private sector, often led by Western norms.

From understanding the evolving HR compliance to discussing how Cultural Intelligence (CQ) plays a vital role in creating inclusive, empowering environments for local talent, this episode is a must-listen for HR professionals, business leaders, and anyone invested in the future of the UAE workforce.

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In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Stebbing-Mills (Co-Founder of The Wellness Theory) and Sam Harvey (Founder and MD of Braver Leaders) to explore the real meaning of leadership and wellbeing in today’s multicultural workplace.

We tackle:

• The rise (and risks) of well-washing
• Why burnout isn’t just for entrepreneurs
• The difference between being a manager and being a leader
• How to create safe, psychologically supportive environments
• What it takes to lead system-wide wellbeing change without a fancy title

From challenging hierarchy to decoding cultural norms around leadership, this episode is full of real talk, a few laughs, and plenty of practical wisdom.

Tune in and rethink what it really means to lead bravely and work well.

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In this episode of The HR & CQ Show, we sit down with Carmen Rendy and Alex Stanchu, co-founders of Divergent Line HR Consultants, to unpack their bold move from corporate HR to entrepreneurship — and the innovation they’ve brought with them.

Together, we dive deep into:

• Why traditional performance management systems are broken — and what needs to change
• How their tool RED (Reward, Engage, Develop) is transforming how organisations approach performance, recognition, and employee engagement
• The cultural nuances of motivation and how data can reveal your true star performers
• How HR can use data not just to support business outcomes — but to prove its value at the boardroom table

With over 30 years of combined HR experience in the region, Carmen and Alex share real-world insights on building tech for HR, by HR — and why it’s time to leave the Excel sheets behind.

This one is for anyone tired of tick-box exercises and ready to reimagine what performance management should be.

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In this special episode of The HR & CQ Show, we’re joined by none other than Dr. David Livermore, global thought leader on Cultural Intelligence (CQ), author, and 
Director of CQ Fellows. 

Together, we dive into what the future of work looks like in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic business hubs, Dubai. 

Whether you're an HR professional, business leader, or working in one of Dubai’s global teams, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies and eye-opening perspectives from one of the field’s most respected voices.

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In this episode, Sarah Brooks MCIPD and Emma Jordaan explore the ins and outs of onboarding in Dubai, including:

 ✅ Educating new hires about company culture.

 🌏 Embracing diversity beyond Emirati culture.

 🤝 Navigating cultural differences in the workplace.

 📋 Simplifying the visa process for international employees.

 🔄 Onboarding internal transfers.

 📉 Why 40% of international assignments fail—and how to prevent it.

Whether you’re an HR professional, a manager, or just curious about what makes great onboarding tick, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

🎧 Listen now and make onboarding your competitive edge

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