Why the Best People in the Room Get Overlooked.

Most high performers aren't stuck because they're not good enough. They're stuck because they've outgrown the version of themselves that got them there. And the system keeps rewarding the old version. Anam Irfan has spent 16 years inside the GCC's most complex organisations leading HR for 37,000 people at Majid Al Futtaim, shaping AI hiring as CPO at Bytespark, and now advising leaders and talent on how to navigate the market and build real pull. In this conversation, she says the things the HR world usually keeps quiet: that great talent doesn't always rise on merit, that the traditional hiring funnel is a trap, and that AI isn't coming for leaders who think it's coming for the ones who were never really leading. ▶ IN THIS EPISODE Why great talent doesn't always rise on merit and the two things that actually determine who gets promoted in the GCC Access mapping: Anam's methodology for navigating career growth from 'what jobs are available' to 'who are the decision-makers and how do I get in front of them' The expat pressure nobody talks about and why it changes how people behave at work in ways that don't serve them The worst thing you can do for your CV and what a top recruiter actually wants to see instead How AI has changed what gets you noticed and what gets you filtered out before a human ever sees your name What high performers need to unlearn and why the system rewarding your current behaviour is the exact thing holding you back Why vulnerability was the skill she learned last and what finally changed when she stopped needing to have all the answers Connect with Anam: LinkedIn Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Personal Updates 03:37 - Navigating Career Growth in the GCC 05:55 - The Importance of Relationship Building 08:49 - Challenges of Expat Life in the GCC 11:27 - Career Transitions and Personal Growth 14:03 - The Role of AI in Recruitment 16:34 - Visibility and Access in Career Advancement 19:09 - Leadership in the Age of AI 22:01 - Strategies for Career Growth 24:44 - Networking and Relationship Building 27:04 - The Value of a Strong CV 31:01 - Crafting a Standout CV 36:07 - The Importance of Visibility and Communication 39:26 - Navigating High-Stakes Decisions with Empathy 43:42 - Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership 50:56 - Leveraging AI in the Hiring Process 54:47 - Taking Action: Building Your Personal Brand 01:01:19 - Redefining Leadership 01:01:47 - The Practice of Leadership More on me: Take the Pressure Pattern Check For more information about me go to: chethirani.com Get my Award Winning Bestselling book: Burn The Rules Here Connect, Follow & Subscribe: LinkedIn Youtube Instagram Facebook TikTok