Kerry Gird
Ms Kerry Gird is a seasoned Talent Acquisition leader with a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and enhancing the candidate experience. She oversees a team of recruiters responsible for hiring across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and South Africa. Kerry's leadership style is inclusive and collaborative, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and effective stakeholder management. She focuses on strengthening the employer brand in local markets, engaging and upskilling her team, and developing a comprehensive talent strategy that balances proactive talent pooling with responsive hiring. At Gartner, Kerry values a proactive approach to success, seeking solutions to identified challenges and closely partnering with business units to ensure that the Talent Acquisition strategy aligns seamlessly with organizational goals and vision
Understanding the lived experience of female expatriate leaders in the UAE, in order to create a more inclusive workplace
This study explores the lived experience of inclusion for female expatriate leaders in the UAE, with a focus on how cultural and gendered identities intersect in shaping their roles and perceptions of workplace inclusivity. Using Social Identity Complexity and Role Theory as guiding frameworks, ten female leaders were interviewed to gain insights into their experiences of autonomy, trust, and identity management within a multicultural, often male-dominated environment. Thematic analysis revealed that while participants had diverse definitions of inclusion, autonomy and trust emerged as critical components of their experiences. However, a notable lack of formal support structures for female collaboration was identified, leading to challenges in balancing professional roles and personal identities, which in some cases contributed to burnout. Findings underscore the importance of tailored inclusion practices that address the unique pressures on expatriate women leaders, highlighting a need for organizational policies that promote both belonging and individuality. This study contributes to research on expatriate leadership and inclusion by providing a perspective on the gendered experiences of expatriate leaders in the Middle East, with practical implications for fostering equitable and supportive workplace environments.