Roula Akl

Roula Akl is a People and Culture leader with over 22 years of experience developing organizational capability, strengthening people practices, and driving HR strategies across the MEA region. 

Specializing in technology, telecom, professional services, retail, and public-sector transformations, she bridges strategic HR priorities and sustainable business growth. 

As a Fractional Head of HR, Roula partners with entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMBs to build HR functions from the ground up, manage organizational development, and seamlessly recruit and onboard permanent HR leadership for long-term execution.

• Fractional HR & Startup Enablement: Partners with founders to establish foundational HR frameworks, structure organizational development, and recruit/onboard HR Managers for long-term operational handoff. 
• Post-Merger Consolidation & Restructuring: Led post-merger consolidations, HR audits, risk assessments, and organizational restructuring for enterprise regional tech entities like ZainTECH. 
• Talent Assessment & Leadership Development: Certified Hogan Assessor and psychometric assessor experienced in executing 360-degree leadership evaluations, HiPo talent strategies, and competency framework design. 
• Culture & Employee Engagement: Spearheaded culture change projects, hybrid operating model transformations, change communications, and DEI initiatives across major telecommunications and consulting organizations. 
• Public Sector & Enterprise HR Consulting: Subcontracted by PwC and Korn Ferry Hay Group to deliver enterprise HR consulting, manpower planning, and talent management strategies for public sector entities in Qatar and the UAE.

• HR Advisor, People & Culture (Confidential): Leads organizational development, leadership assessment, people transformation, and AI enablement as a Certified Hogan Assessor. 
• Head of HR Planning & Development, ZainTECH: Architected regional HR strategies, performance management systems, competency frameworks, and post-merger HR consolidation. 
• HR Senior Expert, Omantel: Directed corporate culture change projects, hybrid operating model transitions, customer experience transformations, and executive 360-degree assessments. 
• HR & Professional Development Expert, World Bank (CERD Project): Advised Ministry of Education leadership on HR strategy, organizational design, manpower planning, and performance management systems. 
• HR Consultant & Assessor (PwC & Korn Ferry Hay Group Subcontractor): Executed large-scale public sector and tech transformation projects, psychometric evaluations, and leadership assessment centers across the GCC. 
• Talent & Recruitment Leadership (Microsoft, Booz & Co / PwC, ABC Retail): Managed regional talent acquisition, organizational development, and full-spectrum HR operations across the MEA and NEPA regions. 

Roula brings extensive regional experience navigating multi-jurisdictional talent landscapes across the MEA region. 

• Regional Market Reach: Proven leadership in executing HR strategies across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.
• Cross-Industry Versatility: Specialized in scaling human capital programs across Tech & Telco, Professional Services, Retail & FMCG, Public Sector/Semi-Governmental, NGOs, and Tech Incubators.
• Cultural & Change Leadership: Expert in guiding organizations through complex change communications, post-merger integrations, and cultural shifts in alignment with local business environments.

Roula holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting & Finance) from Lebanese University and is a 10-Year UAE Golden Visa holder. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, and holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid and Psychometric Assessment.