Saniya Shaikh

Head of L&D at ERTH Abu Dhabi

Speaker

Saniya Shaikh is the Head of Learning & Development at Erth Abu Dhabi, where she leads the design and execution of transformative learning strategies for one of the UAE’s most prestigious hospitality brands. Honoured as the Chief Learning Officer of the Year 2025 by PeopleFirst International HR Excellence, she is recognised for her progressive, human-centered leadership in shaping high-performance cultures and future-ready organisations.

With over 9 years of global experience across world-renowned hospitality groups including Emaar Hospitality, Marriott, Hilton, and Accor, Saniya brings a unique blend of strategic vision and operational depth to her work. She holds a Master’s in International Human Resource Management from Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and is a CIPD Level 7 certified professional, respected for her ability to align learning with business impact. Her work is defined by a deep focus on digital learning innovation, leadership development, and organisational culture transformation. From elevating training effectiveness and tripling average learning hours to launching interactive platforms like @teammember_connect, Saniya consistently delivers scalable, meaningful learning experiences that resonate across all levels of the organisation.

Driven by curiosity, empathy, and a passion for unlocking human potential, Saniya is currently pursuing her path to become a certified Executive Coach, furthering her mission to empower emotionally intelligent, resilient, and high-performing leaders