When Souad first joined Standard Chartered Bank she was the first female head of Financial Markets in the UAE. Despite the fact that all her peers and superiors were male, she set herself the aim of increasing the absolute number, as well as the influence, of women at the organization. Souad achieved this goal in part by chairing talent reviews, implementing career sessions, and becoming a mentor to over 25 female colleagues. Her efforts saw the percentage of female MENA Financial Markets promotions rise to a record 54%, and Souad’s suggestions for diverse interview panels and exit interviews when women resign were both implemented globally. Souad is a regular speaker at global events, and often intentionally chooses to use her voice on topics typically considered ‘male’: at SCB’s 2021 CreditConference she moderated an entirely male Islamic Finance panel. Amongst numerous external engagements, Souad serves as a girls’ STEM role model for the non-profit GLAM.
