SANA MESIA
HR Professional
Karachi,SD
Summary
Results-driven HR professional with 17+ years of global, APAC regional, and local experience. Proven ability to partner with CEO, Business Heads, and Senior members of Regional and Global functions. Skilled in driving and implementing HR and organizational strategy to align with business needs. Strong background in HR and Corporate management, excelling in generalist and expertise roles. Expertise in developing and transforming HR and Corporate best practices across Talent Acquisition and Management, Total Rewards Management, Organizational Development, Training and Development, Employee Engagement, Human Capital Management Systems, Corporate Communications, Executive Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, CSR, and Compliance Management.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
22
22
Certifications
Work History
Executive Vice President – Head of HR, Learning & Development
Al Meezan Investments Management Ltd
02.2022 - Current
- Spearheaded the formulation and execution of HR and organizational strategy, aligning with mid to long-term business objectives to deliver seamless digital HR services and business partnering across Pakistan
- Proposed and implemented HR strategies through the Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee, driving organizational transformation
- Designed and executed talent sourcing strategies, resulting in a talent pipeline of highly qualified candidates, while increasing employee engagement and retention
- Achieved a turnaround in four years of negative hiring trends to a positive outlook and successfully reduced salesforce attrition from 41% to 25%
- Directed succession planning for key roles and high-potential employees, creating structured career development plans for leadership
- Developed and implemented a succession readiness matrix and launched the 'Career Conversations' platform to enhance leadership development
- Established the Learning & Development division, laying the foundation for a competency-driven, grade-specific L&D framework
- Led internal knowledge management sessions and implemented a learning needs assessment that culminated in 8,000+ training hours for both sales and non-sales teams
- Introduced the 'Train the Trainer' initiative to ensure long-term knowledge transfer and development
- Designed and conducted organization-wide trainings, including 'Happiness and Wellness at the Workplace,' Anti-Harassment Awareness, Women Empowerment, and Sales Essentials
- Fostered an inclusive and positive work environment through these initiatives
- Developed and executed the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) framework, significantly enhancing gender diversity and fostering an inclusive environment
- Increased the proportion of female employees from 12% to 17.5% within one year by implementing gender diversity initiatives
- Chaired the Harassment Committee and served as a member of the Disciplinary Action Committee, promoting gender sensitization across the organization
- Designed and led the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and implementation of the HR ERP system, ensuring a smooth transition and integration within the organization
- Formulated and deployed a 3-year Employee Engagement and Satisfaction action plan, benchmarking total rewards and aligning pay bands with the 75th percentile of the industry
- Pioneered cross-functional team-building initiatives and coined the bi-annual organizational newsletter, 'M-Pulse.' Introduced the 'Going the Extra Mile' (GEM) awards, aligned with Meezan's values, to foster employee recognition and engagement
- Coached and developed the HR team to streamline HR operations and drive key project management and change management initiatives
- Played a critical role in the Executive Committee, contributing to strategies for enhancing customer acquisition and improving employee experience to support business expansion and success.
Head of People / Senior HRBP
Smollan Pakistan
Karachi, Sindh
11.2020 - 06.2021
- Actively foster relationships and network with business teams and line management to advise on HR organizational structure design, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
- Efficiently manage administrative processes related to the attraction, retention, and development of talent, driving business results through a well-supported workforce
- Provided input and supported the drafting of regionally or country-specific HR policies, procedures, and standards, ensuring alignment and consistency with joint partner HR policies while addressing local nuances
- Led the Performance Management process, ensuring that annual salary increments were aligned with performance appraisals
- Oversaw the implementation of Personal Development Plans (PDPs) and monitored training initiatives based on identified development needs
- Supported business units in talent identification and management
- Ensured effective management of succession plans and reported progress regularly, enabling proactive talent planning and leadership continuity
- Facilitated the design, implementation, and management of organizational climate surveys, translating insights into actionable plans to enhance employee engagement and organizational culture
- Advised staff and management on disciplinary proceedings, ensuring objectivity, fairness, and compliance in all disciplinary enquiries
- Collaborated with Business Unit (BU) Managers and Regional Managers to address disciplinary issues effectively.
