Decoding AQ with Ross Thornley Feat. Alim A. Dhanji - Chief Human Resources Officer
- Author
- Ross Thornley + Special Guests
- Published
- Tue 02 Sep 2025
- Episode Link
- None
From the mailroom boy who kept replacing himself with machines, who was the ex-president of adidas Canada, and terms leading roles at scotiabank, and learning the art of diplomacy with 4 years at KPMG. Alim Dhanji is a globally recognized HR leader with over 25 years of experience driving transformation across Fortune 100 companies. Now Alim finds himself as the CHRO at TD SYNNEX, an IT ecosystem powerhouse with 24,000 team members. He shapes high-performance, and inclusive cultures that fuel innovation and growth.
A Harvard Business School alum and board advisor, Alim brings a strategic, people-first lens to global business leadership.
Ross and Alim talk about optimism, investments compared to cost, purpose, scaling up, preference shifts, accelerating talent, future of work, crisis, rejuvenation, CHRO's, human resources, human inability to adapt, HR becoming CEO's, leadership, transformation, risk tolerance and upskilling. The pair also discuss sacrifice, psychological safety, being vulnerable, confidence, being open, Imposter syndrome, diplomacy, influencing people to support you, servient leadership, custodian's, redesign of work, AI disrupting jobs, learning to learn, AI inspiring people, curiosity, embracing fear and growth.
Timecodes:
- 00:15 Into to Alim
- 01:26 Surprises from recent leadership event
- 02:50 Investing in people and the pay off
- 04:57 Balancing whitespace with over planning
- 07:01 Key themes Alim is focusing on for leadership
- 08:36 Leadership challenges
- 10:30 Practical ways to help leadership initiatives
- 14:38 Blending IT and people through tech education
- 16:19 Evolution drivers
- 18:49 Pressure bringing opportunites
- 21:59 Diverse networks, adaptability skills and role diversity
- 23:18 AQai's Model - Ability, Character and Environment
- 24:48 Unpresidented role changes
- 28:32 What would make 2025 the best year ever
- 32:03 Preparation for exhaustion
- 34:44:12 Investing in learning and growth mindset
- 36:36 Earn, Learn and Serve
- 37:41 When Alim interviews for jobs
- 41:27 The last time Alim did something from the first time
- 45:02 Final thoughts
Connect with Alim:
Connect with Ross:
