Nelly Boustany is the Head of HR at SAP Middle East and North Africa (SAP MENA). She oversees all HR functions in SAP MENA; from HR operations to talent acquisition and leadership development. In this interview with Bayt.com, Nelly shares her views on the development of the IT industry in the region, SAP’s growth in the last few years, and what it takes to succeed in today’s demanding job scene.
Nelly Boustany is the Head of HR at SAP MENA. She is responsible for managing HR business partners dedicated to supporting all business functions across SAP MENA. Nelly also oversees the wider HR team who supports talent acquisition, HR operations, talent and leadership development, as well as rewards and benefits. She has over 11 years of leadership experience overseeing human resources for companies during periods of strategic expansion. Nelly joined SAP after spending more than four years with Nokia Siemens Networks MEA, where she most recently held the role of Talent, Leadership and Organizational Development Manager. Prior to this, Nelly was the Human Resources Manager for Siemens Middle East where she led the HR team for the Mobile Networks Division across the Middle East region. Nelly received her Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as an MBA from Notre Dame University in Lebanon.
The UAE is a fabulous place to live and work. I have been living here since 2000 and have witnessed tremendous development and growth across the country. I am proud of being part of this development and admire the leadership of this country. The UAE is very cosmopolitan, offers a very good standard of living, and is a safe haven for families. On a professional level, it is a regional hub for most multinational and big local conglomerates and, as such, provides endless opportunities for career development and growth. A good number of western universities have also opened campuses in the country, providing an innovative combination of academic certification with professional experience.
My average working day is around nine to ten hours long.
SAP is looking for talent with the right skills, attitude and motivation. They have to fit the profile of the job we are hiring for, have a great potential to learn, and, most importantly, share a passion for what SAP is all about.
SAP MENA has grown significantly over the last three years. To help us achieve this, we have launched a young professional program, transferred talent from elsewhere in SAP and recruited from the local market. Although we have achieved our growth targets there are sometimes challenges in smaller markets to find employees with the right skillsets, but are combating this with world-class training initiatives.
SAP has a highly engaged and enabled workforce, which is the foundation to help us achieve our long-term business goals. We unlock potential, encourage development and foster a strong culture of teamwork. Respect for diversity, accountability and integrity are integral part of our day-to-day life. Our success is based on the fact that we trust each other and measure our success by our customers’ success
I stay up-to-date by reading the relevant sections of the region’s tier-one newspapers, magazines, and websites. I also read international publications and am extremely active on social media, which can act as fantastic aggregators of the latest news and views.
I believe there has been a significant development over the past few decades. While quality can still vary, there is definitely a high awareness of best-practice. More can be done, of course, but the level of progress is pleasing.
The IT industry is an innovative and fast-changing industry. To be successful, candidates have to be self-starters and self-learners. An ability to learn and stay up-to-date is very important. It is also important to understand that it is no longer about just selling our products and solutions – it is all about adding value for the customer.
Today’s workforce must be highly agile, flexible, competent in terms of practical, technological, and leadership skills to drive innovation and business transformation within IT companies. A career at SAP is a chance to make the world run better, from helping hospitals react in real-time and extending banking to the unbanked to powering cutting-edge smart grid technologies. 63% of the world’s transaction revenue touches a SAP system. This is an exciting time to be part of SAP in the Middle East & North Africa region as we continue to growth and hire to meet the market demands. I encourage young graduates and professionals to check out the latest available openings on bayt.com as well as our job portal on sap.com and apply to be part of our growth journey.
