We recently had the opportunity to interview Ghenwa Habbal, a multi-award winning coach and HR leader, a Global HR, Culture enthusiast and Advisor, an Exclusive Chair for the UAE Intercultural Dialogue Wing at G100, a certified Brain-Based CBT, a Resilience Coach, an Author, a LinkedIn Community Top-Voice, an Assessor and a Judge of HR Practices at few organisations across EMEA, and proudly serves as member of HBR Advisory Council. She was also featured speaking at many regional conferences, on TV and interviewed by many podcasters and global HR organisations. As a thought leader, her career spans two decades of working to advance start-ups and Fortune 500 companies by applying HR human-centered leading strategies best fitted for VUCA environments.
With extensive professional experience and education that make her a highly skilled and sought-after professional leader and coach, Ghenwa continues to build a vast, diverse global village of real connections. Intending to help people become resilient to unlock their full potential, Ghenwa Habbal is striving for excellence. In this interview, Ghenwa shares her career journey over these years, challenges, trends shaping this field, and attracting the top talents while offering valuable suggestions for aspiring professionals.
A Glimpse Of Ghenwa’s Journey
We started the interview by asking, “How did you start your career journey?”
Ghenwa Habbal responds, “With all honesty, I was just plugged in HR. My story started with a genuine interest in understanding workplace dynamics. Spooling back, I began working officially when I was only 15. In and out of school, between institutes and random jobs, I gained experience in the travel, retail, and F&B industries. Alongside, I gained a start-up mindset from working with my father while setting up his 2nd travel and tourism company.
Fast forward to 2006, just a semester before graduating with my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, I joined one of the giant corporations specializing in environmental services in Lebanon. This marked the beginning of my career in HR. I was just plugged in there and tasked with building the function from scratch.”
She added, “Diving a bit deeper, it was a purely operational role where I managed to create policies, recruit and onboard 300 laborers for city cleaning roles, oversee their payroll, and administer their day-to-day operations. Not settling for what I have, I started networking with leaders in and outside my department to understand how other skill teams run their functions. I can say that with passion, hunger, and eagerness for growth while having the proper progressive leadership support and mindsets, I managed to accelerate my business acumen and ultimately helped secure early promotions in the businesses I served and contributed to their growth.
By observing behaviors, listening to people’s matters, and exploring various roles, I discovered my passion for connecting with people as well as connecting people with opportunities that led me to carve a path in resilient talent management and development backed up by my studies in Business Psychology, CBT, Resilience and brain-based based coaching that is founded based on neuroscience. And today, I leverage the expertise of a professional journey that spans two decades as I proudly serve at a Fortune 500 organization.”
Spark Behind The Role
We were curious to learn about the factors that inspired and influenced Ghenwa Habbal to be in this field. So, we asked, “What inspired you to specialize in talent management and development, and how has your background as a Business Psychologist influenced your approach?”
Ghenwa Habbal shared, “As someone passionate about the state of People Strategies, I firmly believe that “People are the fuel that powers the engine to excellence and profitability.” In line with my belief, humans are the powerhouse of any culture and business. My journey into talent management stemmed from recognizing the transformative power of cultivating human potential.
Furthermore, as an Alchemist, I understood and realized that Talent Management and Development is the leading role that best fits my capabilities and personality, given that it is the capital or pounding heart that will arm me with the power to create, innovate, transform, and combine ideas and people to create something distinct. The work in that space would be seemingly magical through its flow and synthesis. As a business psychologist, the abundance of studies and resources I have experienced and tested surely continues to equip me to blend psychology and business strategy, enhancing my approach to talent management and development.”
Acing The Hurdles
Hurdles and risks are an indispensable part of any professional journey. To learn more about how Ghenwa Habbal overcame the same, we asked, “Can you share a memorable challenge you faced in your career and how you overcame it?”
She replied, “Showing up in your skin is key for your success,” as Ghenwa says. Despite that, there were and will always be plenty who will not accept you as you are, but it is those few that you surround yourself with and aspire to influence and inspire. Despite the cultural norms and challenges, I am an ambitious rebel and more likely to be labeled an “Alchemist” leader.
I remind myself and others that we can improve our lives – and the world around us –. I had a dream and a vision for myself, which helped me form a thick skin, giving me the right to speak my mind with empathy, confidence, and a promise to stay unfiltered. Determination and perseverance have pushed me to achieve and carve a unique path for myself and others who aspire to embark on their leadership journey. I am here to help as I believe authentic leadership is everything today.”
She added, “A memorable challenge was navigating a company’s cultural shift. I overcame it by fostering open, empathetic communication, emphasizing shared values, and leading by example to ultimately steer the team and organizations I serve toward a positive transformation. There is power in mastering intercultural dialogues, and learning how to do so will help you remain stoic and resilient.”
Ever-Evolving Field
We were interested to learn about the vital ongoing market trends in Ghenwa Habbal’s industry and her perspective on their future implications. So, we asked, “As a leader in talent management, what key trend do you see shaping the future of the industry?”
Ghenwa Habbal shared, “See, I can’t predict the future. But, in the now and near and to thrive in our ever-evolving disruptive environments, I see that the key trends shaping the future of talent management from a human perspective are resilient leadership, an emotionally intelligent workforce, and a culturally aware society as we continue to work globally.
From a technology perspective, I firmly believe in integrating AI and data analytics, which provides more precise insights for strategic workforce planning, performance management, employee development, and talent acquisition. I encourage all HR professionals to learn more about GenAI and master prompts for the ultimate desired results to thrive in a VUCA or disruptive environment.”
Fostering A Healthy Work Environment
We asked, “How do you integrate your passion for culture and DEI into your work, and what impact has it had?”
Ghenwa Habbal shared, “In fostering a workplace culture that champions diversity and inclusion, successful organizations can employ a multifaceted approach. I want to shed light here on the importance of the Leadership commitment that usually sets the stage aside from the organization’s commitment to inclusive policies. Diverse hiring practices, including unbiased processes and various hiring panels, play a pivotal and crucial role.
Furthermore, I highlight the importance of training programs to drive awareness backed up by mentoring and reverse mentoring programs along Employee Resource Groups that provide a platform for connection. To ensure that these strategies are still supportive, I advocate for non-biased audits that are key to strengthening the organization’s fabric.”
Advice For Newcomers
Starting in the same field, beginners will find it inspiring and helpful to hear from an expert like Ghenwa Habbal. So, we asked, “What advice would you offer to those starting their career in human resources and talent development?”
Ghenwa Habbal responds, “There is no secret recipe or a list of qualities to adopt or embrace. At a high level, I advise embracing continuous learning, building strong relationships, and staying adaptable. The HR landscape evolves, and being proactive ensures success in this dynamic field. Also, get to know your skills; to do that, you need to fall, rise, and fail. Learn from these pitfalls and shape your persona.
Visualize the person you want to be and the change you wish to make, envision yourself, set your strategies, slice and dissect the acts, and remember it is not the destination but the journey. While cruising around, recognize your self-worth, well-being, and why you embarked on this journey.”
“Now, from a business perspective, you need to step out of HR to excel in your role and understand the business. Build your business acumen, strengthen your communication skills, enhance your resilience, elevate your emotional intelligence, and adopt a global mindset. As a coach, I advocate for coaching as it centers around skill development, performance optimization, and goal achievement while boosting confidence and keeping ego at bay. I also highlight the power of mentorship, which involves knowledge sharing and wisdom to support overall career development. Mentors are trusted advisors inside your organization who share insights and help you navigate your career path.
Finally, I advise you always to have a sponsor who actively advocates for your career development and advancement. Lastly, I encourage you to believe in the “Power in You,” my daily mantra, and not change who you are to accommodate or please others. If you want to change for the better, let it be your decision, way, and style.” Ghenwa Habbal added.
Advocating Collaboration, we askes Ghenwa Habbal
To grow as a successful business, it is paramount to have a strong team. We asked, “Could you highlight a unique strategy or practice you’ve implemented for fostering collaboration and teamwork?”
“Always think 360. You do not need the title of a leader first to foster collaboration and teamwork. You are leaders! You are lions who protect your community from risk, eagles who teach and empower others to fly, and butterflies who indulge in different journeys for joy and exposure.
Yet, I continuously adopt and implement a unique strategy for fostering collaboration: creating cross-functional project teams. This encourages diverse perspectives, enhances creativity, and strengthens bonds among team members, creating a culture of happiness and professionalism while also building a community of marketable skills.” Ghenwa Habbal replied.
Attracting Top Talents
Having the right talent in the team is another important factor that counts for the success of any business. So, we asked Ghenwa Habbal, “What innovative methods do you use as a Regional Talent Management Lead to attract, empower, and retain top talent?”
She passionately asserts, “As a Regional Talent Management Lead, I employ innovative methods such as personalized development plans, mentorship programs, and leveraging technology for seamless recruitment processes to attract, empower, and retain top talent. In my expertise, I learned to understand people’s aspirations and help them be in the right position. When you have the right person in the right role at the right time, they will flourish and grow, and so will the business.”
A Flexible Approach
“In your view, how will HR technology disruption and VUCA challenges impact talent management in the coming years?”
Ghenwa Habbal shared, “HR technology disruption and VUCA challenges will demand a more agile and strategic approach to talent management. Proactive adaptation and leveraging technology for predictive analytics will be crucial in navigating this landscape. Therefore, understanding how these can come into play while being human-centered and ESG-centric is key to success.”
Empathy – A Driving Force
We ended the interview by asking, “What is a key lesson you’ve learned in your two decades of experience that has shaped your professional perspective?”
“A key lesson learned is the importance of empathy. Understanding the unique needs of individuals and teams fosters a positive work culture, driving both personal and professional growth.” Ghenwa concluded.
Follow Ghenwa Habbal on LinkedIn.
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