Episode 20: Beyond Yoga & Fruit Bowls: Rethinking Workplace Wellbeing

Episode 20: Beyond Yoga & Fruit Bowls: Rethinking Workplace Wellbeing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393572/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The HR & CQ Show, we’re continuing the conversation from our  HR & CQ Breakfast Bites event and responding to one of the key questions raised by the audience: How do we get wellbeing taken seriously by the C-suite? Wellbeing is often dismissed as the “nice to have” part of HR, fruit bowls, yoga sessions, and one-off initiatives. But in reality, wellbeing has a direct impact on productivity, retention, engagement, absenteeism, psychological safety, and business performance. In this episode, we explore what it really means to take a holistic approach to wellbeing in the workplace and why wellbeing initiatives need to be designed with culture in mind. We discuss: • How to build a stronger business case for wellbeing • Why ROI matters when speaking to the C-suite • Why wellbeing means different things across different cultures • How to create inclusive wellbeing initiatives for a multicultural workforce • Low-cost wellbeing ideas that still make a meaningful impact • The role of accommodation, transport, food, financial wellbeing, and community • Why not every initiative will work for every employee • How HR teams can design a wellbeing calendar that feels relevant, inclusive, and practical Because wellbeing is not just about offering initiatives. It is about understanding what your people actually need and creating workplaces where they can feel supported, respected, and able to perform at their best. This episode was brought to you by Sarah Brooks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbrooks-hr-passionate/] and Emma Jordaan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jordaan/] Sarah Brooks is a CIPD-qualified HR professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Fikrah HR, a UAE-based consultancy specialising in strategic talent management, organisational development, and positive workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of HR and business experience across the UK and GCC, she supports SMEs with innovative HR solutions that drive employee engagement and organisational effectiveness and compliance. Recognised among the top 101 global HR minds at the World HR Congress in 2019 and 2020, Sarah’s expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, policy development, and performance management. She is also the co-host of The HR & CQ Show podcast, where she discusses HR trends and cultural intelligence in the UAE. Sarah has also been featured on Dubai Eye Business Breakfast radio show discussing hot topics regarding employer health & safety obligations and remote work challenges and is currently working towards the launch of Gigit, which will connect UAE based fractional & project workers with opportunities. Emma Jordaan is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in learning and development strategy and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). With over 20 years’ experience across ...

Episode 19 – The Human Advantage with Andrew Stotter-Brooks (Live from HR & CQ Summit 2026)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393572/fan_mail/new] In this special episode of The HR & CQ Show, recorded live at our HR & CQ Summit 2026, we’re joined by Andrew Stotter-Brooks, Global Learning & Development Director at TGI Fridays. Together, we explore what it really takes to lead, perform, and build high-impact teams in today’s increasingly complex world  and why the real competitive edge isn’t technology… it’s people. In this episode, we unpack: •Why leadership today is defined by complexity, clarity, and trust  •What separates organisations that execute well from those that don’t  •Why systems matter, but performance comes from how people operate within them  •The role of trust and why once it’s broken, it’s never fully restored  •The leadership capability most lacking today: listening and asking the right questions  •Why psychological safety is critical to performance  •Leadership lessons from global markets and why “people are people”  •The human advantage in a world increasingly shaped by AI  •Why “soft skills” are actually power skills  •How leaders can better support teams during times of uncertainty  We also explore the reality of leading in the GCC, one of the most diverse talent markets in the world and why connection, respect, and understanding are essential to unlocking performance. Because in the future of work… Technology will reshape roles, but it won’t replace human connection. This episode was brought to you by Sarah Brooks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbrooks-hr-passionate/] and Emma Jordaan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jordaan/] Sarah Brooks is a CIPD-qualified HR professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Fikrah HR, a UAE-based consultancy specialising in strategic talent management, organisational development, and positive workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of HR and business experience across the UK and GCC, she supports SMEs with innovative HR solutions that drive employee engagement and organisational effectiveness and compliance. Recognised among the top 101 global HR minds at the World HR Congress in 2019 and 2020, Sarah’s expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, policy development, and performance management. She is also the co-host of The HR & CQ Show podcast, where she discusses HR trends and cultural intelligence in the UAE. Sarah has also been featured on Dubai Eye Business Breakfast radio show discussing hot topics regarding employer health & safety obligations and remote work challenges and is currently working towards the launch of Gigit, which will connect UAE based fractional & project workers with opportunities. Emma Jordaan is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in learning and development strategy and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). With over 20 years’ experience across ...

Episode 18 - Navigating Cross-Cultural Teams in the UAE: Why Culture Drives Behaviour at Work

