MNT2LEARN Leadership Primer Leila Hoteit
3 Lessons on Success From An Arab Businesswoma
Dr. Leila Hoteit is a partner and managing director at BCG, based in Dubai. She leads the education and human capital development work in the Middle East.
“Throughout my professional life, I have learned to remain persistent, take criticism in my stride and use it to further fuel personal ambitions.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Leila talks about the impact of growing up in a country where there were not many female professional role models.
Have you identified role models whose leadership style you admire? What have you learned from them?
Leila said she needed to become her own role model. What is your takeaway about her experience?
Leila offers 3 lessons on thriving as a female leader. The first is to “convert someone’s sh*t into your fuel”, meaning don’t let someone else’s values or issues become yours. She offers this is as her definition of resilience.
How might you adapt this type of resilience strategy to fit your life?
Leila’s approach to work and family is to “work your life to keep work out of your life.” How can you employ this strategy even if you cannot afford domestic help in your home?
Her final lesson is a call to action. Women should join forces and not see each other as competitors. She believes that making other women successful is the key to her success.
Has that been your experience with or as a female leader?
How can you create a culture in your environment where women support each other?
Additional reading
https://www.inc.com/spencer-rascoff/want-to-be-a-great-mentor-encourage-women-to-lead-heres-how.html
https://ideas.ted.com/the-5-types-of-mentors-you-need-in-your-life/