From Gaps to Growth: The Strategic Roundtable Redefining Workforce Excellence
In association with Georgian Global
11 February 2026 | Dubai
Women Board of Directors (WBD), in partnership with Georgian Global, a leading Canadian hub for training excellence, successfully hosted the “Gaps to Growth” roundtable on 11 February at the JW Marriott Marina. The invite-only event brought together senior executives from General Motors, Mastercard, AsterDM Healthcare, Beiersdorf, and other leading organisations to tackle the most pressing workforce development challenges.
The roundtable moved beyond generic upskilling discussions to focus on sector-specific needs driven by digital transformation. Two expert panels, one on “AI and the Future of Workplace Development” and another on “Training Needs of Modern Businesses” generated key insights:
AI’s Human Challenge: Leaders agreed that while AI reshapes strategy, the biggest gap is achieving meaningful adoption. Training must evolve to build “human + machine” capabilities, with a focus on ethical implementation and fostering uniquely human skills like adaptive leadership and strategic thinking.
Demand for Soft Skills: A panel of HR leaders revealed that the hardest roles to fill often lack critical soft skills such as resilience and communication, not just technical ability.
Call for Customisation: Organisations are moving away from off-the-shelf training. Participants expressed a strong desire for customised, blended learning programmes co-created with partners who understand their specific operational realities.
The event concluded with a networking lunch and a group photo, marking the successful launch of Georgian Global’s brand in the region.
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