Bahar Selman, PCC

Uphuman

Our mission is to inspire professionals to become agents of positive change in their workplaces and communities.

Become Uphuman: Unlock Your Human Capital!

We create energising coaching and training programs that move organisations and professionals forward so they become truly Uphuman.

We offer world-class corporate training and coaching programs that focus on Learning and Development, Professional Coaching, and Personal Coaching Programs. Our Corporate Training Programs help close the skills gap between your workforce and drive innovation, productivity, and efficiency. Our coaching services are evidence-based and tailored to your needs and goals, providing you with the results you need to see in your people and organization.

Our Personal Coaching Programs are designed to empower individuals to become Uphuman in their life and careers. Whether you need to recharge your career, boost your energy, or improve your communication skills, we offer coaching programs to help you achieve your goals.

If you want to maximize your human capital, foster collaboration and create a sense of unity within your team, or become better leaders and innovators, Uphuman is here to help. We understand that finding the right training and coaching program for your organization's needs can be difficult. That's why we offer customized solutions that will help you achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve success.

Executive Coach, Team Coach and Trainer  - Founding Partner 

Confidential Government or Semi-government Entity

Trusted coach to top-tier UAE executives through the prestigious Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD), guiding the nation’s future leaders toward impactful transformation

Executive Leadership Coach

Consultant 

Hayat Kimya

• Spearheaded the global diaper category (+1,2billion USD sales revenue) as the #1 priority within the organization, reporting to the Global Marketing Director.
• Directed 5 Local Marketing Teams comprising marketing managers, brand managers, and assistant brand managers (9 people).
• Executed global brand strategies and integrated commercial plans for subsidiaries (Turkey, Iran, Algeria, Nigeria, and Pakistan) for the Global Diapers Category.
• Formulated a global growth strategy for Molfix and Bebem brands, boosting consumer acquisition and retention across new and existing markets.
• Devised a global digital growth strategy for Molfix and Bebem brands in all social media channels.
• Developed E-commerce strategy for new and existing markets, with end-to-end responsibility.
• Led the global marketing research budget to unearth customer insights and trends, crafting a strategy to shape Molfix and Bebem as a brand.

Global Marketing Manager

Danone Dairy

Senior Brand Manager

Diageo

Brand Manager

Red Bull

Brand Specialist

Evyap

Brands: Arko Skin Care & Duru (all categories)

Assistant Brand Manager

Mondelēz International

Trade Marketing Assistant

Radyo ODTÜ 103.1

Broadcaster

⏩ Struggling to Get Recognized & Influence as a Leader?

Many highly skilled professionals especially in technical fields are overlooked in leadership discussions despite their expertise.

They bring results but struggle to:
-Command attention in high-stakes meetings
-Gain visibility and recognition for contributions
-Position themselves as influential leaders

Technical skills alone don’t guarantee career growth. To step into senior leadership, you need executive presence, charisma, and strategic influence—skills rarely taught in traditional education.

⏩ Why Influence & Charisma Matter

As AI reshapes industries, your ability to communicate, lead, and influence is your greatest asset.
✔ Hard skills open doors—your impactful presence keeps you in the room.
✔ Technical expertise makes you valuable—charisma makes you indispensable.

That’s where I come in…👇

I help ambitious professionals & corporate teams develop leadership charisma, personal brand, and influence so they can be recognized, promoted, and well-compensated for their value.

⏩ Who I Work With
✅ Mid-to-Senior Level Professionals & Technical Leaders Who Want To:
✔ Be seen, heard & respected in high-stakes meetings
✔ Develop leadership charisma that captivates & inspires
✔ Fast-track career growth & earning potential

✅ Organizations & Teams Seeking To:
✔ Develop high-impact leaders through coaching & training
✔ Enhance leadership charisma & executive presence
✔ Equip teams with skills for engagement, innovation & influence

⏩ Work With Me & The Outcomes You Can Expect

For Individuals:
✔ Speak with confidence, charisma & authority and  gain recognitio
✔ Influence decision-making & boardroom discussions
✔ Build a personal brand that commands attention

For Organizations:
✔ Stronger executive presence & leadership pipelines
✔ More confident, high-performing teams
✔ Improved collaboration & strategic influence

⏩ How We Can Work Together
1:1 High-Impact Coaching – Master influence, charisma & leadership presence.
Corporate Workshops & Training – Customized programs on executive presence & communication.
Team Coaching – Build high-impact leadership teams.
Keynotes – Executive presence, communication & branding.

