How I’ve Achieved Success as an Arab Businesswoman

I’ve been blessed with a career that allows me to merge two of my professional passions: education and training. More specifically, I’ve honed my efforts supporting clients across my region in the broad topic of “human capital development,” which includes the economic empowerment of women.

Achieving success as a businesswoman in the professional Arab world takes tenacity and dedication. But it also takes support and empowerment from smart, well-intentioned people who want to see you succeed, and for that I have BCG to thank. I count myself truly lucky to have a career in which I can simultaneously be working with some of the brightest and nicest people on cracking our clients' toughest problems and giving back to the world via high-impact pro bono work. The balance I have been able to achieve, where I can be a full business owner of my platform and be backed by a highly-supportive global engine, is unrivaled at BCG.

I’d like to share some perspective on my career and what it’s like to grow at BCG as a woman—specifically, a woman working in the Arab world—by answering some questions I commonly get.

Tell us about your background and what you do at BCG.

I joined BCG as a lateral hire partner in May 2014 after more than ten years in consulting. My consulting career began in Europe and I transitioned to the Middle East in 2007. I am now a Managing Director and Senior Partner in our Dubai office, focusing on topics of education and human capital development. I hold a PhD in electrical engineering from Imperial College and an MBA from INSEAD.

Why did you choose to work at BCG?

I chose to work at BCG because we place a strong emphasis on thought leadership "to expand the art of the possible" and on values, including integrity and diversity—both of which resonate deeply with me.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

If I could change one thing, I would ensure much more empathy is nurtured from the youngest age by encouraging schools to integrate the development of empathy as a core part of curriculum. At BCG, our work often demands practical intelligence and logic. But it also requires understanding and empathy to listen to your clients on a deep and personal level. We’ve integrated empathy into our approach here and it’s helped us find better ways to solve problems. I believe it has the power to change the world both at micro and macro levels.

Why is BCG a good place for a businesswoman to work?

BCG is a good place for women because there is support for diversity from the top-most level, which cascades across all levels in the organization. Recognition of the value that diversity brings to the firm and to our clients is felt in everything we do, and there is a genuine effort through the women's initiative— Women@BCG —and across the board to continuously improve the full HR cycle (recruitment, development, promotion, retention) for women.

What advice do you have for aspiring young women at BCG?

My advice to young women is to deliver yourselves from others' assumptions of what you can or cannot do. You can achieve whatever you set your heart and mind to. Stay true to yourself and keep aiming high!

What’s one of the proudest moments or highlights of your professional career?

In 2016, I had the opportunity to present a TED Talk . I naturally chose a topic that was near and dear to my heart: lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman. My career as an engineer, advocate, and mother in Abu Dhabi had given me much perspective, and I wanted to share those lessons with the public, and in particular other women. It was a deeply introspective and exhilarating experience, and one of the most meaningful ones I’ve had in my career.

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BCG is a firm that is deeply committed to empowering the people that work here. If you desire to do something impactful for society with the backing of kind, smart individuals from every region in the world, apply for consulting jobs today.