Building Human-centered Cultures that Scale

Christina Dimatati, HR Leader in Global Services, Greece

Christina Dimatati, HR Leader in Global Services, Greece

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by transformation. Not just organizational change on paper, but the living, breathing process of helping people, teams, and companies grow into something bigger than themselves. My career in HR has been defined by moments of rolling up my sleeves, working side by side with colleagues, and discovering that when you put people at the heart of transformation, extraordinary things happen.

I’ve witnessed this first-hand across multiple industries— from scaling a start-up operation in the insurance sector from zero to over 500 employees in less than two years, to tripling headcount in the food industry during the pandemic, to navigating complex cultural shifts in telecommunications. In each case, the challenge was demanding, but the constant was my deep belief that empathy, connection, and courage can carry organizations through even the most intense transitions.

Now, in the global services sector within logistics, I bring this same spirit: the drive to combine structure with soul, and to lead transformations that are not only operationally successful but also profoundly human.

Aligning Global Goals with Local Realities

In my role, I am entrusted with shaping a people strategy that fuels operational excellence while keeping humans at the center. My work spans talent development, organizational effectiveness, and cultural transformation.

What excites me most is striking the balance between global alignment and local realities. I work closely with international stakeholders to maintain consistency across geographies, while tailoring approaches to the Greek context. This dual focus ensures that strategies are both scalable and relevant, driving growth, elevating employee experience, and strengthening engagement across diverse functions—from logistics and IT to shared services.

Empathy as a Performance Multiplier

Every transformation has taught me the same truth: empathy is not a trade-off; it’s a multiplier. Sustainable performance comes from trust, clarity, and courage.

Whether building a company from scratch or navigating hypergrowth, the levers that matter most are clear communication, psychologically safe environments, and empowering middle managers as true culture carriers. These leaders are the ones who embed values into daily practice and ensure that transformation is not just managed, but embraced.

Embedding DEI, Wellbeing, and Leadership Development

Values without action are just posters on the wall. In global services, we are committed to making them real—by embedding them in every stage of the employee journey.

For me, diversity, equity & inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership development are not separate streams competing for attention. They are interconnected pillars of one foundation: a resilient, future-ready workforce. We prioritize by listening—through data, dialogue, and feedback—and then co-create solutions with our people.

Wellbeing is not a campaign; it is a way of working. DEI is not an initiative; it is belonging in action. Leadership development is not simply succession planning; it is cultivating empathy, courage, and growth at every level. By weaving these elements into daily practices, we make values more than words—they become lived experiences.

Designing With People, Not Just For Them

My philosophy is simple: start with humility, lead with courage, and design with people—not just for them. Transformation does not wait for perfect conditions. It thrives on iteration: test, learn, adapt.

Across industries—from insurance and food to telecommunications and logistics—I have seen that creativity, resilience, and genuine care for people are what truly move cultures forward. Rolling up my sleeves alongside teams has always been my favorite part of transformation. It is there— in the conversations, in the problem-solving, in the shared wins—that culture comes alive.

Transformation, to me, is not a project or a phase. It is a way of life. And the greatest joy of my career has been inspiring teams to believe in themselves, to grow together, and to see that human-centered cultures not only scale—they last.