Podcast · Business

Vantage Influencers Podcast

by Vantage Circle · English · Business

Welcome to the Vantage Influencers Podcast channel, where we talk about employee engagement, compensation benefits, recruitment, and everything that concerns HR!

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 28 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 27 min

Building a Culture of Emotional and Social Intelligence

Most companies will tell you they value emotional intelligence. Far fewer can tell you what that actually looks like on a Tuesday afternoon, when someone's frustrated in a meeting, or a team is quietly burning out and nobody's said a word about it. I feel what's disappointing is that people treat emotional and social intelligence as some add-ons to culture. But realizes later , that it's not. So today in this episode , we' ll try to understand what it actually takes to build that into an organization on purpose, not by accident. And to help us, we have with us Becca McKnight, Manager of the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

10 Sep 2026 · 13 min
Building a Strong Employer Brand from the Inside Out
When most companies talk about employer brand , they mean the careers page, the job ads, the polished video of people laughing in a break room. But ask anyone who's actually worked somewhere, and they'll tell you the real brand is what happens after you sign the offer, how you're paid, how you're taken care of, whether the company keeps its word. So today, we're looking at employer brand from the inside out, starting with the systems that quietly shape whether people trust an organization. And to help us, we have with us Annalee Malone, Benefits and Compensation Manager at Total Safety.
10 Sep 2026 · 34 min
From Cost Center to Commercial Function: How Is the Role of HR Changing?
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, we explore how HR is evolving from a traditional cost center into a more strategic and commercially driven function that contributes directly to business growth. Host Riha is joined by Shivali Anand, Country HR Head at Geidea , to discuss how HR leaders can build stronger business acumen, connect people decisions with organizational priorities, and demonstrate the commercial impact of HR initiatives. Together, they examine how HR can influence business strategy, use workforce insights to support better decisions, and become a more…
3 Sep 2026 · 25 min
What's the Biggest HR Mistake Companies Make During M&A?
When most people picture M erger & A cquisition , they picture spreadsheets, valuations , deal structures, and closing timelines. But ask anyone who's actually lived through a merger or acquisition, and they'll tell you the deal that looks perfect on paper can still fall apart because of what happens to the people inside it. So in this episode , we're looking at M&A from the workforce side , the part of the deal that rarely makes the press release but almost always decides whether the deal actually works . And to help us, we have with us Elizebeth Mack, Principal and Workforce in…
27 Aug 2026 · 26 min
What's the Biggest HR Mistake Companies Make During M&A?
When most people picture M erger & A cquisition , they picture spreadsheets, valuations , deal structures, and closing timelines. But ask anyone who's actually lived through a merger or acquisition, and they'll tell you the deal that looks perfect on paper can still fall apart because of what happens to the people inside it. So in this episode , we're looking at M&A from the workforce side , the part of the deal that rarely makes the press release but almost always decides whether the deal actually works . And to help us, we have with us Elizebeth Mack, Principal and Workforce in…
20 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Practical Lessons from Implementing AI Across Talent and Workforce Processes
Almost every HR team today can point to AI somewhere in their stack. Screening, scheduling, skills mapping, internal mobility, interview notes , something is running on it. But if you talk to those teams honestly, there's usually a gap between having AI and actually changing how work gets done. The pilot impresses everyone in the demo, and then quietly fades the moment real hiring pressure returns. So, we want to move past the theory and into practical lessons. What genuinely changes when AI moves into talent and workforce processes, and what it asks of the people running them. And to help…
19 Aug 2026 · 56 min
AI in HR: Beyond the Hype
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Srijith Nair, Director, Human Capital in the Middle East, shares thoughtful insights on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in HR. The conversation explores how HR leaders can move beyond the hype and apply AI meaningfully across recruitment, employee experience, workforce planning, and decision-making, while maintaining transparency, responsible governance, data privacy, and the human judgment essential to effective people leadership.
11 Aug 2026 · 34 min
Building Belonging in the Gulf's Multicultural Workforce