⏩ Snapshot of My Impact
-500+ professionals coached, 2,500+ coaching hours, 10+ years leading Fortune 500 global marketing
-Trained 10,000+ professionals across 30+ countries
-Coaching and training professionals from companies including: NEOM, MoTF, HSBC, Google, Allianz, GSK, Pirelli, Unilever, Nestlé, L’Oréal & more

Corporate Inquiries: bahar@uphuman.co
For 1:1 coaching: DM me

Consultant

Bahar Selman

Just joined the Wirtschaftsjunioren – Young Leaders UAE Kick-Off Event tonight at SLS Dubai.

Dubai is full of ambitious minds, but it’s rare to find a space where business leaders, entrepreneurs and young professionals come together not to talk titles but to talk growth, collaboration and real impact.

That’s exactly what this community stands for.

Grateful to be part of a network that believes in building the future of leadership not individually, but collectively.

P.S: If we met yesterday, drop me a message and I’d love to stay connected beyond the room

Noelia Weber  Dr. Kim Dede  German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) 
Kunyishu Lyu Khusshboo Mehta

Bahar Selman,PCC

The Personal Brand Architect for Corporate Leaders │ I Help You Build an AI-Proof Personal Brand That Turns Corporate Expertise Into Freedom │ Corporate Workshops & Keynotes @ Uphuman

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Hard work is not a career strategy.
It’s a personality trait.
And confusing the two is why so many high-achievers burn out before they break through.

A strategy is a plan to get from A to B.

“Working hard” is not a plan. 

It’s just pedaling faster on a stationary bike.

You feel the burn, but you’re not going anywhere.

Strategy is what turns effort into recognition. 
Strategy is what turns your technical expertise into executive presence. Strategy is what turns your silent execution into visible value.

Here’s the brutal truth:
No one is going to give you a medal for your exhaustion.

Your overflowing inbox and back-to-back meetings are not a proxy for your value.

They are a sign of a broken system.
Your system.

Stop wearing burnout as a badge of honor.
Start treating your career with the same strategic intent you give your most important projects.

What if the one thing holding you back isn’t your ability, but your addiction to being busy?

The Personal Brand Architect │ I Help You Build AI-Proof Personal Brands That Turn Corporate Expertise Into Freedom │ Design Your Corporate Exit │ Ex-Fortune 500 │ 500+ Leaders Coached and 10K+ Trained globally│ Dubai

How to Speak Up in Meetings Without Hesitation: 

1.     Stop self-censorship

Don’t miss the opportunity to share your views by over thinking, jump in there and share your thoughts and ideas. You see that you‘ll soon automatically speak up more often. 

2.     Don’t forget to prepare

Review the agenda before, collect your thoughts in advance, think about the possible questions you will be asked.

3.     Ask Questions (But Clever Questions!)

Be an active participant by simply asking questions. “Where is that coming from?”
Don’t be afraid to leverage your knowledge.

4.     Use the Language of Declaration

Instead of opening up with “I think”, instead say “Here’s what I know…” or “My experience tells me…”

5.     Say the first thing that comes to mind. (Sometimes!)

Along with preparing to discuss a specific topic, commit to expressing one thought that comes to mind during the meeting. Do this at least once per meeting so that speaking without censorship becomes a habit.

Use these points in every meeting and observe the impact you create.

Summary 

1.No Self-Censorship
2.Be prepared
3.Leverage the Power of Questions
4.Use the Language of Declaration
5.Practise saying the first thing that comes to mind at least one time.

Hello, confidence.

Goodbye, hesitation.


#baharselman 
#speakup 
#confidencebuilding

I thought visibility meant louder.
Turns out, it meant smarter.
Here are the lessons that changed everything.

When I wanted that Marketing Leadership role: 
↳ I didn't just work harder and hope for the best 
↳ I mapped out the key stakeholders who mattered 
↳ I started communicating my strategic thinking, not just my results

When I left my corporate career to start coaching: 
↳ I didn't try to help "everyone with everything" 
↳ I focused on the specific problem I knew best: invisible expertise 
↳ And built my entire methodology around that one challenge

When I started building my presence on LinkedIn: 
↳ I didn't chase viral content or generic motivation 
↳ I shared real insights from my coaching sessions 
↳ And ignored the "post daily at all costs" advice


When I developed my coaching programs: 
↳ I didn't copy what other coaches were doing 
↳ I spent months understanding my clients' real struggles 
↳ And created frameworks that solved their actual problems

It's tempting to spray and pray rather than focus. 

