S o f t t al k
Profile: Rouba El Akhdar
targeting female personnel but more and more from women are applying for positions at our company. I think it is the culture within the organisation that empowers people and I believe we should not generalise. Most industries today are gender-neutral and professionals should seek opportunities as they come along. I don’t see any limitations for women to pursue a career in the logistics industry as in any other industry. I foresee more and more women will come into the workforce in this industry in the future and, given, the tight and competitive employment scenario and large number of expatriates coming and hunting for jobs, particularly in the GCC, there is inevitably bound to be more and more interest in the industry from women.
summarised as follows: meet the expectations of both the employer and employees, customers and at a wider level to meet corporate social responsibilities.
What advice would you give young people and specifically women and UAE nationals wanting to make a career in logistics? Logistics is a major contributor to the UAE’s GDP. I am of the opinion that the strategic geographical position of Dubai and the continued investments by Dubai government into the logistics infrastructure, such as ports and airports, make this profession a sustainable one for the young aspiring talents whether locally or internationally. I exhort young people and specifically women and UAE citizens to seize opportunities as they come along.
How do you attain a work-life equilibrium given your commitments both professionally and to your household? There can never be a perfect equilibrium and one has to learn to prioritise on a daily basis.
Describe your business philosophy in two sentences My business philosophy can be
If there are two causes you would espouse, what might these be? The causes closest to my heart are ‘women’s empowerment’ and to help, in my own small way, deprived humanity. What would you regard indispensable? Faith and values in life are important for me and I espouse these. What do you regard as the key to your success? I believe the key to my success is being genuine and being myself—an individual with specific characteristics.
How do you relax after the working day? I unwind by spending quality time with my family. What do you like most about working in the UAE? Safety, stability, multi-cultural environment, the opportunities in my professional growth and not being very far away from home are some of the attractions for me working in the UAE.
Rouba El Akhdar is currently regional finance director at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Middle East based in Dubai, UAE. She joined the company in October 2007 as GM of finance and was prompted to her current position in January 2013. Rouba is responsible for the financial reporting of all legal entities including the holding company registered in the Isle of Man. Additional responsibilities include preparation of yearly budgets and monthly forecasts for Hellmann and the JVs (Rudolph Hellmann Automotive and Hellmann Calipar Health Care Logistics); managing the treasury of Hellmann and JVs and supervising the financial audit for UAE and Kuwait. Rouba El Akhdar acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in banking and finance from the prestigious American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. Her expertise and skills are in the areas of cash flow, financial management, financial accounting, logistics and supply chain. Her past experience includes tenures with such blue chip companies as Schlumberger; Starcom Media Vest Group and Tetra Pak.
Logistics News ME | October 2015 | 61