Belonging is a word we hear a lot in HR, but usually among people who share a language, a culture, a hometown. Now picture a workforce where almost everyone has come from somewhere else, often far from home. There, belonging isn't a survey metric , it's what decides whether someone just works for you, or truly stays and gives you their best. And nowhere is that more real than in the Gulf. So, let's explore what it takes to build belonging across a multicultural workforce with Manjeet Sahota, Human Resources Director at Gulf Catering and Support Services.
30 Jul 2026 · 21 min
Building a Superhuman Company in the Age of Human- Agent Workforces
For decades, we've built companies around one assumption: that work is done by people. But that assumption is now changing, and changing fast. AI agents are no longer just tools we use; they're becoming teammates we work alongside. And that raises a big question for every leader and HR professional, how do you build an organization where humans and agents don't just coexist, but actually make each other better? So today, we're exploring what it takes to build a superhuman company in the age of human-agent workforces. And to help us with that, we have with us Tami Rosen. She is a Board Member…
28 Jul 2026 · 28 min
The Evolving Role of HR in Boardroom Decision Making
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Dr. Sarmistha Roychowdhury, CHRO, Group Head HR, and Principal HR Advisor at Vform Tecnopacks Limited, shares thoughtful insights on the evolving role of HR in boardroom decision-making. The conversation explores how HR leaders can move beyond traditional operational responsibilities and contribute more strategically through workforce insights, people analytics, business alignment, and a deeper understanding of organizational priorities.
16 Jul 2026 · 21 min
Performance Management Beyond Review Cycles
Performance management is something almost every employee experiences, yet it's often one of the most debated aspects of work. While it's intended to support growth and development, many employees still view it as a box-ticking exercise rather than a meaningful conversation. And as workplaces continue to evolve, there's growing pressure on organizations to rethink how they measure, discuss, and develop performance. So today, I'd love to explore what effective performance management really looks like and to help us with that , we've with us Kavitha Ramaiah. She is the Director , People…
25 Jun 2026 · 14 min
Scaling Culture During Growth and Transformation
G rowth is often seen as a sign that things are going right for an organisation . Bigger teams, new markets, rapid expansion, all of it sounds exciting from the outside. But internally, growth can also bring a lot of pressure, uncertainty, and cultural shifts that companies may not always be fully prepared for. Because , I think we now understand the reality is, scaling a business and scaling a culture are two very different challenges. So today, we're exploring what it really takes to preserve culture during periods of growth and transformation. And joining us for this conversation is…
8 Jun 2026 · 28 min
How HR Is Shaping Organizational Resilience
Every organisation wants to be called resilient. But when you look closely, resilience is no longer just about surviving disruption or handling uncertainty. It's also about how people adapt, recover, and continue moving forward during constant change. And that's where HR has started playing a much bigger role than before. Because culture, leadership, communication, employee well-being, all of these things now directly influence how resilient an organisation actually is . Let's unpack what organizational resilience looks like from an HR lens. And to help us with that, we've with us Kavitha…
8 Jun 2026 · 20 min
Building Inclusive Cultures That Support Emirati Talent
Conversations around Emiratisation often become very numbers-driven . We hear targets, percentages , and hiring goals. But somewhere in between all of that, there's also a very human side to the conversation. And honestly, that's what makes this discussion so interesting right now. Because the UAE is evolving rapidly, workplaces are evolving rapidly, and naturally, the expectations of Emirati professionals are evolving too. Today, we want to explore the deeper realities behind Emiratisation . And to help us unpack this, we've with us Fizza Sabir, Principal People and Culture Advisor, HR Head…
28 May 2026 · 31 min
How Can HR Move from Reactive Hiring to Predictive Talent Planning
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast , Vikas Singh Baghel, Associate Director, HR at HCLTech , shares thoughtful insights on how HR can move from reactive hiring to predictive talent planning. The conversation explores how workforce data, skills intelligence, business alignment, and proactive talent strategies can help organizations identify future talent needs before gaps become urgent. It also highlights how HR can strengthen internal mobility, build future-ready talent pipelines, support smarter workforce decisions, and create a more agile approach to hiring in a rapidly…
