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Bola Adesola: Crafting Your Own Corporate Path

April 12, 2021 Comments Off on Bola Adesola: Crafting Your Own Corporate Path

Bola Adesola is the Senior Vice Chair of Standard Chartered Bank, Africa. She is also on several boards including the United Nations Global Compact and the Women Corporate Directors (WCD), an organization that represents female business leaders around the world. Bola co-founded Women in Management, Business and Public Service (or WIMBIZ) in 2001, and it is now Nigeria’s most renowned gender-oriented network for women. Her high energy and positive outlook are infectious!

On This Episode Of When Women Win:

Bola talked about how determined she was to craft her own path through corporate, and how she was discerning about where to work and what to do. Although she started out to become a lawyer just like her father, after a few years she turned to banking instead. Throughout her 30-plus-year career, Bola learned leadership lessons that she shared on this podcast, such as introspection and reflection… She gave tips for making career choices based on value alignment and purposefulness, and defined what those terms really mean. Bola also examined the defining periods of her life and why those times were so influential to her current position in work and family life.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Be discerning about where you work.”
  • “Failure happens, but it’s not fatal.”
Book Recommendations:

The last book Bola gifted to a friend was Eight Laws of Leadership , a leadership book based on Christian principles.

Talking Points In This Episode:
  • Having a plan
  • Aligning your values with your work
  • A successful career and “childlessness” in Nigeria
  • Bola’s opinion of failure
  • Being a sponsor
  • Giving second chances
  • Build your own table

If you’d like to know more about Bola and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Please send me a message to let me know what you think of this episode or the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

 

 

Catriona Wallace: Artificial Intelligence 101 and The Heroine’s Journey

April 5, 2021 Comments Off on Catriona Wallace: Artificial Intelligence 101 and The Heroine’s Journey

Dr. Catriona Wallace is the Executive Chair of Boab, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator, and the Founder of Ethical AI Advisory. Catriona is a serial entrepreneur, having started a consulting business, a research business and a co-working space. She was also the Founder and CEO of Flamingo AI, the second woman-led company ever to list on the Australian Stock Exchange. Catriona has been recognized by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship, and she is one of the world’s most cited experts on AI & Responsible Technology. She is a proud mother of five.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Catriona demystified Artificial Intelligence and made it easy to understand for someone like me, who has no background in AI. We examined how machines are set to change the world, ethical AI, and her role in ensuring diversity and inclusion is programmed into the future. Catriona shared how her childhood trauma has shaped her as a businesswoman, and how mindfulness has helped her surmount life’s greatest obstacles. The Heroine’s Journey is a 7-part journey that all women take, and Catriona invites you to find out where you are on that journey.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Our journey to great leadership is based around truly knowing ourselves.”
  • “I want to stand in my power so that I can effect change.”
Book Recommendations:

Catriona recommends reading The Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock to get a more in-depth understanding of the concept.

Talking Points in This Episode:
  • Dreams of being a farmer’s wife
  • The police force
  • Computer technology is replacing human leaders
  • AI’s effect on human jobs
  • From abuse to awareness to peace
  • Yearning for the feminine

If you’d like to know more about Catriona and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn. And if you want to learn about Ethical AI Advisory, check out the website at https://ethicalai.ai.

Please get in touch with me at When Women Win and let me know what you think of this episode and the show in general. You can reach me via Instagram, LinkedIn – or the web contact form. Thank you!

Elif Shafak, Award-Winning Author: Why Storytelling Matters

March 29, 2021 Comments Off on Elif Shafak, Award-Winning Author: Why Storytelling Matters

Elif Shafak is a world-renowned and multi award-winning author. She has written 18 books in both English and Turkish, and her work has been translated into 54 languages. The Forty Rules of Love was a game changer for me, and The Bastard of Istanbul moved me deeply. Elif is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature, has received over 65 prestigious awards (I counted them!). Elif is also an activist for women’s and LGBT+ rights and is a two-time TED global speaker.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Elif and I talked about why storytelling matters. We discussed Elif’s upbringing by two strong women, her mother and grandmother. As an only child who moved around a lot, she grew up entertaining herself with books and started writing stories at the age of 8. We talked about discrimination against women authors and the steps necessary to end it. Elif explained how to be a voice for the voiceless and how writing is one of the most powerful ways to fight injustice and inequality. She also shared practical tips for how YOU can become a writer, as everyone has a story to tell. Bonus! During our chat, we revealed the launch date of her next book… That’s right, you’ll hear it here first!