It's easier to choose visibility over strategy.

But when you choose strategic precision 
Because you're willing to do the deep work, You create real impact.

And while that may feel slower, It's actually far more effective, long term.

Focused is fast. 
So go use strategic thinking. 

It's harder. It'll feel deliberate. 
But it gets the recognition you've been working for.

If you had to pick one thing to focus on right now for visibility and what would it be?

#executivecoaching #visibility  #becomeuphuman

P.S. Trust me, I've messed up plenty along the way. But when it mattered most, I finally got strategic about my visibility. Ready to do the same?
Check the comments below for more.

“Hard work pays off.”
It’s a half-truth. 
And half-truths are more dangerous than lies.

Hard work pays off… but only if people see the impact.

Otherwise, it’s just burnout with a different name.

For years, you’ve been running on an outdated operating system:
Effort → Results → ??? → Reward

That question mark is where careers go to die.

Here’s the new operating system. It’s not about working more; it’s about being strategic with your impact.

There are only 3 levers that matter:

1. Strategic Priorities: Are you working on the things that the business actually values, or are you just busy?

2. Strategic Visibility: Do the people who make decisions know what you’re working on and the impact it’s having?

3. Strategic Advocacy: Is there someone in a position of power who is telling your story when you’re not in the room?

Stop measuring your worth by the hours you put in.
Start measuring it by the strategic impact you create.

Which of these three levers have you been neglecting the most?
#ExecutivePresence #CareerGrowth #Mindset #Strategy

Imagine leveraging "Tell me about yourself" to land leadership roles at top companies. 
It's not a dream....
It's a strategy. 

Discover the elements that interviewers crave and learn how to make every introduction a showcase of your potential. 
How do you make your first impression count?

Kendini geliştirmek istiyorsun ama nereden başlayacağını bilmiyor musun?
Yılların deneyimine rağmen hâlâ “Acaba yeterli miyim?” diye düşündüğün oluyor mu?
O zaman bu videoyu izle 👇 

Cantekin Ertekin Nil Buyuksahin, MS, MCC

People-pleasing is not a soft skill.
It’s a form of self-sabotage disguised as helpfulness.

In the corporate world, it’s an epidemic.
And it’s killing the careers of the most talented people.

Because the person who always says “yes”...
↳ Is the person whose own priorities are always last. 
↳ Is the person who gets saddled with non-promotable work. 
↳ Is the person who is seen as a reliable “doer,” not a strategic “leader.”

Saying “no” is a strategic skill.

Protecting your time is a leadership move.

Having boundaries is a sign of self-respect that signals to others how you expect to be treated.

When you say “no” to the wrong things, you create the space to say “yes” to the right things.

• The strategic project that will get you noticed.
• The networking opportunity that will open new doors.
• The deep work that will actually move the needle.

Your goal is not to be liked. Your goal is to be respected.
And respect is a consequence of valuing your own time and expertise.

Stop trying to please everyone. 
Start serving your own ambition.

What’s one “yes” you regret from this past month?

#LeadershipMindset #Productivity #CareerGrowth #Boundaries

You're answering their questions perfectly, and you're still not getting the job.
It's because you're being likable, not memorable.
You're delivering facts, not chemistry.

After coaching hundreds of leaders for high-stakes roles, I see the same mistake repeatedly.

High-achievers think the interview is a test of their memory.
So they give perfect, factual, and utterly forgettable answers.

"I managed a team and we hit our targets."

That's not a story. 
It's a status update.

And it makes you invisible.

Winning the role isn't about having the right answers. 
It's about creating a connection that makes you the only choice.

Here's how you shift from being a candidate to being a strategic partner in the room:

1. Stop asking subordinate questions. Start asking strategic ones.
↳ Instead of: "What is the culture like?"
↳ Ask: "What are the biggest opportunities you see for this role in the next 12 months?"

One makes you a job seeker. The other makes you a leader.

2. Stop recalling facts. Start telling stories.
People don't remember data. They remember stories.

Your "greatest hits"...
Those 4-5 powerful stories of challenge, leadership, and results...
They are your most valuable currency.

They are data with a soul.

Your resume gets you in the room.
Your stories are what make them remember you when you leave.

