For a long time, HR has been seen as the function that manages policies and paperwork. But what if HR could actually influence how fast a business grows, how well teams perform, and how sustainable that growth really is?
As expectations from HR continue to rise, the real question is:what needs to change for HR to move from a support role to a business growth driver?
To unpack this shift, I’m joined by Kareem Galal, a senior HR and Organizational Development leader with over 17 years of experience across the Middle East.
Host of this Episode: Sanjeevani Saikia
Guest Bio
Kareem Galal is a senior Human Resources and Organizational Development executive with over 17 years of experience across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Dr. Fahad Al-Refaei & Partners Law Firm, where he leads firm-wide HR strategy, governance, talent development, performance management, and workforce transformation.
He specializes in HR governance, KPI systems, competency frameworks, succession planning, employee experience design, and digital HR transformation. Kareem has led large-scale people development programs and institutional restructuring initiatives for legal and commercial organizations across the GCC and MENA region.
Connect with Karrem Galal: Linkedin
Timestamp
(01:53) Kareem shares his corporta journey so far.
(07:20) How HR moved beyond policies and paperwork to influence business outcomes.
(13:15) The ways people strategy or people-first cultures can shape growth and market performance.
(17:25) Aligning talent strategy with business goals.
(22:18) Designing succession and development programs that accelerate performance.
(29:55) Using HR tech and data to drive smarter decisions.
