Helena Ghazali interview – HR best practice at Midis Group

Tell us a little about yourself: where you are from? What did you do, before working at Midis?

I am from Beirut, Lebanon. I majored in Public Administration at the American University of Beirut with a specialization in Human Resources and have spent my career so far in different HR roles at several industries – mainly retail, hospitality and IT.

Where do you work in the company, now, and how long have you worked there?

I currently occupy the position of Group HR Assistant Manager at the head office in Beirut – I’ve been there for one and a half years now.

What are the hardest things about your job?

One of the most crucial roles of Human Resources is change management; change is inevitable in every organization aiming at continuous development and market competition. Change is usually feared and that is a normal reaction to things we do not know or are not aware of. It is the responsibility of HR to ensure that the environment is right and our employees are ready for change, which is a major challenge and one of the main factors assessing HR success.

What’s given you the most satisfaction working at Midis?

Being in HR and a people-oriented person, I find satisfaction in providing support and advice that could help people in overcoming certain challenges or helping them in achieving results by using more efficient and enhanced methods.

What opportunities/experience/training has Midis offered?

Working at Midis allows you great exposure in terms of being involved with employees from different regions and cultures of the world which has added a lot to my knowledge, personality, and proficiency.

Entrepreneurship and using initiative are encouraged by the group. Have you experienced this, and if so, in what ways?

Entrepreneurship and initiative are among our values and it is encouraged and expected of all employees in the Group. After assessing our needs, I have introduced new policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and HR Platforms and we are currently working as a team on developing a new structure.

What would you say is the Midis way? Does the company work differently from other competitors? What’s the Midis ‘edge?’

There is no one way and that is the secret of our success. Midis’ objectives and strategies change with the change of technology, market and customer requirements. We aim to satisfy our customers in the first place and we work with integrity and professionalism to gain trust and continuity.

In terms of HR practice – what would you say is good about the Midis Group?
Employees’ well-being and development are right at the heart of the Midis Group HR approach; we give our employees priority in terms of internal recruitment, career enrichment, and training. We always have a place for employees’ ambitions and dreams and that is why Midis is famous for retaining our people.