So, let me ask you this:

Is your interview strategy designed to be forgotten, or designed to be remembered?

P.S. Watch the full breakdown in the video above. 
I show you exactly how to craft stories that make you unforgettable. 👆


#InterviewSkills

The Personal Brand Architect for Corporate Leaders │ I Help You Build an AI-Proof Personal Brand That Turns Corporate Expertise Into Freedom │ Design Your Corporate Exit │ Ex-Fortune 500 Marketing Leader

“Become more like that leader.”
“Adopt a new persona.”
“Change who you are if you want to get promoted.”

We’ve been told for years that to reach the next level we need to reinvent ourselves.
Become more like “that leader.”
Switch personalities.
Fit into a mold.

🚨 New Career Upgrade Newsletter just dropped.
If you’re tired of working hard in silence while others get ahead, you need to read this.

#CareerUpgrade #Uphuman

Welcome back to Career Upgrade — the place where we stop pretending, stop playing small, and finally talk about the real mechanics of career advanceme

Open article: Episode #18 — You Don’t Need to Reinvent Yourself to Advance by Bahar Selman,PCC • 3 min read

Episode #18 — You Don’t Need to Reinvent Yourself to Advance

"Tell me about yourself." 
A common interview question, but are you using it strategically?

Open article: Episode #19 — The IMPACT Framework: How to Master "Tell Me About Yourself" by Bahar Selman,PCC • 2 min read

Episode #19 — The IMPACT Framework: How to Master "Tell Me About Yourself"

Global Tech-Leadership Academy’nin tamamını 1 tam günde alacağınız yoğunlaştırılmış bir masterclass formatına dönüştürdük.

“Program harika ama 4 gün boyunca tam zaman ayırmak zor olabiliyor.”
“İçerik çok değerli ama bütçe olarak daha kompakt bir seçenek olsa keşke.” dediniz, biz de sizi dinledik.

Global Teknoloji Liderliği ihtiyaçlarına cevap verebileceğiniz aynı içerik → Daha odaklı, daha erişilebilir, daha hızlı tamamlanabilir.

📅 13 Aralık Cumartesi
⏰ 09:00 – 16:30 (Online)

Bu masterclass’ta:
🔥 Teknik uzmanlıktan stratejik liderliğe geçiş
🔥 İnsan odaklı iletişim, empati ve ekip yönetimi
🔥 Kişisel marka + sunum + storytelling 
🔥 Global kariyer stratejileri & headhunter görünürlüğü

4 modül → tek günde hap bilgiler + direkt uygulanabilir teknikler.

Eğitmenler:
Nil Buyuksahin, MS, MCC  
Cantekin Ertekin Elliott Cherneski  

📌 Detaylar ve ücret bilgisi için görseldeki QR kodu okutabilirsiniz.

Paul Gyles FCMA CGMA

The First Group

Group CFO with The First Group, a real estate, hospitality and F&B group with a fast growing asset portfolio, and several properties under construction including Ciel, the World's tallest hotel.

Chief Financial Officer

Shamal Holding

Group CFO with Shamal Holding, an investment holding group managing a large asset portfolio across multiple verticals including Real Estate, Hospitality, Leisure, F&B, and Investments. Responsible for Finance, Information Technology and Procurement.

Meraas

Group CFO for Meraas Holding, a major real estate development company with a substantial portfolio of investments in multiple verticals including Real Estate, Hospitality, F&B, Leisure & Entertainment, Retail Malls, Healthcare, Supermarkets and Investments. Responsible for Finance, Treasury & Funding, Procurement and Information Technology

ISG plc

Regional CFO and Board member for ISG Group companies based in the Middle East. 
Refocused back on the fast growth Middle East region to capitalize on the market opportunities and growing the business. Full responsibility for Finance, HR, IT, Admin and Legal.

Chief Financial Officer - Middle East

Regional CFO and Board member for legal entities across 14 Asia/Middle East countries. 
Finance partner for Asia Group MD and Middle East MD, functional reporting into the Group CFO. Responsible for all financial, IT and legal/board matters.

Chief Financial Officer - Asia

Responsible for the Financial Management, IT and Legal matters for the Middle East Entity.
Major role in separating from a JV partner and establishing an independent entity.
Established new offices to expand the business.
ERP implementation

Tatweer

Responsible for the financial operations of the Tatweer Group, a large diversified real estate development company, and a vertical of Dubai Holding. Responsible for Group Financial Management, Business Planning, Business Performance monitoring and Treasury operations.  Key leadership role in group wide restructure during the 2008 financial crisis.

