Top 10 Lessons I Learned from Two Decades in Corporate Life

1. Structure and Routine

Yes, sadly there is a reason a reason that most companies operate at teh same time and early in the morning. It is just (usually) more efficient to have all stakeholders of the business around each other at the same time to make faster and streamlined decisions.

2. Networking is Crucial

In any industry, everyone crosses paths at some point. Building and maintaining a robust network is vital, as these connections can lead to future opportunities and collaborations.

3. Maintain Professionalism

Never burn bridges or badmouth employers. Your professional history is a permanent part of your CV (and thus your reputation), and maintaining a positive public image is crucial for long-term career success.

4. Support Your Boss

Your primary role is to make your boss’s job easier, not more difficult. Your company hired them for a reason, and the fact that they have not let go of them, is further a reason that they trust their decision making. So be a reliable support system that fosters trust and it will lead to greater responsibilities and opportunities. This is assuming they are not horrible people.

5. Don’t Outshine Your Boss

Focus on making your boss look good. When they shine, it reflects positively on you and creates a symbiotic relationship where your contributions are valued. They will never be able to not have your around, if YOU are the reason they always look good.

6. Align Your Goals

Your objectives should align with those of your boss, department head, and the company (yes in that order). This alignment ensures cohesive progress towards common goals and enhances your value within the organization.

7. Embrace Grunt Work

The first five years often involve grunt work. Embrace these tasks as learning opportunities that build your skills and understanding of the business from the ground up. They will be the base on which you are building your other talents in the future.

8. Be Careful with Referrals

Only refer someone for a job if you are confident in their abilities. This means that you have worked with them before, or have seen the outcome of their work. Your referrals reflect your judgment and can impact your professional reputation.

9. Become Irreplaceable

Strive to be the 1% that drives change and makes a difference. While everyone is replaceable, making yourself indispensable creates leverage and opportunities for advancement. Be the person people come to for help, advice, or the one that provides that extra cherry on top to each person in the job.

10. Have FUN!

This is possibly the most important thing! If you know me at all, you know I take FUN seriously, and If you don’t wake up excited to go to work, you may be in a toxic environment or the wrong career. Finding joy in your work is essential for long-term satisfaction and that elusive "work-life-balance" . Otherwise, Quit NOW.

These lessons, garnered over two decades, have shaped my approach to work and career growth. Embracing structure, fostering relationships, maintaining professionalism, and finding joy in your work are keys to a successful and fulfilling corporate life. Finally I feel there are key people I want to mention that have instilled these lessons in me over the years, first and foremost is Samer Dinnawi the most structured person I know. Mattia Perroni for teaching me that work should be fun first. Ayman Amer for teaching me the value of being strategic, perceptive and always having a plan A,B, all the way to Z. Zeinab Adel for proving to me that you can break through boundaries and turn the impossible possible. Of course a post like this wouldn't be complete without the main event Sahar El Agaty who has shown me (and the whole industry) what being a strong driven woman can do amid a industry dominated by strong men.