Manar Hammood

What is the biggest challenge facing women in our industry today and how do you overcome it?

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The biggest challenge is that we still have to talk about gender equality and issues of bias. Women still strive to be respected for the persons they are and be seen as valued members of the team. We must grow in our industry based on merits and equal opportunity, independent of gender. Partnering together as colleagues with a focus on common principles sharpens the focus on competence instead of gender.

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What strategies have you seen work well to promote inclusion and belonging in the workplace?

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I think it's important to have a workplace free from discrimination every day. Progressive employers routinely assess their diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) standards and policies. Policies alone cannot create change. Creating lasting change comes from efforts to embed DEIB throughout company processes including hiring, recognition as well as culture and values.

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How did you navigate your career early versus later when you had a more formal leadership role? What did you learn from this to empower future generations?

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In the early days of my career, I focused on building my competencies and never hesitated to volunteer for projects and roles that broadened my skill sets and horizon, although I was out of my comfort zone several times. The same enthusiasm and curiosity to learn more and do more serves me well to this day, including starting my own firm at an early age. Curiosity to ask questions and courage to take your learnings and advance a purpose or a cause is what I hope will drive future generations to achieve greater things than we have.

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What is the most important thing you have learned that makes you an effective and inspirational leader?

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Ownership and accountability to results have been valuable qualities that have guided me to early success in my career. These qualities remain my guiding spirit and influence my leadership style. I know that our best work surfaces when we know that people and teams around us count on us to do our best in everything we do, without being asked to do so.

What healthy habits do you employ to maintain your mental health and wellbeing?

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I find creating space for reflection is a useful practice. Focus is everything in business and reflection helps cut the clutter and the mental noise. While it's very tempting to solve anything and everything that needs to be solved, self reflection allows you to make choices and invest your time and emotional energy to the right causes.

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Start with self care and time for yourself. You can’t fix the world if you don’t take the time to work on yourself. Having a self-care routine is vitally important and they can be small, everyday routines that you look forward to.

Be kind to yourself. We often indulge in self-doubt as human beings. Don’t let others determine your worth- knowing your worth starts with you.