Al Ghurair Investment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Kristina Golubic, Corporate Culture Manager

Company: Al Ghurair Investment
Company Description: Al Ghurair Investment is one of the largest diversified family business groups in the Middle East, with operations in seven distinct industry sectors: foods, resources, properties, construction, energy, mobility and ventures. Headquartered in Deira, the heart of Dubai, AGI diversified operations span more than 20+ countries and 7 sectors across the globe, employing approximately 28,000 people.
Nomination Category: Individual Professional Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Innovative HR Executive of the Year
2023 Stevie Winner Nomination Title: Kristina Golubic
  1. Provide an essay of up to 625 words describing the innovative activities and achievements of the nominated individual since 1 July, 2021:

    Total 625 words used.

    After Kristina was appointed as a Corporate Culture Manager she built a department called Get Wonky, that was missioned to create happy, supportive, engaging, inclusive and sustainable workplace.

    Kristina was proud and happy to solely lead Employee Happiness programs with focus on Employee Recognition, Engagement and Wellbeing and support CSR Initiatives. One of the many Get Wonky roles was identifying current and emerging trends in leadership development and engagement methodologies that are applicable and sustainable in creating dynamic programs and frameworks.

    Kristina's professionalism, drive and timeless smile brought employees together in more than 60 initiatives that focus on employee happiness and more than 30 CSR initiatives (collaborations, sponsorship, awareness campaigns, raising funds / in-kind donations) in just one year timeframe. Kristina also led Leadership, Culture and Induction trainings and brought onboard learning platforms that will support people development in the long term.

    Listed below are some of Kristina's many initiatives she organized and run to engage employees and support community:

    - Organized Women in Power Fundraiser for Afghanistan children refugees (2,000USD donated by female leaders from the company that went towards buying toys)

    - Sparkle Foundation support through in-kind and funds donations, engaging employees and raising awareness about abandoned children of Malawi (donated 55,500USD in value to build a nursery) 

    - Supported “Adopt a School” Dubai Chamber initiative and build 2 schools in Nepal (80,000USD in value)

    - Al Noor People of Determination school support through employees volunteering and services donation (maintenance and cleaning in value of 15,000USD)

    - Down Syndrome Association services donation (maintenance and cleaning in value of 5,500USD)

    - National Charity School furniture donation (donated 27,000USD in value)

    - Organized free medical-check up for all office employees

    - Organized Blood Donation Drive for Abu Dhabi employees and Marina Square residential community

    - Employee of the Month Program design and execution

    - Peer Support Program roll-out; Mental wellbeing workshops

    - Organized Father's Day, Kids TED Talk; Kids Drawing Contest

    - Brought employees to Race for the Deserts; Sound Healing; Pink Run; SZR Mai Dubai Run

    - Organized Beach Clean-up; Plastic Free July Campaign

    - and many others.

    Listed below are some of the tools / methods used to engage employees brought on board as Kristina’s initiatives:

    - Intranet Platform

    - Kahoot learning platform

    - Microsoft Teams used for virtual quizzes for international offices

    - Office TV's displaying awareness campaigns and invites for CSR / Happiness events

    - Minute to Win it platform used as an icebreaker during workshops and quizzes

    - Name That Tune Quiz

    - Social Media posts featuring employees

    - Using Mail Chimp as internal communications and engagement tool

    - Survey2Connect platform used for Employee Satisfaction Surveys

    - WhatsApp groups for Sports enthusiasts (Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Badminton).

    Get Wonky department having it's own social media profiles is one-of-a-kind case where company's corporate culture department lives independently of the HR and the mother company. The goal was to support community through CSR initiatives by raising awareness, and by engaging and motivating employees with reporting on number of happiness and wellbeing events and initiatives that have been run.

    The impact Kristina's initiatives had on community and individuals is immense, corporate events / initiatives employee attendance rose by 40%, with satisfaction survey completion of 50%. Engagement rate for Get Wonky social media profiles rose by 3,300% with 400% rise in published posts in just one year time.

    Kristina has also won multiple awards: 

    - Gold Winner " Best Use of Social Media to Attract Talent"

    - Gold Winner "Best Use of Technology to Engage Employees"

    - Silver Winner " Best Community Impact Initiative"

    - CSR Smart Label - Community

    - CSR Initiative of The Year

    - Stevie Awards - Women in Business “Social Change Maker of the Year – Gender” finalist

Attachments/Videos/Links:
Kristina Golubic
URL Get Wonky LinkedIn Profile
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