Strong leadership in a diverse world

My nieces often ask me exactly what I do. I tell them that I help organisations to transform their business when they don’t have the right specialist skills, resources or experience. I love that every project at Deloitte is different so there is always something new to learn no matter what the circumstances. As a leader, I find it challenging when I’m expected to have all the answers. The reality is that we often don’t, we just have more experience to draw from. Luckily, I have a strong network of colleagues who all support each other to come up with solutions that work for our clients.

Good leadership is about guidance, communication and trust. I am very passionate about developing high performing teams built on a foundation of transparency. In my experience, every individual needs to understand what role they play in our clients’ overarching strategy and the wider impact to society. It’s important for leaders to communicate this, as it drives a greater sense of purpose, belonging and accountability, no matter how simple or complex things may be. Equally important is getting to know team members outside of work to find out what drives them personally.

When I’m not at work, I can be found on my yoga mat, travelling the world, or chasing after my cat, Jakob, who I have trained to use a human toilet! As an advanced Ashtanga yoga practitioner, my daily practice is a core part of who I am and helps me to maintain my wellbeing. It was especially important to me during lockdown, as I was able to share my love for yoga by introducing online classes for my colleagues.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the firm immediately recognised the impact it would have on mental wellbeing. They implemented a range of mechanisms to help, from online classes (fitness, dance and cooking) to a ‘daylight hour’, which really helped me get through the anxiety. We also have a Mental Health Champions Network on hand to help people whenever they feel like they need a bit of extra support. One of the things that makes me most proud to work at Deloitte is our: ‘bring your whole self to work’ motto. It encourages everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin in the workplace, so that individuals can be accepted and celebrated for who they are. I believe that when people can be themselves, that’s when you can truly nurture potential and enable them to perform to the best of their abilities.

As a People and Purpose lead for the Cloud Engineering team, I’m committed to driving equal opportunities for everyone at the firm. As part of this, our people are encouraged to join different networks where you can share your experiences with like-minded people and discuss the issues that are impacting you. I am part of several networks including the Multicultural Network, the Deloitte Muslim Network, Women in Cloud, Women in Tech, and Codename MAXINE. Diversity is important to me, both personally and professionally. I’m of Pakistani heritage, I grew up in the Middle East and I’ve moved all over the world, living in both the UK and the US. I really appreciate that our differences are celebrated here, and Deloitte recognises that every individual brings value in their own unique way, regardless of race, age, religion, sexual orientation, neurodiversity or disability. This focus on inclusivity is one of our core values, and it helps make our teams stronger. Thanks to the variety of our people, their experiences, backgrounds and outlooks, we can successfully develop a wider range of ideas, which enables us to provide better solutions for our clients.