Episode 01 - Building Governance That Enables Business | Mohamed Abdalla AlShamsi

In this episode of Voices of Governance by Hawkamah, host Dominic Elvin, Senior Manager at Hawkamah, speaks with Mohamed Abdalla AlShamsi, Head of Corporate Governance at United Arab Bank, about the evolving role of governance in building resilient and responsible organizations.

With more than 18 years of experience across engineering, project management, and strategy, Mohamed shares how governance has become more than a framework. It is a mindset that drives trust, accountability, and long-term success.

Through real examples and thoughtful insights, he explains how governance extends beyond boardrooms into daily operations, influencing culture, decision-making, and how organizations adapt to change.

Tune in to learn:
→ Why governance is a journey, not a destination
→ How to embed governance into strategy, risk, and performance systems
→ The balance between control and enabling business growth
→ The role of culture and tone from the top in shaping ethics
→ How ESG and sustainability are shared responsibilities across functions
→ The impact of technology and AI on the future of governance
→ What makes an organization truly adaptable and future-ready
→ How leaders can carry governance values through every level

⏱️ Key Moments
00:08 Welcome and episode overview
01:00 What corporate governance really means
03:00 Mohamed’s journey into governance
05:00 Embedding governance in day-to-day business
07:00 Linking governance with strategy and KPIs
09:00 Balancing compliance and business growth
11:00 Culture and tone from the top
14:00 Challenges in building ethical organizations
16:00 ESG and sustainable competitive advantage
19:00 Technology disruptors and the future of governance
23:00 Measuring governance effectiveness
25:00 The future of functional governance in the region
27:00 Leadership, learning, and the next generation of governance voices