Group Finance Director

Johnson & Johnson

Financial and Supply Chain control for complex division covering 13 Business Units and 11 countries. Commercial support to Franchise Directors and Business Unit Managers. Hyperion and JD Edwards system implementations. Business Excellence category team leader

Finance Director - Middle East

Financial management for a manufacturing Site with a rapidly growing turnover (+40%pa) utilising lean manufacturing & Six Sigma techniques.
Led the Inventory, Scrap & Cost Reduction team's
Prepared New Site selection decision model to evaluate Factory relocation options, and successful application for Government grant assistance.

Finance Director - UK Operations

Murray & Roberts

Financial Controller

Georgia-Pacific LLC

Management Accountant

British Dredging plc

Trainee Accountant

Experienced senior finance executive with an international finance career spanning 36 years working for market leading companies in UK, Middle East and Asia. 

Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and an award winning CFO including past winner of the Middle East CFO of the Year for the Real Estate & Construction sector and NAFA Middle East CFO Power List for the Top 20 CFOs in the Middle East. 

Performance track record in driving excellent business results and developing high performance business support teams.  

Areas of expertise includes strategic financial management, corporate finance, business planning, performance improvement, ERP implementation, digital transformation, cashflow management, debt financing, start ups, fast growth, restructuring, process improvement, and audit management. 

Extensive C-suite experience serving on Boards, Steering Committees, and Audit Committees.

Passionate about working with the wider community and has regularly volunteered to supporting entities such as Welsh Government, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), AICPA, British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCD) and the British Social Club. 

Group CFO with Shamal, an investment holding company managing a large asset portfolio across multiple verticals including Real Estate, Hospitality, Leisure, F&B, and Investments. Responsible for Finance, Information Technology and Procurement.

It’s an honour to be recognised as a Middle East CFO Icon, especially given the many fantastic CFOs across the Middle East who continue to raise the bar for finance leadership in the region.

I’d like to dedicate this award to the excellent Finance team at The First Group, for all your amazing support, dedication, and all the great progress throughout 2025. It’s been a really exciting and transformational year for the TFG business and the TFG Finance team.

Thank you to the Middle East CFO Community     and Transformance Forums for the recognition and for continuing to support financial leadership excellence in the region. 

#CFO #Finance #Leadership #Dubai

The First Group The First Group Hospitality

Group Chief Financial Officer | Strategic Financial Leadership | Strategy and Business Planning | Finance Transformation

Congratulations Paul Gyles FCMA CGMA Group CFO at The First Group
 for Being Recognised as Middle East CFO Icons 2025

At the 4th Middle East CFO Vision & Innovation Summit & Awards 2025.
📅 Held on 06th Nov, 2025
📍 Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel, Dubai

Star Partner: IBEA
Platinum Partner: Cleartax | Qashio | Sovos
Gold Partner: Globizera Services | Marmin.ai | FAME Advisory DMCC | Premier Brains Global (Audit | Tax | Advisory)
Associate Partner: Hogan Lovells | Yubi | The Tax Point
Supporting Partner: ACCA
__________________________________________________________________________________

Join Us for Middle East Tax Leaders Summit & Awards taking place on Thursday, 12th February 2026 in Dubai.

Register Now: https://lnkd.in/diFDbvpC

#LeadershipInAction #FromInsightToImpact #FinanceBeyondNumbers
#LeadingWithPurpose #ShapingTheFutureOfFinance #BuildingFiscalTrust
#InnovationThroughGovernance

Last night was another excellent evening at the Alchemy CFO Ball in Dubai with an impressive 190 senior finance leaders coming together to celebrate and connect. 🇦🇪 

It’s always a pleasure catching up with so many CFO friends and peers across the region.

A big thank you to Conor McHugh, ACCA and the Alchemy Search team for the kind invitation and for hosting yet another outstanding event. You really know how to bring the finance leadership community together!

#CFO #Finance #Dubai #Networking #Leadership The First Group 

Alia Saleh FCCA MBA Ralph KHOURY Ganesh Prabhu CPA, FCMA,CGMA, SOCPA Adnan Raja Paolo Lo Monaco Olga Drevina ACMA CGMA

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The Battle

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Engagements

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