How Leadership Hiring Really Works in 2026 (It’s Not What Your CV Shows) | Fareeseh Chaudhry, Haleon

Being confident isn’t what’s getting leaders hired anymore. In fact, it might be doing the opposite. In this episode of Out of Office, Fareeseh Chaudhry, HR Business Lead at Haleon, gets real about how leadership hiring really works in the Middle East, and why polished CVs, big titles, and scripted answers are no longer enough.  We talk about: ↳ Why leadership hiring in the Middle East feels harder and more unforgiving than ever ↳ The real reason internal talent keeps losing out to external hires in Dubai jobs ↳ When “fresh perspective” becomes a lazy hiring shortcut ↳ The red flags HR notices immediately when interviewing leaders ↳ Why vulnerability and self-awareness are becoming hiring advantages ↳ How overselling confidence can stall your career without you realising If you’re wondering why doing everything “right” still isn’t working, this episode will make you rethink what success in hiring actually looks like in 2026. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The High Stakes of Leadership Hiring - Why One Mistake Costs Years 00:00:59 The Middle East Job Market Paradox: Aspirational Yet Saturated 00:02:40 Internal Mobility vs External Talent: The Strategic Balance 00:05:56 The Leadership Skills Evolution: From Command to Flexibility 00:09:12 Beyond the CV: Reading Between the Lines in Interviews 00:11:21 The Middle East Vulnerability Problem: Cultural Barriers to Self-Awareness 00:12:45 Survival Mode: The Transient Nature of Middle East Careers 00:14:31 AI in Recruitment: Automation vs The Human Touch 00:18:03 The Four-Hour X-Ray: Leadership Assessment That Sees Everything 00:23:11 The Inverted Triangle: Why Dubai Lacks Junior Talent and What It Costs Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Fareeseh:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fareeseh-chaudhry/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fareesehchaudhry/ Follow Our Host: Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/