INTERVIEWER: MAHMOUD MANSI
EDITOR: NADA ZEYADA
About Ms. Balsam Abdel Momen: 10 years experience in HR Management and People Development. HR Consultant at Just HR, Freelance HR Instructor at the American Chamber of Commerce, NLP Coach and she teaches HR at the AUC.
INTERVIEW
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Why do you think many people are keen on learning more about HR and carry an HR certificate?
Balsam Abdel Momen: Many people now understand the importance of getting certified to enhance their HR knowledge, and move forward with their careers as now its not enough to have Experience in the HR field. You need to study the best practices and the most recent trends in the world to be able to improve in your career.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: As a certified PHR Instructor, how do you advise HR employees to better apply what they have studied (since the books are written to best fit an American working environment) and make it cope with the Egyptian working environment?
Balsam Abdel Momen: The PHR body of knowledge is applicable everywhere. It is based on the HR best practices and competencies. Many students complain that its not applicable on the Egyptian environment specially that it is based on the American legislation, but I always advise them to learn the best practice and start with themselves in applying what they learn. That’s how we can change our environment.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What do you think are the most common major challenges HR Directors face in Egypt with regards to: upper management, HR staff, and other company departments?
Balsam Abdel Momen: I think the most common challenge that HR directors face is that the organization doesn’t treat the HR function as a Business partner responsible for the most important asset in the organization, which is the human resources.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: How can a non-HR employee who attained an HR course utilize the knowledge he/she learnt for the benefit of the organization?
Balsam Abdel Momen: I do recommend that all line managers in any organization should get trained in HR courses like HR for non-HR managers as I believe that every manager is an HR manager for his subordinates.
It will be much easier for a manager who understands HR to conduct function like training, which needs analysis, performance management and interviewing for his/her department.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Being an HR Trainer and Lecturer, how does this help you in raising your children? And also in dealing with people in your personal life?
Balsam Abdel Momen: Sure it helped me a lot. It gave me much more tolerance to all types of personalities and characters. Also, I became more aware of the generation’s differences and how to deal with each generation according to their needs and motives.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: What is the most subject you like in HR?
Balsam Abdel Momen: I like everything about HR, all subjects. But what I enjoy the most is Recruitment and Talent Management.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Which primary departments should the HR department be directly engaged with and produce common projects together?
Balsam Abdel Momen: HR should be engaged directly with all the Organization’s departments to support them achieve the organizational goals and objectives.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: From your personal point of view, what do you think should be the first concern of the HR department in any organization?
Balsam Abdel Momen: I think the first concern of HR should be to align activities with the organization strategy and to build a positive culture that have the ability to attract, retain and motivate talent.
HR Revolution Middle-East Magazine: Thank You Ms. Balsam.
