Women Of Influence 2025: Al Batha Healthcare's Amanda Bout
The Chief Human Resources Officer of Al Batha Healthcare has been named one of Inc. Arabia’s Women of Influence 2025, which showcases 30 women rewriting the rules of business in the MENA region.
An organizational psychologist by training, Amanda Bout, who is today the Chief Human Resources Officer at the UAE-based pharmaceutical distribution company Al Batha Healthcare, tells Inc. Arabia that entering the field of human resources (HR) came naturally to her given her passion for understanding human behavior, and that has, in turn, presented her with the opportunity to drive meaningful change in workplaces.
“I’ve consistently sought roles where I could influence culture, shape leadership, and improve the employee experience, because I believe people are our single greatest asset,” Bout says. “That belief continues to guide every choice I make as a leader. This decision also grounded me in a principle that I’ve followed throughout my career, which is to always lead with purpose, and the impact will follow.”
Such a mindset is certainly coming in handy for Bout as Al Batha Healthcare, part of the Al Batha Group of Companies, undergoes a significant transformation aimed at positioning itself as the go-to integrated medical solutions provider in the UAE, which has included key acquisitions to broaden its service offerings. “From an HR perspective, this required reimagining the organizational culture to align with our future aspirations,” Bout says. “We initiated a culture transformation program that clearly defines the values and behaviors we believe are critical to who we are and how we operate, both internally and in the market. This initiative has been my first large-scale change management strategy, and it is now actively being executed across all divisions. It involves aligning leadership behaviors, embedding new cultural values across processes and policies, and activating internal champions to sustain the momentum.”
For Bout, great leadership begins with clarity and conviction. “Culture is not what you say; it’s what you consistently do,” she says. “Once that foundation is in place, performance and business outcomes naturally follow.” Indeed, the impact that the alignment between words and actions can have has been something she has personally witnessed in her field of work.
“In the UAE’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector, I’ve been proud to work in an environment that actively supports and empowers women in leadership,” Bout says. “This has allowed women to bring a unique balance of empathy, resilience, and strategic focus to the table, qualities that are especially impactful in a people-centered industry. The presence of women in senior roles has also created a powerful ripple effect. It inspires others, fosters ambition, and ensures representation where it matters. When women see someone who looks like them in positions of influence, they begin to believe it’s possible, and that belief drives change. We’re not just occupying leadership roles, in my opinion; we are reshaping them, and opening the door for others to follow.”
Lessons Learned: Q&A With Amanda Bout
Looking back on your journey, if there is one piece of advice you’d give yourself before you embarked on your career, what would that be? Additionally, if you could go back in time and tell yourself something that you should avoid or simply not do, what would that be?
Be confident, trust your capability, and never underestimate your potential to do bigger and better things. Don’t wait to be invited, ask for the opportunity, take up space, and claim your place.
One thing I would caution myself against is staying silent or playing small in a room where decisions are being made. The truth is, it’s still largely a man’s world in many boardrooms, and if you don’t ask, you often don’t get.
To the women coming up in this space: own your voice, back yourself, and don’t wait for permission to lead.
Pictured in the lead image is Amanda Bout, Chief Human Resources Officer of Al Batha Healthcare. Image courtesy Al Batha Healthcare.
Amanda Bout was one of Inc. Arabia's Women of Influence 2025, a showcase of 30 women rewriting the rules of business in the MENA region. For the full list, please click here.
