Author: CIO Business Leaders

“My interest in technology started at an early age and is rooted in my DNA. I have always been amazed by learning how things work and how technology and innovations have the potential to change lives,” says Reem Asaad. Reem is Vice President for Middle East & Africa at Cisco and a highly successful business leader with over 20 years’ experience across industries, including technology, financial services, and customer experience. Forbes named her one of the Middle East’s most powerful women, and she has demonstrated the capacity to adjust her leadership style in complex working contexts, understanding when to lead…

All of us are constantly driven by the desire to succeed. However, success is a relative term, because what you may consider ‘successful’, may not fit someone else’s definition. Laetitia Cailleteau, states that success for her is about making the world a better place, working as one with clients, communities, and her teams. Creating impact and being a change agent are essential elements of her definition of success. Staying balanced and grounded across all her roles – mother of three, wife, and daughter is an important aspect of her successful journey. Laetitia is the Managing Director, DATA & AI Europe Lead,…

France Daviault, the CEO of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA), is a highly experienced professional in strategic communications, government relations, and association management. With a Master’s degree in Professional Communications, specializing in Intercultural and International Communications, France possesses a comprehensive skill set. For France, success as a leader is defined by leading a thriving and dedicated team. Throughout her career in management, her primary objective has been to create an environment where individuals can flourish and take pride in their work. She values the importance of every team member, ensuring that they feel valued and have a voice within the…

Many business leaders find their business direction over the course of time by maximizing their opportunities. Dr. Blessing Mudavanhu, Chief Executive Officer of CBZ Holdings Limited is one who had always focused on academics, which saw him complete his Mathematics Ph.D. qualification with flying colors. He had not considered getting into the business world. However, while treading the journey, he ended up being in business, and ever since that, he has never looked back. He shares, “I have come to appreciate that the best learning experiences are when change takes place unexpectedly or unplanned. These times have taught me to…

Adept at tackling complex problems and driving transformative change, Jenni Hein has emerged as a global force. With 25 years of experience, she empowers organizations to successfully navigate challenging strategic transformations by effectively communicating and rallying stakeholders around a shared vision that generates firm support and momentum. She promotes empowerment and collaboration with high employee engagement, resulting in exceptional team accomplishments. Jenni nurtures and develops future leaders, especially women. Witnessing their success brings her immense satisfaction. Through mentoring and support, she empowers other women to reach their full potential, exceeding expectations and excelling professionally. As a forward-thinking leader, Jenni fosters…

The idea of working toward “higher-ambition” goals that go beyond just short-term shareholder value is something many visionary leaders would agree. Even when rough patches are encountered, it’s important that these higher-ambition efforts are not abandoned completely. These leaders go above and beyond to make sure their higher ambitions are achieved while making sure that their teams share the same ambitions and work towards completing it. One such leader is Nicole Martin, the CEO and Founder of HRBoost™, a full-service human resources consultancy. After gaining nearly 20 years of human resource experience in everything from small start-ups to enterprise size corporations,…

Meet Steve Langston, a seasoned industry veteran in the construction and building product sector, and the Vice President of Human Resources at Central States Manufacturing, Inc. Holding a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Arkansas, an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a PhD in Organizational Development from Capella University, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. Steve, along with his wife Susan, is excited to return to their roots in Arkansas after relocating from northern Virginia. They have five children, and the family holds a special place in their hearts.…

Agapol Na Songkhla is one of the most recognized HR leaders in Southeast Asia with a career journey that resonates with big following from millennials to baby boomers. He currently serves as the Chief People Officer of Thai Beverage, with frequent contributions to the people development community in ASEAN. He is well-versed in three languages—Thai, Japanese, and English—and has excelled in various fields such as broadcasting, management consulting, and banking before transitioning to HR. As the Chief People Officer of Thai Beverage, Agapol is responsible for managing a workforce of 60,000 employees, with about 40,000 based in Thailand. The rest are employed across Southeast Asian…

Too often, the HR department isn’t seen as strategic or relevant when it comes to running a business. This couldn’t be further from the truth. When given the proper tools and the trust to be empowered and make decisions, HR can be one of the most vital voices at the table. HR teams who are in sync with employees, understand engagement levels, understand company culture, and know how to get the best out of people. They always add tremendous value to their business. Robert Stone is the Chief People Officer of Wunderman Thompson where he oversees the business’s most important…

As Group CHRO at Alkhorayef Group, Nabil Batawi has had a profound impact on the Human Resources (HR) industry, fundamentally reshaping the methods through which HR professionals can connect with and attract top talent. As an MBA holder from Wolverhampton University in the UK, Nabil has over 23 years of experience with multinational, local and joint venture companies. He started his career in Tetra Pak as Site Controller in Feb 1999 and he transferred to the Factory at the end of 1999. He worked in many departments in the Factory for 10 years (Production, Pre-Press, Graphic design, World Class Manufacturing…