Senior HR Executive with a passion for helping people and companies succeed

Nadeem Baig, who lives between London and Dubai, identifies himself as a global citizen, pursuing life as a senior HR Executive with a passion for helping people and companies succeed. His partner is an interior designer and artist and since they have both become empty nesters, are experimenting with new ideas and ventures that offer greater fulfillment.

When leading the Talent and Development center of expertise at a prominent multinational FMCG, I was looking at ways of improving my impact and standing out as a leader with potential. I was on a fast-track trajectory, having been promoted in quick succession multiple times and was very determined. My manager at the time, on several occasions had given me feedback that I appeared too perfect and did not show vulnerability. To me, that was perceived strength, and I was perplexed how not being daunted was seen as something I ought to amend.

This feedback, though unsettling, provoked a desire to improve myself. I started looking externally for development and was introduced to Meyler Campbell which turned out to be a truly transforming opportunity. My manager was accommodating and encouraged me to pursue being a coach, which I am immensely grateful for.

When taking up the programme I intended to take on the role of being a coach within an organisation, which was a narrow focus but felt like a great outcome. What evolved and transpired during the Mastered programme, were many instances of reflection, light bulb moments, acknowledging and calling out of my biases, and new discoveries on self and situational awareness. By working with the Meyler Campbell ethos of owning each decision point in your Mastered journey, I understood what independent decision making meant and the ownership and consequences of making these choices. I have changed and grown in many ways during and after the programme. What stands out for me is that even though my biases exist, I am conscious of them now and challenge myself to keep them aside to allow for others to express their opinions. I also realized that my default state was to speak more, often about myself, and have since learnt that listening to others and having genuine interest in their stories was critical in building relationships and helping others succeed. The skills of focused and attentive listening with empathy and nonjudgement is now naturally etched into my coaching approach. The positive feedback and acknowledgement received on this change in my interactions since the programme, has paid me back tenfold.

As a CHRO, these acquired skills and a new sense of awareness has helped me become a better business partner to the CEO, my colleagues and team members. Listening attentively, constructive inquiry, seeking solutions more than offering the answer are amongst a few habits to my effectiveness. I have overcome the self-doubt of “what if I am seen as not presenting the answer to a business challenge immediately?” and now practice the skill of extracting solutions and building them with stakeholders. I continue to be my authentic self while proactively balancing the need for speed and demonstrating commercial acumen, traits which are valued in high performing organisations.

I know that my learnings from the Mastered programme have already come in handy and will continue to serve me in the years to come. A vision of this is to dedicate more time to Team and Individual effectiveness coaching, potentially taking up board roles and advisory assignments. All of these require patience, asking the right questions, and of course focused listening.

Meyler Campbell has helped me think of multiple ways of using my time and I most certainly feel fulfilled. I continue to be associated with the community of coaches and faculty. After all, development is a lifelong journey!

Nadeem Baig