1. How did your career start? Was it planned or did you get into by chance?

I started my career as a senior auditor at Grant Thornton in the UK. I knew at the outset that I wanted to be in a company and a role where I could make a difference, deliver a tangible service that benefits employees and clients and see a real output that adds value. Even at the beginning of my career, I knew that I wanted to transition into an industry that would allow me to have a positive impact on people's lives, and facilities management presented the opportunity to create healthier, happier places for people to live, work and visit.

I joined Emrill in 2014 as the organisation's finance director. In 2019, I was appointed the organisation's first chief financial officer, which marked a milestone for the facilities management provider. As Emrill's CFO and a part of the Executive Leadership Team driving the business strategy, I am also responsible for the company's overall financial management, from ensuring robust internal controls and driving the continuous improvement of the company's finance and accounting processes and procedures, to mitigating financial risks. 

Additionally, I see my role as CFO as going beyond leading the organisation's financial performance. I developed LEAD, Emrill's management development training programme. This 18-month course gives selected employees the opportunity to upskill, so they can become more effective in their current roles and help them get closer to their professional goals.

Emrill is known for the quality of its people, and it holds annual staff events and initiatives that promote engagement, employee health, and sports participation for all team members. I have been actively involved in all company events and CSR initiatives, in particular the Women's Day activities, acting as a role model for other female employees.

I have also been an active supporter of and instrumental in the improvement of welfare standards across Emrill's business and its extensive supply chain. I have personally visited labour accommodations to ensure living standards meet the required levels. The leadership team at Emrill feels a collective responsibility to ensure those individuals delivering services on Emrill's behalf are looked after properly. This approach is actively promoted at all levels of the business to help drive positive change and share best practices across the industry and the wider UAE.

2. Have you faced any challenges in your career due to your gender?

Whilst facilities management has traditionally been regarded as a male-dominated industry, I embraced the challenge and took the opportunity to take a leadership role which would give me a platform to lead change within the business, having an impact not only on Emrill as a company and its employees but also the wider industry.

I believe a lot of progress has already been made, with women overcoming barriers and taking a seat at the leadership table. Historically, there have been challenges for women entering male-dominated sectors, such as facilities management. However, this sector and the UAE have never been more proactive in seeking out and employing talent regardless of gender. In fact, at Emrill, we have created an environment in which women can thrive as professionals, equal to their male counterparts. We've achieved this by supporting and encouraging women to have a voice in whatever field they choose and to make a change – both in their home lives and in business.

We pride ourselves on leading the way, but we are definitely seeing a shift in not just the facilities management sector but across the entire market. Everything we do is being supported by the government, and this is definitely bringing about a change in mindset.

Probably the biggest barrier is women underestimating their role in society, their strengths and capabilities on what they can achieve and contribute or bring to the table. Women need to grab opportunities, have confidence in their abilities and challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zones. In my experience, women can and do perform at the same level as men across a diverse range of sectors without requiring special treatment – now, more than ever, we are achieving the same career achievements and growth.

3. Do you think enough steps are being taken by companies to encourage women to enter C-level positions?

I believe there is a common misconception that women do not want to work in the construction and facilities management sectors and that companies need to offer women something above and beyond the normal to entice them. The reality is, women just want the same opportunities to carve out a career as men, and Emrill has not needed to employ policies that specifically target increasing the number of women it employs. Rather, it has created a culture of openness and diversity that has naturally attracted some of the industry's best talents – male and female.

The UAE and the facilities management sector have been proactive in seeking out and employing talent, regardless of gender. Emrill is leading the way in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Emrill embraces inclusion, whether related to gender, age, nationality, education experience or professional background. In essence, this means the organisation gives the same opportunities to every Emrill employee to develop professionally and expand skills sets to meet the next career challenge. Emrill offers a range of in-house programmes, including CPD-accredited courses, catering to fresh graduates, experienced professionals and, since 2019, even Emirati students looking to gain experience in the facilities management sector with the introduction of our applied work placement programme, Khibra.

Emrill has an inclusive hiring process and a great track record of putting the right people in the right roles and ensuring they have the skills to succeed, regardless of gender. This has led to Emrill having a large pool of very talented female managers. Emrill has also put policies in place to enable women (and men) to enter and return to the workplace. For example, Emrill's maternity leave policy goes beyond the standard UAE Labour Law of 45 days; Emrill employees who have one year of continuous service are entitled to 90 days' paid leave, 90 days' half-paid leave and a further 180 days unpaid, totalling one year.

Emrill's executive leadership embodies diversity, with half of the roles held by women, which I think is quite unique within the facilities management sector. Emrill has created an environment that not only welcomes women in every role but also provides an opportunity for them to develop and thrive. I would encourage other companies within the sector to look beyond stereotypes and play a part in dispelling the myth that women require special treatment.

4. Is work-life balance real or fiction?

I truly believe there is a balance to be struck, and it's entirely possible. The first thing to acknowledge is that your work life and your personal life should be given equal importance, and the success of one area of your life has a knock-on effect on every other part of your life. I think having a balanced life is critical to building better mental health.

The pandemic completely changed how many of us live and work, and it was vital that Emrill support employees as they adapted and found ways to achieve a healthy work-life balance. We expanded our flexible working practices, giving people the tools and technology they needed to work from home effectively. Beyond this, we launched Happier Together with Emrill and Emrill's Employee Assistance Programme, both of which gave employees access to webinars, workshops and resources to help them adapt and take care of themselves.

It's so important to love your job and want to put your all into it, but I actively encourage people to put the same amount of energy into taking care of themselves. When you feel good, your performance at work is better, and everything feels far more manageable. To support this, every member of Emrill's leadership team has an open-door policy, so employees who need advice, support or just someone to talk to know that they can approach us.

5. What advice do you have for young women who would like to enter the industry?

I encourage anyone, regardless of gender, to ask themselves why they want to work within facilities management. The work we do is perhaps not as glamorous as other sectors, but if people have that passion to improve the built environment around us, this industry gives you the opportunity to make a very real difference in people's lives.

With regards to the industry: facilities management is on the front lines and the work we do has a huge impact on the places where you may live, work or visit. Especially now as we continue to live with the pandemic in our lives, health, safety and cleanliness are high on everyone's agenda.

If facilities management is truly your calling, seize any opportunity that comes your way. I think there is a risk that, straight out of college, it can be intimidating starting out in such a technical industry. However, every woman has a voice, so they should step up and make it heard. Everywhere I look, I can see women having a positive impact in their chosen fields and on the sector in general – raising standards and leading from the front.