Why This CEO Refuses to Track Hours Worked | Reim El Houni | HR Sisters Podcast

What does it take to build a media empire from a VHS tape and a guessed email address? Reim El Houni, CEO of 22 Films and creator of Mission Visible, did exactly that and in this episode, she's refreshingly honest about the hiring mistakes, leadership lessons and hard-won perspective that came from nearly two decades of producing TV in one of the most unpredictable industries there is. In this episode of the HR Sisters Podcast, we sit down with Reim El Houni to unpack her journey from a 16-year-old intern emailing every name in the BBC credits, to building 22 Films and scaling teams from a core group of 20 to 60+ for major productions like Expo's daily TV show and the Burj Khalifa opening. We go deep on the topics that matter most to founders and business leaders: Hiring for Attitude, Not Skills: Why Reim tells every candidate in their interview that she takes positivity seriously, and how willingness to evolve outweighs any skill on a CV. The Cost of Control: Why she will never introduce a clocking in and clocking out system, and what it taught her about flexibility, trust and erratic industry hours. The Hire That Taught Her the Most: An honest account of scaling too fast for Expo, hiring under pressure and what she'd do differently with hindsight. Letting Go to Grow: How a self-described perfectionist learned to pick her battles, delegate without micromanaging, and teach instead of taking over. Culture on a Budget: From a gratitude WhatsApp chat to mandatory office dance breaks, the cost-neutral rituals that shaped her team's culture. Perspective: The Burj Khalifa story, the night she thought she delivered the worst show of her career, and the phone call that changed how she defines success. Whether you're a founder, a people leader, or someone trying to build culture without a budget, this conversation is full of honest, hard-earned insight from someone who has lived every part of it on camera and off. --- Chapters Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:48 → Welcome & Intro 00:48 – 02:40 → Reim's Elevator Pitch: From Media-Obsessed Teen to Founder of 22 Films 02:40 – 03:32 → The Hack That Got Her First Internship 03:32 – 04:55 → Refusing to Give the Intern Pass Back 04:55 – 06:33 → Why She Doesn't Believe Her Degree Served Her 06:33 – 09:02 → What She Actually Looks for in Interns 09:02 – 09:52 → Hiring for Attitude, Willingness to Evolve & Positivity 09:52 – 12:31 → Her First Two Hires: The Accountant and the PA 12:31 – 14:01 → Lessons She Took (and Left Behind) From Corporate Life 14:01 – 15:18 → Why She'll Never Use a Clocking In/Out System 15:18 – 17:32 → Weekly Wash-Ups and the Note That Said "We Are Disappointed" 17:32 – 19:43 → The One Question to Ask Before You Discipline Someone 19:43 – 21:38 → The Manager's Phone Call: Have You Actually Asked? 21:38 – 25:13 → The Vision Board Exercise and the Coca-Cola Arena Story 25:13 – 27:47 → Values Moments, the Gratitude Chat & Cost-Neutral Culture 27:47 – 29:39 → Why Her Team Dances Every Day 29:39 – 32:57 → Scaling From 20 to 60: Managing Freelancers Without Losing Morale 32:57 – 34:25 → Why She Teaches Everything She Knows 34:25 – 36:52 → The Expo Hire She Got Wrong 36:52 – 39:24 → Hiring Fast vs. Hiring Right 39:24 – 42:09 → Letting Talent Define the Role 42:09 – 43:15 → Flexible Doesn't Mean Loose: Structure vs. Freedom 43:15 – 44:51 → How Her Leadership Style Has Evolved 44:51 – 46:51 → The Perfectionist's Dilemma: Picking Your Battles 46:51 – 48:29 → Return on Time: Letting Go of Double-Checking Everything 48:29 – 50:22 → Teaching Moments vs. Letting Go Moments 50:22 – 52:20 → The Burj Khalifa Story: Her Worst Show, Her Mom's Best Show 52:20 – 52:40 → Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Reim 52:40 → Outro --- Keywords: UAE media industry podcast, TV producer Dubai, 22 Films, Mission Visible, Reim El Houni, hiring for attitude, leadership lessons UAE, HR podcast Dubai, HR Sisters Podcast, SME growth UAE, people management, scaling a freelance team, founder mindset, Burj Khalifa opening, media production Dubai 📲 BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL https://calendly.com/hrwithsnkconsult... ✅ FOLLOW US: S&K HR Consulting:   / thehrsisters   ➕ ADDITIONAL REFERENCE LINKS: FREE HR Templates: https://snk.ae/library/ S&K Digital Product Store: https://beacons.ai/snk.hrconsulting Get Insights & Tips from our blogs - https://snk.ae/blog/ Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for general informational purposes only and is based on laws and regulations that are current at the time of recording and release. Legal requirements may change over time, and we do not guarantee that the information remains accurate or applicable after this video's publication. Always consult with a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your situation and jurisdiction.