Keeping your head in the game with Hadeer Shalaby

From bootstrapping one of the country’s first ride-shares to leading one of the largest FoodTech and Qcommerce companies in Egypt, Hadeer Shalaby is a female powerhouse that is passionate about her team and women’s empowerment in the tech scene. 

As talabat Egypt’s Managing Director, Shalaby shares her insights on entrepreneurship and leadership, and how her team works to improve women’s lives at talabat.

As a female MD, how do you approach your role and responsibilities differently than your male colleagues, and what strengths do you bring to the table?

I believe that as a female MD in the tech industry, which is a predominantly male-led industry, I bring a different approach and perspective to the table. 

In my opinion, it is important to pay attention to detail and to foster an inclusive environment in which women are encouraged and empowered. For example, we at talabat are proud of the female representation on our leadership team.

Despite increasing female representation in tech, many women still lack the confidence to pursue jobs in the industry. What is your opinion on the topic and how would you encourage these women?

When I reflect on the ecosystem today, I would say I have witnessed constant upward changes; take talabat for example, around 33% of our leadership in MENA is made up of women.

The state of women in the entrepreneurship ecosystem has certainly changed, but we still do not have enough female founders and investors - which is a source of motivation for everyone to do better and strive for more.  

In 2021, talabat introduced its first female rider captain. What steps has your company taken to close the gender pay gap and ensure that these women are compensated fairly and equitably?

I am proud to attest that, at talabat, we do not have discrepancies in compensation based on gender or any other factor. However, it is important to note that even with these efforts, we must still persist until women breaking into male-dominated industries becomes the norm and not something that is newsworthy. 

With such a dynamic and strong career from a young age, have you become more risk-averse or risk-seeking as you progressed in your career?

I would say that I have become more risk-averse with age and experience. When you are still young and have not been exposed to a lot of the challenges that you may face down the road as you progress in your career, you might be more optimistic and tend to be more risk-seeking. However, as I gained more experience over the years, I believe I have become more data-driven when it comes to decision-making. 

What advice would you give to women who are considering starting their businesses, and what lessons have you learned throughout your entrepreneurial journey?

My advice to female entrepreneurs is to keep their heads in the game. 

We cannot control other people's first impressions of us, but we can control the second impression. I believe that communication and time can change perceptions, and I think of this as a chance to deconstruct biases and prejudices. 

How do you prioritize and manage your workload in such a fast-paced industry, and what tools and techniques do you use to stay organized and efficient?

I follow my calendar religiously. I believe that staying organized and booking everything on my calendar helps me stay on top of things and have a work-life balance. I also believe in finding time to do different things to recharge like traveling or taking some time off, and going for a workout to energize myself. 

If you could give just one leadership lesson that you’ve learned over the years, what would it be?

One leadership lesson I have learned over the years would be to empower strong talent. I believe that investing in the right people and empowering them with the right tools, as opposed to micromanaging, paves the way for a smooth operation where everything falls into place.