21 May 2026 · 47 min
How HR Builds Culture in Factories and High-Pressure Operations
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast , Ana Carolina Mason, Head of HR in the UAE , shares thoughtful insights on how HR can build culture in factories and high-pressure operational environments. The conversation explores how trust, clear communication, leadership visibility, employee safety, and consistent people practices help teams stay aligned, engaged, and resilient in demanding work settings. It also highlights how HR can strengthen frontline employee experience, support managers, create a sense of belonging, and build a culture where people feel valued while performing…
14 May 2026 · 29 min
How Can Leaders Build a Culture That Becomes the Real Differentiator in Times of Uncertainty
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, we explore how leaders can build a strong organizational culture that becomes a true differentiator during periods of uncertainty, disruption, and change. Host Riha is joined by Sana Khammash, Culture and Leadership Consultant at EquaMind Consultancy , to discuss why culture matters most when business conditions are unpredictable. Together, they unpack how trust, clarity, shared values, leadership consistency, and employee connection help organizations stay resilient, make stronger decisions, and maintain momentum even in challenging…
8 May 2026 · 23 min
Is Traditional Rewards Model Dead?
When we talk about rewards at work, the conversation often goes back to familiar territory, pay bands, annual hikes, and benefits packages. But the reality is, the way people work today looks nothing like the systems these rewards were originally designed for. Work has become more fluid. Expectations have shifted. Which brings us to a question that's hard to ignore: Is the traditional rewards model dead or is it just struggling to keep up? To help us unpack this, we're joined by Sahiba Vadhera , Director – Total Rewards, APAC at JLL . With her hands-on experience shaping reward strategies…
6 May 2026 · 38 min
Why Some Teams Perform Better Than Others
Discussions around high-performing teams tend to gravitate toward the end results, the metrics, the milestones, the victories. Yet what often goes unexamined is the journey that leads teams there. Rather than focusing on performance as an outcome, it's far more valuable to explore what lays the groundwork for it. And why things tend to fall apart even when everyone means well. To shed light on this, we have with us Kanu Priya, Chief People Officer- India & APAC at Credera. Kanu Priya brings rich experience in driving people and culture transformation within high-growth organizations.
6 May 2026 · 28 min
How HR Transformation Impacts Business Outcomes
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Hemdeep Singh, Director of Customer Success at Darwinbox , shares practical insights on how HR transformation impacts business outcomes by connecting people strategy, technology, and operational execution. The conversation explores how organizations can move from fragmented HR processes to more agile, integrated, and data-driven systems that improve decision-making, strengthen employee experience, and drive efficiency. It also highlights how leaders can align HR transformation with business priorities, create measurable value, and build…
29 Apr 2026 · 32 min
How AI-Enabled HR Systems Are Transforming Global Workforces with Data and Automation
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Amit Thukral , Head of HR Information Systems at Fidelity International , shares practical insights on how AI-enabled HR systems are transforming global workforces through data and automation. The conversation explores how organizations can move from fragmented, manual processes to intelligent, integrated systems that improve decision-making, enhance employee experience, and drive operational efficiency. It also highlights how leaders can leverag e AI to make workforce data more actionable, align HR strategies with business goals, and…
27 Apr 2026 · 21 min
Leaders Don't Need to Be Loud to Be Influential
W e've all been in rooms where the loudest voice seems to take the lead. But if you really think about it, influence doesn't always come from who speaks the most. It often comes from who people choose to listen to. And that's exactly what we're unpacking today. Because in a world that often rewards visibility and constant presence, there's a quieter kind of leadership that's just as powerful, maybe even more . To explore this, I'm joined by Hassan Trad, Head of Talent Management at Finance Hou se. Hassan brings a thoughtful perspective on leadership, influence, and what it really takes to…
24 Apr 2026 · 39 min
How Analytics Transforms Recruitment from Intuition to Impact
