- A Few Words -
About Me
I am a woman shaped by many worlds—the legacy of apartheid, the hopes of the Global South, the grounding of Islam, and the transformative impact of travelling across more than 70 countries over the past 25 years. My journey has taken me from refugee camps to rural communities, from classrooms to government offices, and from academic halls to global boardrooms. These experiences have deeply shaped how I understand purpose, service, and leadership.
Over the past 20 years, I have worked across the public sector, the development sector, and regulated industries, contributing to strategy and growth, organizational change, sustainability, and large-scale transformation across regions and sectors. I began my career in the Oil & Gas and Mining sectors, spending over eight years managing investments, divestments, operations, and business improvement across upstream and downstream operations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. After completing my MBA, I moved into consulting, initially with Bain and Company; working closely with C-suite executives and government leaders on complex, high-stakes challenges. Since 2019, I have worked as an independent advisor across education, the public sector, energy, and the nonprofit sector, and have partnered with early-stage and growing organizations as they navigate their formative phases and plan for sustainable growth.
Alongside this work, I have consistently invested in learning, teaching, and knowledge-building. I completed my Doctorate with research focused on organizational change and the future of work, and I now teach and supervise postgraduate students at the intersection of theory and practice. I have authored and co-authored papers and articles on social impact, DEI, sustainability, education, and women’s empowerment, and for more than 15 years have spoken at global forums, sharing insights grounded in both scholarship and lived experience.
Throughout my journey, I have also mentored and supported women—formally and informally—across different stages of life and leadership. I believe deeply in helping women rise with confidence, clarity, and conviction, and in creating spaces where women can thrive without having to fragment or diminish themselves.
- beyond the boardroom -
I am a wife and a mother of three, raising children in a complex and often unjust world. I am also an avid traveler and mountain climber, having summited three of the Seven Summits—drawn to pursuits that cultivate humility, resilience, and perspective.
I have long been engaged in humanitarian work and activism. I work with multiple charities operating in war-torn and crisis-affected regions, supporting humanitarian and relief efforts on the ground. Over the years, I have helped raise more than USD $1 million in support of humanitarian causes. My commitment to justice has included sustained involvement in frontline activism, government lobbying, and acts of solidarity. In 2025, I was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international civil initiative seeking to challenge the siege on Gaza and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis.
My ongoing study and practice of Islam increasingly shape how I live and lead—informing my approach to ethics, accountability, stewardship, and justice across personal, professional, and civic life.
“My mission is to help create ethical and inclusive impact — for organisations, communities, families, and individuals. I just want the world to be a better place for all”
- AWARDED -
50 power women in UAE
I received this award in 2025 for my civil rights activism activities.
The inaugural Power Women 50 recognizes the women shaping the UAE’s future through leadership, innovation, and impact. Spanning government, diplomacy, business, technology, culture, sports, healthcare, and social impact, these leaders are breaking barriers and redefining modern leadership. Collectively, they are advancing progress, equity, and growth across the nation, embodying the vision and influence driving the UAE forward.
Education
Academic
Islamic
Doctor of Business (DBA): Organizational Change & Future of Work
Haskayne Business School, Canada (2024)
Suhba Seminary (5 year program)
Madina Institute, Turkey (ongoing)
MBA: Strategy & Leadership
UCT GSB, South Africa (2012)
Islamic inheritance & wills
Darun Naim, South Africa (2025)
Post Graduate Diploma: Leadership in Oil & Energy
Wits Business School, South Africa (2009)
Islamic Governance
University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Brunei (2020)
My international footprint
