Ms. Bardai started out by saying: "The Egyptian Human Resources Management Association (EHRMA) was born as an idea many years ago but only recently reached the point where the idea became reality. October 1st, 2000 the Association was licensed by the Ministry of Social Affairs." EHRMA is a non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to the HR management profession in Egypt. Currently the association has 202 members involved in 9 different committees.
EHRMA is an attempt to build this house of forums where practicing HR managers could meet to learn and discuss trends and issues in HR management, and to nurture it into a home where these managers can exchange ideas, share problems and solutions and to support each other as they face an exciting but uncertain future.
EHRMA's mission, the reason why it should exist, is as Mrs. Bardai mentioned: "To promote the Human Resource Management profession as an integral component of the economic development of the community-at-large in Egypt and throughout the region."
As for what EHRMA seeks to become is stated clearly in its vision: "To gain Global Recognition as the Leader and Voice of the Human Resource Management profession in Egypt and through the region."
Mrs. Bardai listed the following set of outcome-oriented goals for that aim to realize EHRMA's vision and thus fulfill its mission as follows:
Awareness: To build awareness of Human Resource Management as a profession.
Best Practices: To promote ethical behavior and establish best business practices throughout the Human Resource Management profession.
Information: To provide ideas, resources and solutions to Human Resource Management issues.
Advocacy: To build a membership base which will advocate for issues relating to Human Resource Management.
Learning: To share available research and learning opportunities for professional development within the Human Resource Management profession.
Certification: To develop and offer Human Resource Management Certification at various levels of proficiency through affiliation with an educational institute.
Networking: To provide professional networking opportunities for Human Resource Management professionals and practitioners as well as a link to the global Human Resource Community.
Administration & Finance :To become a financially stable and self-sufficient membership organization."
Success Factors
Although the idea was born many years ago, however Mrs. Bardai stated that the main key factor of success that aided in the solid establishment of the association and turned the idea into reality was: "Right timing. Although the idea of forming an HR Management organization was accepted then, yet it didn't get the sufficient support." Mrs. Bardai stated another factor that was dominant at the opening phase as follows: "Being realistic and starting small. Meaning that no matter how big your dreams are for a business or how ambitious you are, you always have to be realistic and beware not to invest too much in the beginning just to acquire an exaggerated image. If you start small and build on the solid foundation you established, it will definitely yield more then starting big at first then realizing you can't keep up at the same level." Now that was at the start of the association but what about the continuing success! "The association is progressing successfully mainly because of its group of members who are all carrying the same vision and dream. Not only that, but also individuals who are not afraid to be transparent in sharing their ideas and experiences together to best benefit and learn from each other." Two other factors mentioned by Mrs. Bardai were effective networking, a goal in itself of the association, and the willingness of the members to develop themselves further in order to transfer what they learn to their organizations in turn.
Challenges
"Being registered as an association having a defined entity with a formal group of members was the main challenge at first. It took around 7 months to get registered and to acquire the license from the Ministry of Social Affairs." As for the challenges that the association still faces till this day, these include: "Shifting the paradigm, changing the mind-set of people. One of our main goals is to act as change-agents, which is very hard to do in our culture these days. People naturally are resistant to change, so it's not easy when you come up with new, advanced and creative ideas that all have to do with humans, and where individuals are asked to be involved and to participate in the change." Mrs. Bardai concluded that fund-raising was also an issue they faced as a non-profit organization based on voluntary work and efforts from its members.
Mrs. Mushira Bardai's Story
Mrs. Bardai graduated from Cairo University's English Literature. Then she obtained her Masters degree in Management from the American University in Cairo (AUC). She started her professional life at the AUC in 1972 as a junior secretary and proved herself throughout the years until 1979 when she left as an Assistant Director of Personnel.
Mrs. Bardai joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 1979 as an HR & Administration Manager until 1988. After which, she moved to Johnson Wax as Director of HR until she returned to her first employer, the AUC in 1994, in the capacity of HR Director.
As for EHRMA, Mrs. Bardai was elected President when the association was established in October 2000. She is also the co-chair of the Human Resources Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.
