We recently had the privilege of interviewing Jina Awkar, Founder of Marble HR Consulting. Jina’s journey over these years, evolving as an HR visionary while earning global qualifications as a Chartered FCIPD, inspires many. In this interview, the Founder shares her major milestones, how education has shaped her career, how she adapted to the market challenges, and how she set her company apart through the emerging trends.
Marble HR Consulting is based in the MENA region and offers exclusive services to empower businesses to enhance employee engagement, boost productivity, and achieve sustainable success. As the Founder of Marble HR Consulting, Jina shares her profound insights about plans for the company, lessons embraced over these years, and invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs in the industry.
Run-Through Of Her Career Journey
We started the interview by asking, “Could you share a brief overview of your career journey, including key milestones and transitions?”
Jina reflects, “I am a passionate and creative senior HR visionary. I studied Banking & Finance and kicked off my career in Money Capital. Over the years, I was told I am a gifted “people person”—why not shift to Human Capital? After deliberate thinking, I took that advice and established a solid foundation in HR Best Practices. Now, I am a proud HR leader with a focus on employee experience (EX), cultural and digital transformation, the future of work, L&D, and DEIB.
Besides that, I am a proud ex-Chalhoub Group and ex-DHL-er too. Chalhoub Group was my guru in spearheading all HR activities and business strategy while instilling a genuine People-Centric Culture. While at MENA DHL Express, I delivered value in leadership roles as an HR strategist, transforming and directing regional initiatives and programs that helped foster a culture of highly motivated people creating a positive impact at the global level.”
She added, “One of the keys to success throughout my career has been building strong, mutually beneficial relationships. I was able to maximize organizational effectiveness and inclusion alignment, successfully grow employee engagement and sense of belonging, and transform inefficient and ineffective groups into cohesive, dedicated teams.
Alongside this, I also created positive change and led innovative strategies while maintaining a solid fiscal position and delivering successful outcomes.”
Influence Of Education
We were intrigued to learn the impact of Jina Awkar’s educational choices on her career journey. So, we asked, “How has your education influenced your career choices and growth in this industry?”
She shared, “I have always been an art enthusiast and excelled in mathematics. When deciding what to pursue in my studies, I applied for both Graphic Design and Finance. I was fortunate enough to be selected to major in Banking & Finance. I used that as an opportunity to explore the business world while continuing to use art as a source of inspiration and escape.
My education and professional background in finance have helped me become a more astute, business-minded person and have given me the freedom to work on a variety of projects across a range of industries. This versatility has helped me launch a lucrative career in human resources management. Additionally, I have been able to utilize my artistic and creative abilities throughout my career as needed. My success in the workplace has always depended on my ability to grow, whether through specialized training, skill development, or learning the latest technologies. Recently, I have worked on earning a Chartered FCIPD and obtaining global certifications. That served as the catalyst for me to start my independent consulting career as the CEO and Founder of Marble HR Consulting Firm.
Adaptability Amidst Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of any business. So, we asked, “How do you tackle challenges in your field amidst changing market dynamics and technological advancements?”
Jina passionately replied, “I embrace a growth mindset to adapt to market challenges, viewing them as opportunities to change, learn, and progress. I also apply my creative mindset to explore new ideas and innovative strategies to stay competitive in a dynamic market.
I prioritize R&D and Learning; I always seek knowledge, acquire new skills, and stay updated with the latest HR Tech and industry best practices to make strategic decisions and adapt to evolving customer demands. It’s always helpful to interact with other open-minded professionals in and outside personal areas of industry expertise to build strong networks and seek collaboration and advice. I owe all that to my dad, and I got the entrepreneurship spirit and appetite for knowledge from him.”
Staying At The Top Of The Competition
To learn more about the approaches adopted by Jina to maintain the top position as a company, we asked, “How do you ensure your company remains adaptable to emerging trends and technologies?”
“I appreciate the opportunity to offer counsel and direction to other members of the LinkedIn network. As mentioned previously, networking and ongoing development are crucial for staying informed about the latest advancements in technology and trends, including online courses, conferences, and events. For instance, last month, I had the great opportunity to meet top HR leaders and startups influencing the future of work and HR technology at the Unleash event in Paris. It felt like being at the epicenter of HR disruption, where I interacted with a community of fascinating people from around the world. I left the event equipped with the appropriate resources and insights into the new world of HR, which will eventually enable me to advise organizations on the best solutions for them.” Jina Awkar replied.
Plans We Asked Jina Awkar
We further asked, “What are your plans or goals for your career and company?”
Jina continued, “Marble is an established HR consulting firm based in the MENA region, committed to be the leading HR consulting firm in the MENA region, focusing on enabling small and medium organizations to foster a sustainable future-fit culture. We pride ourselves on offering tailored solutions that address each client’s unique challenges and aspirations.
We offer comprehensive services that empower businesses to enhance employee engagement, boost productivity, and achieve long-term success through a robust organizational culture.”
“Our mission is to empower small and medium organizations in the MENA region with authentic HR guidance, innovative solutions, and expert services that enable the development of sustainable, adaptable, and thriving organizational cultures.
Besides that, our vision is to be the leading catalyst for positive cultural transformation in MENA-based organizations, creating workplaces that inspire, engage, and drive excellence.” She added.
Opting For Continuous Learning
In their career journey, spanning over a long period, Jina might have come across different situations that instilled valuable lessons in her life. We asked, “What valuable lessons have you learned throughout your career?”
Jina responded, “Integrity and emotional intelligence combined with knowledge can work miracles.
Continuous learning allows you to obtain more abilities and maximize your potential as a human being, and being willing to fail can help you grow and become an authentic leader. Finally, thrive in your life as you do in your career by embracing the work-life blend concept.”
Stand-Out Features Of Marble HR Consulting
We were curious to learn about the unique services offered by Jina’s brand. So, we asked, “How do you differentiate your services from competitors in the current market?”
She asserts, “Marble develops the workforce of the future by designing and delivering new employee experience and conducting change management for HR transformation projects. We support organizations across industries that leverage HR digitalization strategies to maximize operational efficiency and drive growth.
We can craft smooth transitional strategies to help organizations understand their core business and culture, and formalize new digital HR solutions. Also, we allow enterprises to assess and experiment with organizational digital literacy, creativity, and readiness while formalizing and strategizing new digital HR solutions.”
Navigating Through The Global Trends
To establish a strong brand presence, it is paramount to focus on efficient navigation through emerging trends. We asked, “How has your company effectively navigated and capitalized on emerging global market trends or shifts in consumer behavior?”
She responded, “Consumers everywhere have changed their behavior due to digital disruptions, prompting all businesses to adopt new experiences for both consumers (CX) and employees (EX). As a strategic HR consultant to these organizations, I was required to implement our HR solutions and design their optimal Employee Experience (EX), focusing on employee wellness and HR digital transformation.
Additionally, Marble is dedicated to social responsibility by encouraging internal and external diversity, equity, and inclusion. We assist organizations in conceptualizing Sustainable Human Resource Management, emphasizing Labour Rights implementation and HRM practices that prioritize environmental, human, and social objectives.”
Suggestions For Aspiring Professionals
Our last question was, “What are the most important qualities or skills you believe beginners should cultivate to thrive in this industry?”
“HR professionals require a wide range of abilities to be successful in their roles: soft skills, commercial acumen, and digital and data literacy are all crucial HR competencies. All HR Employees will benefit from these abilities as they advance in their careers and aid the success of their companies.” Jina Awkar concluded.
Connect with Jina Awkar on LinkedIn.
Find Marble HR Consulting on LinkedIn or visit their website to learn more.
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