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393572/fan_mail/new] What actually shapes culture inside an organisation? And why does everything seem to shift when leadership changes? In this episode of The HR & CQ Show, we unpack one of the most relevant challenges facing organisations in the UAE today — navigating cross-cultural teams. Drawing on real questions from our HR & CQ Breakfast Bites events, we explore: *  Why individual cultural values (not just organisational values) shape workplace behaviour  *  How leadership changes can completely shift team dynamics  *  The reality of working across different cultural expectations around time, communication, and hierarchy  *  Why relationship-building is critical in the UAE — and why many leaders underestimate it  *  How remote and hybrid teams are losing trust without intentional connection  *  Practical ways HR leaders can diagnose communication breakdowns  *  Why most organisations mislabel communication issues instead of recognising them as cultural  *  The role of Cultural Intelligence training, coaching, and behavioural accountability  *  How diversity drives innovation, performance, and business outcomes  We also explore the Cultural Intelligence lens — how assumptions, perceptions, and behaviours differ across cultures, and what leaders must do to adapt. If you are leading a multicultural team, working across borders, or operating in the UAE’s diverse workforce — this episode will challenge how you think about culture at work. This episode was brought to you by Sarah Brooks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbrooks-hr-passionate/] and Emma Jordaan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jordaan/] Sarah Brooks is a CIPD-qualified HR professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Fikrah HR, a UAE-based consultancy specialising in strategic talent management, organisational development, and positive workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of HR and business experience across the UK and GCC, she supports SMEs with innovative HR solutions that drive employee engagement and organisational effectiveness and compliance. Recognised among the top 101 global HR minds at the World HR Congress in 2019 and 2020, Sarah’s expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, policy development, and performance management. She is also the co-host of The HR & CQ Show podcast, where she discusses HR trends and cultural intelligence in the UAE. Sarah has also been featured on Dubai Eye Business Breakfast radio show discussing hot topics regarding employer health & safety obligations and remote work challenges and is currently working towards the launch of Gigit, which will connect UAE based fractional & project workers with opportunities. Emma Jordaan is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in learning and development strategy and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). With over 20 years’ experience across ...

Episode 17 - End-of-Service Benefits in the UAE: What Every Employee & Employer Needs to Know

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393572/fan_mail/new] End-of-service benefits (gratuity) continue to be one of the most frequently asked questions at our HR & CQ Breakfast Bites and Summit events, so in this episode, we’re unpacking it properly. Sarah, our employment law expert, breaks down: * What UAE law actually says about gratuity (mainland, free zones, DIFC & ADGM) * What counts as final settlement vs. end-of-service benefits * Whether companies can legally refuse to pay * What deductions are and are not allowed * New alternative schemes (including DIFC’s DEWS model) * What employees should never sign without receiving * How to raise complaints with MOHRE or free zone authorities * Why cultural dynamics can stop employees from asking the right questions * The role of whistleblower policies in DIFC and ADGM We also explore the Cultural Intelligence lens, why employees from authority-oriented cultures may hesitate to challenge calculations, and how HR leaders can create transparency and psychological safety around end-of-service processes. If you work in HR, lead teams in the UAE, or are navigating your own employment journey here, this is essential listening. This episode was brought to you by Sarah Brooks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbrooks-hr-passionate/] and Emma Jordaan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jordaan/] Sarah Brooks is a CIPD-qualified HR professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Fikrah HR, a UAE-based consultancy specialising in strategic talent management, organisational development, and positive workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of HR and business experience across the UK and GCC, she supports SMEs with innovative HR solutions that drive employee engagement and organisational effectiveness and compliance. Recognised among the top 101 global HR minds at the World HR Congress in 2019 and 2020, Sarah’s expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, policy development, and performance management. She is also the co-host of The HR & CQ Show podcast, where she discusses HR trends and cultural intelligence in the UAE. Sarah has also been featured on Dubai Eye Business Breakfast radio show discussing hot topics regarding employer health & safety obligations and remote work challenges and is currently working towards the launch of Gigit, which will connect UAE based fractional & project workers with opportunities. Emma Jordaan is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in learning and development strategy and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). With over 20 years’ experience across ...

Episode 16 - Talent Acquisition & Retention in a Culturally Diverse Marketplace

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393572/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The HR & CQ Show, Emma Jordaan and Sarah Brooks are joined by Niall Hughes, Talent Acquisition Director at KEO International, for an in-depth conversation on hiring, retaining, and managing talent in one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions. Recorded at Ru'ya 25, Dubai World Trade Center, this episode explores the realities of talent acquisition in the GCC — from Emiratisation and nationalisation strategies to navigating applicant tracking systems, CV screening, and cultural integration in multinational teams. With over 60 nationalities represented across KEO’s workforce and operations spanning the GCC and Europe, Niall shares practical, behind-the-scenes insights from the employer side of recruitment that jobseekers, HR professionals, and leaders rarely get to hear. In this episode, we discuss: - How KEO attracts and retains talent across 60+ nationalities - Emiratisation and nationalisation: challenges, myths, and what’s actually working - Graduate programmes and developing local talent sustainably - Managing culturally diverse teams across regions, roles, and time zones - Common CV mistakes recruiters see — and how AI & ATS really work - Why honesty, clarity, and relevance matter more than ever in applications - Cultural adjustment tips for professionals new to the UAE - Cost of living expectations and the reality of job hunting in Dubai - Why patience, adaptability, and cultural awareness are career accelerators in the region Whether you’re: ✔️ A jobseeker considering a move to the UAE ✔️ Already applying for roles in the region ✔️ An HR or Talent Acquisition professional ✔️ A leader managing diverse, multinational teams this episode offers grounded, practical insight from someone who sits at the heart of hiring decisions. This episode was brought to you by Sarah Brooks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbrooks-hr-passionate/] and Emma Jordaan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jordaan/] Sarah Brooks is a CIPD-qualified HR professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Fikrah HR, a UAE-based consultancy specialising in strategic talent management, organisational development, and positive workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of HR and business experience across the UK and GCC, she supports SMEs with innovative HR solutions that drive employee engagement and organisational effectiveness and compliance. Recognised among the top 101 global HR minds at the World HR Congress in 2019 and 2020, Sarah’s expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, policy development, and performance management. She is also the co-host of The HR & CQ Show podcast, where she discusses HR trends and cultural intelligence in the UAE. Sarah has also been featured on Dubai Eye Business Breakfast radio show discussing hot topics regarding employer health & safety obligations and remote work challenges and is currently working towards the launch of Gigit, which will connect UAE based fractional & project workers with opportunities. Emma Jordaan is the Founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in learning and development strategy and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). With over 20 years’ experience across ...