What does it really take to build a business that holds through a global pandemic, rapid growth, and the unique pressures of doing business in the UAE?In this episode of the HR Sisters Podcast, we sit down with David Cook, Chief Everything Officer at Contractors Direct, to unpack 17 years of hard-won entrepreneurial experience. From founding a project management consultancy in 2008 and navigating the 2008 financial crisis, to launching a new platform in January 2020 just weeks before Covid hit. David's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical honesty. We go deep on the topics that matter most to founders and business leaders:Hiring & Culture: Why David only hires people he knows, likes, and trusts and why he believes that's the only way to build a high-performing, ethical team in the UAE.Leadership Under Pressure: How to show up as a calm, steady leader when you're waking up at 4am with anxiety and why your team is always watching.People & Performance: The real cost of a bad hire, why remuneration should never be tied to nationality, and how optimising your existing team can double your revenue without adding a single headcount.Founder Advice: Don't leave your job too soon. Build it on the side. Only jump when your income from the business matches your salary. David's practical, no-nonsense advice for anyone thinking about starting up.Whether you're a founder, a people leader, or someone building something from the ground up in the UAE, this conversation is packed with perspective you won't hear anywhere else.This episode is proudly sponsored by Cercli, the HR platform built for people, not just systems. Cercli brings hiring, payroll, and compliance together in one place, with a native ATS that surfaces the right candidates faster and payroll that runs without manual reconciliation.

In this video, we explain how businesses entering the UAE market can build a fully compliant HR foundation in just 6 weeks with our “HR in a Box” solution.


Many startups and growing companies entering the UAE struggle with HR compliance from Contracts and Policies to Payroll & employee lifecycle management. Some rely on templates from other countries or operate without clarity on UAE labour law.


This video breaks down how HR in a Box provides a complete, done-for-you HR setup that ensures your business is structured, compliant, and ready to scale from day one.


What you’ll learn:


✅ What HR in a Box includes


✅ How to build a UAE-compliant HR foundation


✅ Key HR documents every UAE business needs


✅ How to align contracts, policies, and payroll


✅ Why compliance matters when entering the UAE market


You’ll also understand how this solution helps founders, startups, and expanding businesses avoid costly HR mistakes while building a strong internal structure.

If you're entering the UAE market or hiring your first team, this is the fastest way to get your HR right from the start.


🔗 Learn more: http://snk.ae


📅 Book a consultation: https://calendly.com/hrwithsnkconsulting/discovery-call



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