Managing Workload, Challenges, and Growth with Hend Abu Gheit

Always eager to develop herself and move ahead, Hend Abu Gheit has successfully navigated through many obstacles and societal norms, managing a demanding workload with efficiency and a keen eye for customer satisfaction.

Despite facing obstacles along the way, she has proven to be a capable and driven leader, constantly pushing herself to learn and grow. Her experiences as the only female member in a 40-man team and as a Dark Store Manager at talabat have given her a unique perspective on the industry and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.

Could you share with us your experience as a woman working in technology and Qcommerce?

Among the most fitting people who can work in Qcommerce are women because they are the largest purchasing power in the world, driving a majority of customer purchasing, especially in Egypt. 

As a woman, I can better predict the service that the customer needs with the best quality, and also in the fastest time. 

How would you define a dark store and what does your day-to-day look like?

A dark store can be thought of as a portable supermarket that brings everything the customer needs on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis at their fingertips. 

My day tends to go by really fast at the branch because of the efficiency of our work process. All tasks have clear deadlines and timeframes for completion. And with every passing day, I go through new experiences in which I learn something new, whether through our relationships with suppliers, customer feedback, or discovering a need in the products that I don't usually notice. Every day in itself is an experience with something exciting to learn from. 

How do you prioritize and manage your workload, and what tools and techniques do you use to stay organized and efficient? 

I prioritize my work according to the KPIs (criteria and targets) that are set by the team. Every task has its clear deadline, and on this basis, I can organize my priorities, needed tools, and suitable techniques to remain on top of everything. 

The second and most important thing is that no one succeeds alone. Belonging to a team is one of the most important factors for collective success. So I always depend on having a solid team who can help me achieve amazing results - and we are always keen on enhancing our experiences to grow as well. 

Just a few years ago, you were part of a 40-man team as its only female team member. Did you ever feel intimidated being the only woman in the room? How did you handle the challenges created by this situation? 

I was eager to work on myself, develop, and advance in my career.  They were my colleagues, and among them were many people who were older, some of whom shared their experiences which benefited me. 

Could you share with us your thoughts on how businesses can support women who are also caregivers or have family responsibilities, and what policies or programs do you think are most effective in this regard?

Encouragement and flexibility are key. This means that female employees are enabled to achieve results in their own way, without being compared to men with different lifestyles and schedules. 

Companies should also offer a family insurance program, in addition to other benefits around mentorship and work-life balance. 

What mistakes have you made in your career, and what have you learned from them? 

The biggest mistake I made was remaining stagnant. I didn't think of getting out of my old job for a long while. I was happy in my comfort zone and a bit scared to leave, even though I had many opportunities elsewhere, until, finally, I decided that it was time to gain new experiences. I also learned that as long as I keep growing, then the job I am in is the right one.