Rasha Mokaddem

Sales Director,
Ethicon Gulf,
J&J MedTech

“When a man asks for something it’s a quality, he knows what he wants; a woman is seen as arrogant or overconfident”

Enduring qualities to be a well-rounded leader.

For me, a leader of this time has to be inclusive, authentic and approachable for people to feel comfortable to come with revolutionary ideas and in order to have a loyal group of citizens to the company and the team. A leader also needs to be strategic and visionary so decisions have long term impact. Definitely, agility is key given the continuous change in the market, the fast pace of innovation and digital transformation. When it comes to teams, a leader should spare some time to plan the development and mentor talents. To top it all, integrity is the quality that overarches all other qualities. Do the right thing always and maintain high ethics.

“Gender Challenges”

Women still have so many challenges as board members. For example, what is seen assertive for men, is considered too aggressive for women. When a man asks for something it’s a quality, he knows what he wants; a woman is seen as arrogant or overconfident. In leadership boards, the majority are still men — so even if unconsciously the culture doesn’t support inclusivity and women voices are not as loud as men, the onus is on women to be more vocal, more confident and they need to get over their imposter syndrome. I once read a quote that resonated so much with me: “When you experience imposter syndrome, reframe it as a growth moment, a sign that you are challenging yourself and evolving.”

Continuous Learning and Reinventing Leadership.

Constant learning is vital for a leader to adapt to change, improve their skills and remain relevant and capable of growing in future leadership roles. I believe in authentic leadership, so be true to yourself and others. Reinventing a style is not something I believe must be done. Maintain your leadership style, because it makes you who you are. But as a leader you need to continuously ask for feedback, reflect on areas of improvement and development, then work towards filling those gaps through trainings, coaching/mentorship or getting extra assignments in areas you don’t have experience in… all this could add value to your CV.

Aligning Personal Branding with Company Mission

In a leadership program where I was part of my company, the leadership coach said it’s not personal branding, it’s “signature presence”. And this is how I like to call it. Signature presence is how people perceive you and what they would think of when they think of you. It’s unique to you and shouldn’t blend or integrate completely with the company branding. It should be aligning with the code of ethics and leadership imperative that the company stands for. When your signature presence is aligned with the company’s mission, it gives the leader fulfilment and a feeling of purpose. If your signature presence is away from the company’s mission, then maybe you’re not in the right place.