What inspired you to pursue a career in HR?
I was first inspired to work in HR in my early career when I knew the positive impact I can make on the lives of people. HR is an all-encompassing endeavor, the possibilities for impact are limitless. As a People & Culture Director, I have the opportunity to provide a framework for acknowledging the whole person, not only on a professional level, but a personal one as well. I also get to influence an engaging culture that promotes learning, growth and collaboration.
Why did you decide to join axis?
I have always been an enthusiast for Fintech solutions which empower businesses & consumers by driving digitisation. In Egypt, the volume of electronic transactions increased to more than EGP 6.4 trillion in 2022. Learning about axis’ mission statement to empower unbanked consumers and small businesses captured my attention. With 67% of the Egyptian population that remains unbanked with no access to financial products and services, I believe axis can play an integral role to empower more businesses to grow & impact the lives of millions of consumers.
Can you walk us through a typical day at axis?
There is no such thing as a typical day at axis. Every day is unique with its own set of challenges. I kick off the week with a team meeting to go over the week’s priorities, then I start each day with a team huddle to check-in where we stand on our priorities, where we are stuck and what support is required from my end to unblock.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
Fintech and fintech-enabled startups have been steadily growing, as they increased from only two startups in 2014, to reach 112 by the end of 2021, in more than 14 innovative sub-sectors. As a People Director in a Fintech startup, the biggest challenge would be to Attract, Retain and Develop top tech talents in the market. With the Egyptian pound devaluations over the past 2 years and the instability in the economy, it became harder to identify a competitive pay scale for tech talent. Fostering an engaging and a development-based culture at axis plays an integral role in retaining tech talent.
What do you think sets axis apart as a place to work?
I would confidently say people are axis’ core asset. I have worked with employers with multinational and multicultural exposures, but I have never seen a collaborative attitude and a family-oriented spirit like I saw with people at axis. A young, very well educated, talent pool that every People Leader should be proud to work with.