Notable Quotes:
  • “Literature allows us to travel into the soul, psyche and mind of someone else.”
  • “Whatever you do in life, you need emotional intelligence through reading and writing.”
Book Recommendations:

I recommend reading any of Elif’s bestselling books – head to her website https://www.elifsafak.com.tr/home and take your pick! You can also check out her oeuvre on Amazon.

Talking Points in This Episode:
  • Elif’s family background
  • Why Elif became an author
  • Female writers in patriarchal societies
  • The writing process
  • How do we get men to read?
  • Cognitive diversity

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so do drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Your feedback is so appreciated!

Farah Foustok: Invest in Yourself

March 22, 2021 Comments Off on Farah Foustok: Invest in Yourself

Why must you invest in yourself?

On the Forbes list of power women every year since I’ve known her is Farah Foustok, the CEO of Lazard Asset Management in the Middle East. She is also the founder of the Middle East’s 30% Club, Reach Mentoring and TARA speed-mentoring – all platforms designed to help women achieve their professional goals.

On This Episode of When Women Win:

Farah & I discussed taking risks, losing it all, cultivating grit and rebuilding from scratch. Farah talked about her move from corporate to a wild 4-year entrepreneurial adventure in Argentina and Spain, and then back into the corporate world. We discussed why it’s important to invest in yourself and what that looks like. Finally, Farah shared how working in the male-dominated world of Middle Eastern finance fueled her passion for mentorship and her desire to help more women rise to leadership positions.

Notable Quotes: 
  • “I learned to lose everything and then find a way to rebuild.”
  • “It’s important to surround yourself with people who have similar values because you don’t always have the answers on your own.”
Book Recommendations:

Farah recommends reading Open: An Autobiography written by professional tennis player Andre Agassi.

Talking Points in This Episode: 
  • Major changes from young life to motherhood
  • Defining failure as an individual and as a society
  • Living in the Arab world
  • How to bounce ideas off others
  • Collaboration and acceptance in team sports

If you’d like to know more about Farah, you can find her at https://poweroftara.net/tara-team/ and on LinkedIn.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please do drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey.

Thank you!

Zélika García: The Business & Pleasure of Art

March 15, 2021 Comments Off on Zélika García: The Business & Pleasure of Art

Zélika García is the founder and director of Latin America’s biggest art fair, ZONAMACO. She has been running this fair in Mexico City for the last 20 years and her journey certainly did not come without obstacles. Despite literally hundreds of “no”s, Zélika persevered and turned her idea into a massive annual event.

On this episode of When Women Win:

I talked to Zélika about the business side of art – art smarts, if you will. We discussed how to build credibility as a young businesswoman and stressed the importance of patience in navigating obstacles. Though Covid has thrown a wrench in her plans, Zélika is excited by the opportunity to innovate and is hosting an all-new version of ZONAMACO next month in Mexico City. Finally, Zélika explained why you don’t have to study art to enjoy it.

Notable Quotes:
  • “Everybody is good at something different, and you need to explore that in order to make a good team.”
  • “Everything is negotiable. Everything.”
Book Recommendations:

I recommend reading a book by Zelika’s friend Luis Bustamante: New Perspectives featuring beautiful interior designs.

Talking points in this episode:
  • Setting up the art fair
  • Business “the Mexican way”
  • Running an event in the midst of natural disasters & pandemics
  • Creativity in the workplace
  • The pleasure of living with art

If you’d like to know more about Zélika and ZONAMACO, you can check out her website at https://zsonamaco.com and find the event all over social media @ZONAMACO.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Ibtihaj Muhammad: Persevering in the Face of Adversity

March 1, 2021 Comments Off on Ibtihaj Muhammad: Persevering in the Face of Adversity

Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic medalist and the first woman in a hijab ever to join the U.S. Olympic team. She is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written two books: a memoir and a children’s book. As a young adult, she and her sisters founded their clothing line Louella, with the goal of giving women in America affordable and fashionable options to dress modestly.

On This Episode of When Women Win:
I talked to Ibtihaj about persevering through life’s most challenging moments. Ibtihaj opened up about her evolution as an athlete – why she picked the sport of fencing and what it was like competing and medaling at the 2016 Rio Olympics. We discussed the physical, mental and emotional adversity she’s had to overcome as a Black and Muslim and female athlete – and Ibtihaj talked about how her faith and her support network helped her through it all.

