Bio
Maziad Alkhaldi, was born and raised in Kuwait. Maziad holds Bachelor in Social Science from ECE, USA and will be graduation with a MBA from Maastricht Business School in July 2010, Maziad is the HR manager of Sultan International Academy in Kuwait. Maziad has previously been engaged in lecturing at the AWARE center in Kuwait and has volunteered for non-profit organizations. Maziads’ prime responsibilities today include setting the organizational strategy related to developing the human capital.
1. How do you like living and working in Kuwait?
Kuwait has a unique environment that one can easily get used to and not want to let go of. It is a very attractive location for job seekers hunting for jobs and thus a great pool of talented expat and local work force have long been living and working in Kuwait. I love living in Kuwait and find it easier than living anywhere else. It is a secure country to reside in , let alone one does not have to worry about taxes (Government fees are quite reasonable).
2. What is your average day at work like?
Every day at work brings a new and exciting professional challenge my way. I thoroughly enjoy learning new things every day, meeting new people and working towards achieving my objectives. My day mostly revolves around catering to our employees’ needs and concerns, meeting with the administration and the HR team in order to share insights and plan for next year’s HR strategy. A good part of my day is also spent planning team activities that develop our employee’s capabilities maintain their sense of organizational commitment. Maintaining employee loyalty is the cornerstone of any given organization, I believe.
3. What is your biggest professional challenge?
Dealing with human capital is a challenge it self, but I would say my biggest challenge is dealing with uncertainty (i.e.: waiting for official papers to get ready and explaining the process of the delay to employees, etc..)
4. What is the most important thing you look for in new hires?
Ethics are crucial in today’s business environment. We mostly look for employees with a great sense of integrity- HR measurements will never be perfect and no system will to track employees’ performance “à la perfection” unless employees love their job and give it their best.
5. What is your favorite part of your role?
Social events we organize for our employees hold a precious place in my heart- such occasions help me see a different side of our employees and get to know them and their families on the personal- not only the professional- level.
6. What has been the highlight of your career in HR?
I would have to say it was measuring personal performance using the Balance Score Card- which is still considered new in Kuwait.
7. What do you read to keep abreast of industry developments?
I am currently engaged in the book “Flawless Consultancy” which tackles general issues in the HR industry. I also make it a point to check out the industry reports, market highlights and other books pertaining to HR. Internet is a valuable source of information in all aspects and I strongly rely on it in my readings nowadays.
8. What is your advice to someone looking to enter the field of HR?
Master the art of communicating with others. Dealing with people and an immense amount of patience and transparency is very crucial in the HR field. I must say I am very fortunate to have combined Social Sciences with business studies in my college education as I feel this has gotten me well prepared to take on Top roles in HR in the Middle East.
9. How do you see the Middle East evolve as a place to practice HR?
HR in the Middle East has made a remarkable improvement throughout the last decade and has proven to be a very important aspect of every Middle Eastern organization. Retention of talents is much needed at times of economic growth and constant change and I see a great share of employers in the Middle East are now aware of this reality and are working towards reinforcing HR practices in their companies.
10. Anything else you'd like to share with the community of Bayt.com Employers?
I would like to thank Bayt.com for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on their Bayt blog amongst the region’s top employers and talents, and I believe we as employers in the Middle East and Job seekers in the Middle East are lucky to have a Top Middle Eastern job site such as Bayt.com who works from the Middle East to the Middle East (Job seekers and employers alike)
