The ability to navigate cultural dynamics is more than just a skill, it’s a crucial asset for leaders, teams, and organisations aiming to thrive internationally. My passion lies in fostering cross-cultural intelligence (CQ) as a developmental tool that empowers people to adapt, collaborate, and succeed globally. Drawing from personal experience and insights from companies like Netflix, where adaptability and a strong People & Culture (P&C) function are embedded into their DNA, I’ve seen firsthand how cultural awareness can shape success. 

Agile is increasingly adopted across organisations in the GCC region, expanding well beyond software development. Yet, terms like Agile Adoption, Agile Transformation, and Digital Transformation are often used interchangeably, creating confusion around their implications and value. In this article I’ll unpack: Agile Adoption vs. Agile Transformation, Agile Transformation vs. Digital Transformation, Why mindset matters as much as methodology and How agile practices can drive effective digital transformation.

Agile-Leads has partnered with Agility Arabia to explore how agile ways of working are expanding beyond IT teams. With extensive experience in agile adoption, digital delivery, and business transformation, I joined forces with Agility Arabia to share our perspectives as like-minded leaders on the future of agility.

At the core of this article, we posed a question: Is the focus on scaling agility beyond tech teams increasing or declining?

Adaptability and resilience are now cornerstones of success in a post-COVID world, where hybrid work, digital transformation, and people-centric business models are the new norms. Amidst this shift, Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Emotional Agility are essential skills across all levels of leadership and team dynamics.

In these times of tech entrepreneurship and a "move fast, break things" mentality, it's not surprising that there are some high-profile examples of companies that, in their quest to push the envelope and drive innovation, have neglected the need for EI in their company cultures. In this article, we look at toxic companies built by maverick leaders who failed to develop their own EI and lacked the emotional agility to succeed, sometimes flatlining their own careers and, in other cases, causing their businesses to crash and burn.

Have you noticed more job specs that combine multiple roles, like Data Analyst, Digital Strategist, and Agile Coach, all into one? Do you think this trend is driven by cost-cutting measures, or is it a sign that businesses are seeking agile, multi-skilled talent to thrive in a fast-evolving market?

Imagine an HR department where cross-functional collaboration is the norm, not the exception. In my latest article, I explore how Agile HR is breaking down silos, transforming talent sourcing, and empowering teams to work in sync toward innovation and efficiency. Agile HR is more than just a buzzword, it’s a game-changer for organisations looking to foster speed, adaptability, and a people-first culture. 

With ICT investment and digital transformation efforts growing across the GCC, driven by initiatives like the ‘We are the UAE’ 2031’ Vision, many organisations still face challenges with legacy systems and rigid processes. As we move beyond a quieter-than-expected summer in the UAE, it’s worth reflecting on how businesses in the region can build resilience and agility through digital transformation, especially in today's uncertain economic landscape.

Are we stuck in 'change' inertia?  Reading through 2022 & 2023 reports from the Business Agility Institute, I was struck by a recurring theme: the top challenges companies face in their business agility journey have remained consistent over the last five years.

This could be seen as a grim reality. However, the new challenges highlighted in the 2023 report reveal that we're making progress, even if it’s not always apparent.

As most of us do over summer, I took some time to catch up on my reading, listening, and watching lists, especially reading Diana Larsen's book 'Lead without Blame'. This got me thinking about the environments where teams truly thrive. I started reflecting on how cultures of blame and fear can deeply impact organisations. In my latest article, I dive into some of the most extreme examples and explore the consequences when "Profits over People & Product" becomes the driving force in business.

Having a recent frustrating experience with my business banking provider made me question whether traditional banks are truly prepared to navigate the evolving landscape of banking and financial services. Which banks will ride the wave of change and flourish, and which will falter or fail?

John Deere was facing some significant challenges in 2019, and so decided to launch an agile transformation initiative.  Implementing Agile IT Manufacturing with Scrum@Scale, Scrum, DevOps and a modernised Tech stack. Results far exceeded targets.

In this series of articles we explore how global businesses have adopted Agile Manufacturing to embrace an Industry 4.0 world. In this article we look at Novo Nordisk and explore how an agile transformation helped meet demand surges in a rapidly shifting pharma industry, to reach a market value of $500bn.

Novo Nordisk needed to shift their approach to business operations to tackle some of their greatest business challenges including…

Agile manufacturing evolved from Toyota's just-in-time (JIT) concept, expanding into lean manufacturing, cycle time management, time-based competition, and quick-response manufacturing.

Unlike JIT's focus on production systems, agile manufacturing encompasses both factory floor operations and the growing significance of software in the industry. Its prerequisites hinge on robust digital transformation, emphasising software development facilitating seamless interaction among humans, computers, and production machines.

Rebecca, Enterprise Agile Coach, ICAgile Agile in HR certified, reflects on her experience of the importance of People & Culture to support teams and leaders in navigating cultural dimensions, when working globally.

We take a look at the power of building a people-centric, innovation focused culture, through the lens of Netflix and their values. Our Founder reflects on her experience of how strong values can help companies whether major changes.

What fuels real innovation? Why do some household names fail to keep up with the market? In traditional organisations companies may adopt an accelerated innovation pipeline, or host Ideation competitions. Some incumbents build Greenfield digital teams to support rapid innovation. However, these models tend to have varying success and short-lived results.

In traditional organisations companies may adopt an accelerated innovation pipeline, or host ideation competitions. These models tend to have varying success and short-lived results. Without values and principles such as those at the heart of the Netflix business model, ones which are exemplified by a transformational leadership team, real innovation will not be a staple of an organisation.

نحن في فترة مثيرة من التطور في اقتصاد الشرق الأوسط. وهو وقت يجب فيه على الشركات والحكومات النظر في تأمين مستقبلهم ومستقبل موظفيهم. تحويل "قوة العمل" إلى قاعدة مواهب مُستقبلة مدعومة بالاستثمار المستمر في تطوير المهارات وتعدد المهارات، يمكن أن يحول الشركات إلى منظمات تعليمية. هذا يخلق البيئة المناسبة للابتكار لتأمين شركات المستقبل.

We explore gender parity through the lens of digital inclusion and where the UAE stands in terms of female employee inclusion across industries. The Women in Tech chapter for the UAE is spearheading initiatives to close the 'digital divide'. Women in Tech® Global is undertaking initiatives under their 'Digital & Social Inclusion' pillar, including donating over 350 computers and laptops to schools in underprivileged areas in India and South Africa.