Elrona D’Souza and Desma D’Souza

About Beyond Cubicles

📢 #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina D’Souza, born out of her own experience transitioning from a corporate career to independent consulting. Since its launch in June 2024, the series has evolved into a platform that showcases the inspiring journeys of several founders who have redefined the traditional 9-to-5.

Through authentic narratives, #BeyondCubicles highlights themes of courage, resilience, and purpose. The stories feature individuals from diverse industries—ranging from tech and education to wellness and adventure—who share their experiences of stepping away from conventional roles to pursue passion-driven careers. 

✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.

“Our business and personal brands are an extension of our personalities.”

When Elrona D’Souza left her corporate HR role in 2013, consulting was still an emerging idea in the region.

“I saw a massive gap in the HR experience across SMEs,” she says.

With 23 years in the UAE HR space, she founded S&K HR Consulting to address that disconnect with practical, people-first solutions.

Her sister Desma D’Souza joined seven years later after her own turning point. “From the outside, it looked like I had a dream job and a dream life… but I was deeply unfulfilled,” she says. “I knew something was not right but I wasn’t sure what it was.”

A sabbatical gave her the space to reflect. In 2020, just before the global lockdown, Desma stepped into the business. “It’s been the most fulfilled I’ve felt from a career perspective,” she says.

They joined forces during one of the toughest years for small businesses.

“That was a challenge for most,” says Elrona. “And there we were as newbies trying to make our mark.” Rather than push services, they focused on trust-building. “We used this opportunity to give SMEs access to information they needed.”

Desma, once hesitant about client-facing roles “sales or business development petrified me”, now leads business development, marketing, and sales. “I was never formally trained so I had to learn it all, and I’m still learning.”

Their personal and professional identities are tightly woven. “Our business and personal brands are an extension of our personalities,” they say. “We now use several platforms such as LinkedIn and our podcast ‘The HR Sisters Podcast’ to share our authentic selves.”

This foundation is rooted in both place and family. They grew up in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE continues to be home. “Our passport is Indian, but our hearts are Emirati,” they say.

Their entrepreneurial mindset runs deep. “It was inculcated by our father and the women in our family, who always took ownership and just got things done,” they say.

It’s a spirit that shapes their company and their lives.

S&K now serves a diverse portfolio, helping businesses navigate the first 18 months in the UAE.

The sisters have built a life with intention, prioritizing trust, family, and growth. “Know your ‘Why’, they say. “It will get really hard, and your ‘Why’ will be the only thing that gets you through. Play the long game, and enjoy the process.”