Empowering Women through Self-Reliance: Maha Abouelenein’s Journey and Wisdom

Your career journey has been remarkable, spanning over 30 years and multiple continents. What has been your most significant learning experience, and how did it shape your approach to self-reliance?
My most significant learning experience occurred when I moved back to Egypt from the U.S. at age 27. Despite being Egyptian, I felt like a foreigner in my own country. I didn’t speak the language fluently, had no professional network, and was simultaneously taking care of my mother, who was fully disabled with Multiple Sclerosis. It was a hard reset for me, both personally and professionally.
When I was offered the role of office manager at Orascom Telecom, I felt overqualified. I had a master’s degree and experience with a Fortune 500 company. I expressed my hesitation to my father, who advised me to “take the job, put your head down, and put in the work.” This simple advice became the cornerstone of my career and inspired the first rule in my book, 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: Stay Low, Keep Moving. I followed his advice and focused on excelling in my role. Within a few years, I supported the largest IPO and acquisition in Egypt’s history at Orascom Telecom, then went on to build Weber Shandwick’s presence in the Middle East, and eventually joined Google as the Head of Global Communications and Public Policy. I also launched Netflix in the Middle East, led communications for Careem, and worked in the Executive Office of the Ruler of Dubai. My journey taught me that success often requires starting small, putting in the effort, and letting your work speak for itself. Through it all, I embraced a self-reliant mindset—focusing on my growth, investing in my skills, and creating value wherever I went. It’s about trusting yourself and moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear. That’s what self-reliance is all about, and it’s a mindset I believe can empower anyone to shape their future.

Many women in leadership positions struggle with imposter syndrome, a topic you address in your book. Can you share how overcoming imposter syndrome was key to your success and how self-reliance played a role in that?
Despite my career accomplishments, imposter syndrome has been a constant shadow. For years, I couldn’t bring myself to call myself what I truly was—a CEO. It wasn’t until 20 years later that I fully embraced that title. It took a significant shift in mindset to stop doubting myself and own my place as a founder and leader. Overcoming imposter syndrome was key to my growth, and self-reliance played a central role in this transformation. I realized that trusting myself and valuing my contributions were essential steps.
Self-reliance starts with acknowledging your strengths, discovering how to amplify those strengths, and believing that you deserve to be in the room. For women, particularly in male-dominated spaces, it can feel like a constant battle with self-doubt. But I’ve found that imposter syndrome loses its power when you focus on your expertise, trust your instincts, and recognize the value you bring. Embrace a self-reliant mindset and the fact that you do deserve to be in the room. And if you’re still in doubt, ask yourself: if not you, who? You have the knowledge, skills, and experience to have a seat at that table and to use your voice confidently.

As someone who built a global communications consultancy and navigated major transitions, how can women in the region harness the power of self-reliance to push through adversity and thrive in male-dominated industries?
To push through adversity, women need to harness self-reliance because it is a foundation for success. My own journey has shown me just how powerful self-reliance can be. Modern life often feels relentless, with constant pressure to keep up. But the key is to slow down, invest in yourself, and focus on what truly matters to you, not on what others value. Self-reliance is about trusting in your skills and building confidence from within. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to? It’s that simple—stop waiting for external validation, because the permission to thrive is already within you. Building a strong personal brand, becoming skilled at communicating your value, and developing meaningful networks are essential. These connections and the stories you tell help demonstrate your worth and solidify your place in any industry.

7 Rules of Self-Reliance emphasizes the importance of betting on yourself. Why do you believe self-reliance is the most powerful skill in today’s fast-paced, digital-first world?
If you don’t have the skills you need to stay sharp in our ever-changing world, you will be left behind. Thanks to virtual working environments, we are no longer competing solely within our markets; we are competing with talent globally. And AI is not just coming; it’s already here. It’s eliminating jobs and will create new ones, but don’t let yourself fall behind by failing to invest in your own growth.
Self-reliance is about taking responsibility for your life and believing in your ability to shape your future. It involves betting on yourself, investing in your personal growth, and trusting your own judgment to make the best decisions for your life. It’s the freedom to think independently, stand on your own, and confidently pursue your dreams without needing approval or fearing judgment. Self-reliance isn’t an innate trait; it is a skill that must be cultivated through practice and experience. In a rapidly changing world where technology is disrupting every industry, the importance of self-reliance cannot be overstated. It’s about continuously evolving and adapting to stay ahead and empowered.

