Q&A with Khamel Abdulai, Executive Director of Human Resources and Talent Management
As executive director of human resources and talent management at Excelsior University, Khamel Abdulai provides structure and leadership for training and development initiatives and works closely with employees to ensure that they have what they need to be successful.
What do you enjoy about your work at Excelsior University?
I am incredibly fortunate to work for an institution that has a deep history and tradition of helping people see the potential in themselves and the possibilities in the world around them. This is as true for our students as it is for our faculty and staff.
My work in human resources is such a great vehicle for helping and empowering those who help and empower our students, and it’s never boring or static. Whether it’s providing learning and development opportunities, working with our dedicated HR team to nurture a positive work environment for our employees, or working with leaders to achieve our institutional goals, I have the enviable privilege of working with incredible people every day and learning new things along the way.
I am proud of the work we do as a university and even prouder of the community we’ve created. This is a great place to work, and it’s gratifying to know that our efforts make a difference—for our employees and students.
What’s exciting in the world of learning and development?
The world of learning and development—and as a whole, HR—is constantly evolving. We are paying increasing attention to what drives the overall well-being of our employees and trying to understand how to create the most conducive work environment. How people show up to work is very much reliant on their lives at home, their physical and mental health, and their daily concerns. From a learning and development perspective, it’s about not only training people to do their jobs but also helping them learn how to take care of their overall well-being.
I am excited by this because it needs a cross-disciplinary approach—everyone working together to support employees so that they can maximize their potential. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not about one single big thing but about paying attention to the many small things that affect people every day.
Why is learning and development important for an organization?
Successful organizations are the ones that emphasize a learning culture and knowledge transfer. A learning organization is one that puts an emphasis on continuous improvement and reflection, and on always acquiring new ways of thinking and doing. In other words, you cannot grow if you do things the same way, and you’ll keep doing things the same way if new knowledge isn’t acquired and disseminated.
What are some challenges with implementing learning and development initiatives in an organization? How do you anticipate and mitigate those challenges?
The biggest opportunity is also the biggest challenge. So much change, and so much uncertainty. The landscape is rapidly evolving, and nowhere is that truer than in higher education.
How people learn, what value they place on learning, and our understanding of the world around us has changed in ways that we do not always understand. An example is technological change and how it affects how people learn. Using AI (artificial intelligence), you can create summaries and learning plans about almost any topic in the world. This raises many questions and concerns, but it also puts incredible power in people’s hands.
In higher education and in HR work, staying as informed as possible is important, as is being proactive with seeking knowledge and intelligence. Having a North Star, a set of values and guiding principles, helps keep you grounded. Also, it’s better to try something that fails and to learn from it than to be inert.
What do you enjoy most about leading employee learning and development efforts?
I love my job because I learn so much every day! In a higher education institution like Excelsior University, you work with people who are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do and are happy to share it. I’ve always believed that educators can learn as much, if not more, than their audience. It’s a privilege to work with my colleagues and a reward to work across the institution.
What topics for e-learning courses and workshops are especially beneficial at this time?
I recommend courses on communication and collaboration, using technology and digital tools to work more effectively with others, resilience, and how to develop a growth mindset. There is still uncertainty on what skills we would need for the long-term future—except the skills of learning new ways and unlearning things that are obsolete—so anything that enhances learning as a competency is important.
In today’s world, an understanding of AI and how generative AI tools can help you streamline your work are essentially foundational competencies. As my colleague Tynan Oppenneer likes to say, “Don’t be afraid of AI stealing your job; be concerned with the person who knows how to use AI stealing your job.” I think that is a valid point.
Lastly, I would recommend setting aside time to explore content on well-being—mindfulness and self-care are so crucial.
What are three reasons everyone should make time for learning and development
- Professional development and learning can be linked to overall job satisfaction. Our sense of professional well-being is enhanced by the opportunity to learn and apply new skills.
- Being proactive and setting aside time for training and professional development increases the effectiveness of the effort. By being deliberate and purposeful about the time you spend in professional development, you realize the full benefit of the experience. No one wants to learn in a hurry or at the last minute.
- Work and life often move at a pace beyond our control. Every day, something we know becomes obsolete or ill-suited for today’s context. Setting aside time for professional development keeps your skill sets current.
Based on your own professional experiences, what have you learned about the importance of professional development?
We are social beings in a complex world. Our environment changes all the time, and without some application of a learning mindset, it’s easy to be left behind. The one lesson I’ve learned is that there is a clear distinction between environments that prioritize professional development and those that don’t, at the expense of the latter.
What author/book or thought leader inspires you, and why?
Not an easy question for me—so many great thought leaders out there! I have to say that a book that’s influenced me the most is “Shackleton’s Way.” It’s a great book about the importance of good leadership in turbulent times. Ernest Shackleton and his crew faced nearly unsurmountable difficulty, but through his hands-on, engaged leadership, emotional intelligence, and well-managed goals, every single one of his crew returned home safely.
I also subscribe to the East African value of “Ubuntu”—“I am because we are.” During uncertain times, it’s important for us to remember that our fates are more intertwined than we often remember.
I recently read “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, and it’s a well-written book to help you organize your life around what matters most—spending your time wisely and productively.
What is the best or most memorable professional advice you have received?
Underpromise and overdeliver. It sounds clichéd, but it is essentially the best expectation management advice I have received. Another (bonus) bit of advice I strive to apply is to always focus on the relationships. We are only as effective as the relationships we build and nurture. Lasty, focus on what you can control. It’s easy to lose oneself in holding others accountable for our own success. I have my current boss to thank for this advice.
What is your mantra?
“Small steps lead to significant journeys.” Every day is an opportunity to learn something new, start a new habit, or abandon a bad one. Never underestimate the power of incremental progress.
About Khamel Abdulai
Khamel Abdulai was promoted to executive director of human resources and talent management in October 2024 after serving as senior director of talent development overseeing training and professional development initiatives. He has worked at Excelsior University since 2015.
Abdulai earned a Master of Business Administration from the College of Saint Rose, a Bachelor of Science in geology from the University at Albany, and a general certificate in education in arts from St. Augustine’s College.
