The guys talk to Desma and Elrona D'Souza, the "HR Sisters" and owners of S&K HR Consulting. What is it like to live in a country where 80% of the population is imported? What is similar between HR in Dubai and the US, what is different? If you give somebody a bobblehead of Tony in Dubai is it a positive thing or not?
Desma D'Souza - After spending over 15 years building a successful corporate career, Desma D’Souza took a bold leap into entrepreneurship after a transformative sabbatical. Today, she serves as Managing Partner at S&K HR Consulting, the trusted HR consultancy for international businesses setting up or expanding to the UAE. Drawing from nearly two decades of HR experience across diverse industries, Desma brings a unique blend of operational insight and entrepreneurial energy to the table. At S&K, she leads Marketing and Business Development, serving as the first point of contact for global businesses entering the UAE. Desma is also the co-creator and co-host of The HR Sisters Podcast, the UAE’s first HR podcast designed for entrepreneurs. Through relatable conversations and real-world examples, the show simplifies UAE HR topics and supports the region’s growing business ecosystem with practical, actionable insights. Her work is anchored in one belief: HR is a strategic advantage. With a focus on building compliant HR foundations, Desma’s mission is to help business owners thrive without compromising culture or employee experience. A committed lifelong learner, she invests heavily in continuous development through coaching, reading, and staying ahead of global trends. As one of the UAE’s Top 1% HR Creators on LinkedIn, she shares insights with over 41,000 followers, inspiring better leadership and smarter people practices. Desma is available for Keynotes, panels, and advisory roles where her expertise in HR, entrepreneurship, and business scaling can create lasting impact.
Elrona Silba D'Souza - With over 24 years of deep HR expertise, Elrona Silba D’Souza serves as Managing Partner at S&K HR Consulting, the trusted HR consultancy for international businesses setting up or expanding to the UAE. She also helps start-ups and SMEs grow their profitability through simplified, scalable, and founder-friendly HR systems. Having lived in the UAE for almost 44 years and consulted across 54+ industries, Elrona brings a rare GLOCAL perspective to her work blending global best practices with grounded, real-world understanding of the UAE market. This fusion of insight allows her to guide international founders with clarity while supporting homegrown businesses with proven, practical solutions. Elrona’s approach is built on a simple belief: HR is the bridge between people and profit. Her work focuses on building strong HR foundations, improving decision-making for leaders, and creating workplace cultures where performance and well-being can co-exist. As one of the region’s most respected HR voices as UAE’s Top 2% HR Creator on LinkedIn, Elrona is frequently invited to share her expertise at leading industry platforms, including the Middle East HR Summits and Nationalization Conferences. Her perspectives on HR, culture, and organizational design have also been featured in respected publications like the HR Observer, further solidifying her position as an industry thought leader. Elrona is available for Keynotes, panels and advisory roles where her expertise in setting up businesses in the UAE, HR practices in UAE and cultural intelligence can create meaningful and lasting impact.
Learn more about Elrona and Desma at: https://snk.ae/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steve "Big Deal" Smith at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Find books referred to on the podcast at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Learn more about our sponsor at: https://www.megastarhr.com/
Jan 20 20261 hr and 22 mins