Notable Quotes:
• “Choose to be proud in the face of adversity.”
• “Use every moment as an opportunity for growth.”

Book Recommendations:
I highly recommend reading Ibtihaj’s inspiring memoir Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream as well as her children’s book The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family.

Talking points in this episode:
• Wearing hijab in sports
• The challenges of being an entrepreneur
• Honest experiences on the Olympic team
• Ibtihaj as a barbie doll
• Louella by Ibtihaj

If you’d like to know more about Ibtihaj, you can check out her website at ibtihajmuhammad.com and find her all over social media @ibtihajmuhammad.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. I’d really appreciate your feedback!

Nathalie Haddad: How to Build a Business That Keeps on Growing

February 22, 2021 Comments Off on Nathalie Haddad: How to Build a Business That Keeps on Growing

Nathalie Haddad is a career dietician. One day, she realized that her clients were not able to implement her health advice because the meal options were not available on the market. She decided to solve this problem, and in 2004 Nathalie established in Dubai the Right Bite Nutrition & Catering Services L.L.C. a specialized center for expert nutritional consultation and bespoke gourmet healthy meal delivery service. I have personally used Right Bite programs 4 times, all post-partum, so I know her system works. But I also wanted to have Nathalie on the show because she has led Right Bite to achieve double digit growth every year for the last 17 years…

We talked mostly about the business process, building for growth and navigating challenges. We discussed the difference between starting up and scaling up, responding to customer feedback, building the right team, being a mompreneur and we even touched on nutrition!

My favorite quote was Nathalie’s advice on managing it all: “Whenever you’re at work, try to be at work; whenever you’re with the kids, try to be with the kids.”

You can find Nathalie at www.rightbite.com

I’d love to hear from you… Please drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Thank you!

Silvia Davila: How to Evolve Your Leadership & Confidence

February 15, 2021 Comments Off on Silvia Davila: How to Evolve Your Leadership & Confidence

Silvia Davila is the Regional President of Latin America for Danone Dairy & Plant-Based, one of the biggest food companies in the world. They own brands like Activia, Silk, Alpro and many more… Next time you see a Danone yoghurt in your supermarket, think of Silvia!

She started her career at McDonald’s in Mexico before joining Procter & Gamble’s Marketing department. In 2004, she joined Mars Mexico where she rose to General Manager for the Chocolates division and General Manager for the Pet division. In 2014, she became the Food Chief Marketing Officer of Mars globally, based in Belgium. In 2017, she returned to Mexico to join Danone.

We talked about the dance that we do at work every day – having fun and also taking difficult decisions; being a committed professional while also being a full-time mom, wife and daughter. We discussed the challenges that one faces in the workplace and how they change over time. We talked about networking, confidence, picking your battles and not settling for the status quo.

Silvia’s book recommendation was The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, and if you’d like to reach her, you can find Silvia Davila on LinkedIn.

I’d love to hear from you… Please drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey. Thank you!

Rana’s 5-minute POV on Gifting & Receiving Feedback

February 4, 2021 Comments Off on Rana’s 5-minute POV on Gifting & Receiving Feedback

Dina El-Shenoufy: Egypt, Start-ups & Funding

February 1, 2021 Comments Off on Dina El-Shenoufy: Egypt, Start-ups & Funding

Dina El Shenoufy is the Chief Investment Officer of flat6labs, a leading startup accelerator and seed funding organization based in Cairo. Prior to that, she was at Al-Ahly Capital Holding, managing an oil & gas portfolio worth $200 million, and before that she worked in Asset Management. Dina is a very serious runner, but also, she learnt to swim in her mid-30’s just so that she could compete in triathlons!

What did we talk about? We focused on two things: entrepreneurship in general and then start-up funding in Egypt. Dina shared advice for entrepreneurs but also for people like you and I who may one day wish to become angel investors – how to do it and what to look out for.

Dina’s recommended book is Traction, and you can find her on LinkedIn or Instagram.

I’d love to hear from you… Please drop me a note or take this 1-minute survey to propose topics or guests you’d like to see on future shows.  Thank you!

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The Podcast

When Women Win is a weekly podcast where boss ladies and female role models from around the world share their inspirational stories and practical tools and strategies for success. The podcast is currently the most listened to podcast in the Middle East.