Head of HR, CSR & Corporate Communications
Mitsubishi Corporation
Karachi , Sindh
12.2008 - 03.2020
- Headed the HR, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Corporate Communications functions, working closely with local, regional, and global teams to implement the organization's HR strategy in alignment with business and regional objectives
- Envisioned and delivered key learning and development initiatives, including the 'WELLO' 360-degree wellness program focused on employee well-being, and the Internal Knowledge Management Seminars (IKMS) designed to enhance cross-functional communication and knowledge sharing
- Led Security Trade Control and Compliance simulations for all staff, delivering both in-person and digital training sessions
- Collaborated with key stakeholders to lead various projects, including CSR funding initiatives, leadership training programs, compliance and management audits, succession planning, and career progression strategies
- Developed and implemented action plans from Employee Engagement surveys, resulting in the organization achieving its highest engagement scores (86%) in consecutive years
- Led the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) roadmap for the organization, representing the company as a Subcommittee Member at the OICCI (Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry) forum
- Facilitated talent review sessions in partnership with business heads, acting as a strategic business partner to drive employee development and career progression initiatives
- Re-engineered the performance management and evaluation processes in alignment with the APAC region's standards, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to performance measurement
- Led the successful implementation of Oracle HR-ERP, delivering the project within 6 months of the system's GO LIVE
- Collaborated with regional HR and IT teams to ensure seamless integration and alignment with organizational processes
- Served as a Regional Speaker and Consultant for HR projects within the APAC region, providing insights and leadership on strategic HR initiatives.
Human Resources Professional
Feroze 1888 Mills Limited
01.2007 - 09.2008
Research Associate
Oasis International
03.2004 - 08.2006
Education
Certified Human Resource Professional -
Pakistan Institute of Management
Masters in Psychology & Human Behavior - undefined
University of Karachi
Bachelors in Humanities (Gold Medalist) - undefined
DHA Degree College for Women
Skills
Leadership experience
Strategic planning and execution
Customer care
Logical thinking capability
Leadership training
Talent Acquisition
Organizational Growth
Strategic Planning
Workforce Planning
Succession Planning
Digital Transformation
Needs analysis
Corporate Social Responsibility
Teamwork and Collaboration
Leadership and People Development
Problem-Solving
Relationship and Team Building
Management Team Leadership
Certification
Strategy & Architecture - Ateneo de Manila University – Mitsubishi Management Program
Accomplishments
- Gold Medalist - First stands First class – Bachelors Psychology & Human Behavior (2004)
- Best Regional HRD Manager consecutive 3 years (2012 - 2014)
- Silver Medalist- Best Business Group Plan - South West Asia Leadership Program (2013)
- Best Business Plan & Top Performer Asia Oceania Management Program (2015)
- Top Team Lead - INSEAD - Program for Leadership Development (2016)
- Global potential - consecutive high achiever in organization (2014 to 2019)
Affiliations
- OICCI CSR Subcommittee Member [2013 – Feb 2020]
- Regional HR Task Force Member [2013 – Jan 2020]
- Regional Speaker Asia Oceania HR Seminar [2011 – 2020]
- Regional Security Trade Control in charge [2013 – 2015]
- LUMS Career Counsellor [2016 – To Date]
Timeline
Executive Vice President – Head of HR, Learning & Development
Al Meezan Investments Management Ltd
02.2022 - Current
Head of People / Senior HRBP
Smollan Pakistan
11.2020 - 06.2021
Head of HR, CSR & Corporate Communications
Mitsubishi Corporation
12.2008 - 03.2020
Human Resources Professional
Feroze 1888 Mills Limited
01.2007 - 09.2008
Research Associate
Oasis International
03.2004 - 08.2006
Certified Human Resource Professional -
Pakistan Institute of Management
Masters in Psychology & Human Behavior - undefined
University of Karachi
Bachelors in Humanities (Gold Medalist) - undefined
DHA Degree College for Women
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