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Asrar Mohideen , Associate Director, Global Talent Acquisition at FoodHub , shares practical insights on how analytics is transforming recruitment from intuition-led decisions to measurable hiring impact. The conversation explores how organizations can use data to measure hiring speed, quality, fairness, and business outcomes with greater clarity. It also highlights how recruiters can define quality of hire objectively, identify candidate drop-off points, use AI more effectively, and build stronger data skills for better hiring decisions.
21 Apr 2026 · 26 min
High Attrition in Tech: What Are We Missing?
Attrition in the tech industry has almost become a constant conversation. Companies are hiring aggressively, yet they're also losing talent just as quickly. And while market demand is definitely one part of the story, many HR leaders are beginning to realize that the real reasons behind attrition might be much deeper. To unpack this, we're really excited to welcome Dr. Lakshman Kumar Kodupaka , Global Talent Acquisition Leader for Digital Engineering Services at Sutherland . With his experience working closely with tech talent and global teams, he brings a valuable perspective on what might…
21 Apr 2026 · 32 min
Skills as a Strategic Asset in the Age of Workforce Disruption
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Anish Lalchandani , Global Head of Talent Management at A.P. Moller, shares practical insights on how organizations can treat skills as a strategic asset in the age of workforce disruption. The conversation explores how shifting from role-based models to a skills-first approach enables businesses to build agility, close capability gaps, and respond faster to changing market demands. It also highlights how leaders can make skills visible, align them with business priorities, and create a more adaptive and future-ready workforce.
8 Apr 2026 · 40 min
How Emerging HR Leaders Can Influence Culture Without Big Titles
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Sarah Eryan , Human Resources Director for the Middle East and Africa, at Fragomen, s hares practical insights on how emerging HR leaders can influence organizational culture without relying on formal authority or senior titles. The conversation explores how building credibility, fostering trust, and leading with intent enable HR professionals to shape culture, strengthen engagement, and drive meaningful change from within.
31 Mar 2026 · 26 min
How High-Performing Teams Are Built
When we talk about high-performing teams, the conversation often jumps straight to results, numbers, outcomes, and wins. But what usually gets missed is how teams actually arrive there. So , instead of starting with performance itself, it feels more useful to unpack what enables performance in the first place and why it often breaks down even when intentions are good. To help us understand this , we've with us Rajat Bhatia- Senior Vice President & Head- People & Culture at Fareportal . Rajat has been deeply involved in shaping people and culture journeys across fast-growing organizations.
27 Mar 2026 · 31 min
The Connection Between Personal Growth and Leadership in Transforming Organizations
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Aline Khoury, HR Senior Business Partner for the Middle East and Africa at AVEVA , shares practical insights on how personal growth in leaders can drive meaningful organizational transformation. The conversation explores how self-awareness, continuous development, and purpose-driven leadership enable leaders to influence culture, strengthen engagement, and guide teams through change with confidence.
25 Mar 2026 · 30 min
Personalizing Learning at Scale with Assessments and Impact Metrics
In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Ganesh Iyer, Global Head of Learning and Development at IBS Software , shares practical insights on personalizing learning at scale using assessments, adaptive pathways, and impact metrics. The conversation explores how organizations can move beyond one-size-fits-all training to deliver targeted development, track learning effectiveness, and demonstrate measurable business impact across large, diverse workforces.
24 Mar 2026 · 28 min
ESG and Culture: Can One Exist Without the Other?
We all know that c ompanies are setting ambitious commitments and sharing detailed reports, but increasingly the conversation is shifting to a deeper question, "how much of ESG is actually reflected in the everyday culture of the workplace?" Because ultimately, the real impact of ESG isn't just in policies or disclosures, but in how leaders make decisions and how employees experience the organization every day. To explore this further, we're delighted to welcome Megha Goel, CHRO at Godrej Properties Limited . Host of this Episode: Megha Goel

About Vantage Influencers Podcast

Welcome to the Vantage Influencers Podcast channel, where we talk about employee engagement, compensation benefits, recruitment, and everything that concerns HR!

Vantage Influencers Podcast is a English business podcast from Vantage Circle. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Vantage Circle
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 28 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1485394710

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