The book covers rules like “Stay Low, Keep Moving” and “Be a Value Creator.” Can you explain how these rules can transform a person’s career, especially in high-pressure industries like media and communications?
“Stay Low, Keep Moving” means stay focused on your goals, as there are many distractions that can divert you from achieving them. Stay low means put your head down, diligently put in the effort, and let your hard work speak for itself. Don’t worry about gaining recognition, seeking attention, or validation from others—if you put in the effort, it will be revealed. This approach helped me move from office manager to Director of Communications for Orascom Telecom. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of letting your work speak for itself. When you invest time and energy into delivering meaningful and valuable work and contributions, you will get the recognition you deserve.
In high-pressure industries like media and communications, competition is always knocking on the door. One of the ways you can retain your clients and consumers is to know the importance of bringing value to them. This is one of the Rules of Self-Reliance—be a value creator.
Being a value creator is about how you create authentic relationships, build credibility, achieve a sense of purpose, and make yourself indispensable to clients or customers. When you bring value to someone, you discover what’s most important to them and then focus on delivering that.

One of your rules, “Unlearn, Relearn, and Invest in Yourself,” is particularly relevant in today’s world. How can industry professionals stay ahead by embracing this mindset?
Unlearning, relearning, and investing in yourself is how you stay relevant, be in the know, and sharpen your skills, especially with rapid innovations in technology and when competing against a global remote talent pool. This is so important because investing in yourself leads to an enormous return on investment.
Unlearning is the process of replacing outdated habits, opinions, and behaviors with new ones (relearning). It involves self-awareness and being able to recognize unhelpful beliefs in order to replace them with more relevant or accurate ideas that reflect today’s society. This can be challenging, especially when it requires a hard reset or reconsidering industry norms. However, the benefits of unlearning are substantial—in a world where technological and societal shifts are happening around us every day, unlearning helps individuals and organizations stay relevant and effective. It forces us to be more creative and solve problems in new ways. It promotes personal growth and learning by making it a habit to question and expand our own thinking, environment, and skills. Furthermore, unlearning stereotypes and biases is crucial for fostering inclusivity and understanding.

You speak a lot about personal branding in your book. In the media industry, reputation is everything. What advice do you give to professionals trying to build and protect their personal brand?
A personal brand is made up of three elements—your skills, your experience, and your personality. While someone might match your exact skills and experience, they will never be able to match your personality. A personal brand is what is personal to you. Everyone is unique and has something to offer, but you need to be intentional about what you put out into the world. Your personal brand is how you communicate with others and what you want people to know about you and your values.
There are many ways you can stand out, but it depends on how you choose to tell your story. You need to bring value to your audience. There is a lot of noise, especially online, so you have to really focus on bringing value above all else. You need to be a very good listener. A personal brand that is in tune with what’s happening in the market, in culture, and where their voice fits in can be very effective in standing out.
The most important thing that one can do to stand out is be very good at storytelling. Storytelling is the foundation of effective communications. How you share your idea and having one clear, compelling message is the name of the game. Keep it simple and be authentic to you.
One rule to remember while you’re building your personal brand is that your audience needs to see your authentic self in order to connect with you. This is how you build trust. A personal brand doesn’t mean you have to reveal your personal life—tell stories to show your character, your values, and what you believe in.

Your final rule is “Live with No Regrets.” How can women in leadership positions apply this principle to make bold, strategic moves in their careers without fear of failure?
Living with no regrets is essential when making bold, strategic career moves. It starts with embracing self-reliance. Trust yourself to make the best choices each day, without overwhelming yourself. Leadership requires patience and intentionality, so take one step at a time and give yourself the grace to make decisions with the resources and knowledge you have at that moment. This mindset allows you to push through the fear of failure and focus on long-term growth. It’s what helped me when I was balancing caring for my parents while building my career in a new country.
Bold moves come with risks, and failure is often part of the journey. However, as I emphasize in my book, failures aren’t something to fear—they are invaluable learning experiences. When you learn from failure and turn your struggles into strengths, you not only build resilience but also position yourself to make even greater strides. It’s about reframing setbacks and using them to propel yourself forward.
Ultimately, living with no regrets is about recognizing that your story, with its ups and downs, is uniquely yours. Accept it, embrace it, and move forward with confidence. Every bold, strategic move you make is part of a journey that, with self-reliance and intentionality, will lead to success.