interview
HR professionals will also become better regulated. HR professionals
will be entrenched in the core business functions and have
a complete understanding of the core business.
HRP: Your career has spanned many borders. What’s the
key to success in working in different countries?
BK: The key to success in working with different nationalities
and in different countries is one’s ability to adapt to cultural and
regional needs. I have seen many top-class, Western-trained HR
and other professionals fail miserably in the Gulf because of their
inability to do this. Cultural sensitivity is critical.
HRP: What are the differences or varying priorities between
the countries where you have worked?
BK: Countries in the Gulf are oil and gas rich and the workforce
is predominantly made up of expatriates, who are good coaches
and mentors. But the priority in this region, after profitability, is
to develop their national talent. One of my main contributions in
these regions was putting HR programs in place that were specially
adapted to the psyche and needs of this region.
Working in the U.S. during the early stages of my career taught
me professional work ethics and the need for competence, a sense
of humour and openness in sharing information. That culture is
all about contribution and achievement.
I’m relatively new to Canada and I find it more difficult to make
inroads here compared to any other place I have worked before. In
A GROWING NUMBER OF
CEOS NOW HAVE AN HR
BACKGROUND, WHICH IS A
TESTAMENT TO THE GROWING
IMPORTANCE OF HR
IN THE ORGANIZATION.
– Badar Khan, SHRP
this age of globalization, we need to be more open and receptive to
international experience. There needs to be some concrete effort at
the highest level to make the assimilation process easy for foreigntrained
workers.
HRP: How has your international focus helped shape
your own thoughts on HR?
BK: It is all about adaptability and understanding the needs of
culture and the organizations. The skillset needed is the same
everywhere; it’s your ability to change and adapt to new surroundings
that is most important. ■
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Law around the world
nortonrosefulbright.com
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John Mastoras
416.216.3905
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514.847.4464
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403.267.8255
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