Hala Haidar, 56, is the head of sales Mena zone Emea for the insurance giant AIG. Ms Haidar, from Lebanon, joined AIG in 2002 as the general manager of AIG Lebanon, staying in that role until September 2014, when she was appointed to her current position in Dubai. Ms Haidar holds a bachelor’s degree in economic statistics from the American University of Beirut. After being widowed at the age of 37, she balanced her career growth with raising her two sons, now 28 and 25.
How do you spend your weekend?
Mostly trying to relax, while keeping myself busy. I go to the gym, cook, Skype with family and friends, enjoy a little beauty pampering, go on outings with friends, shop and read.
How did you become head of sales?
I have been with AIG for 13 years. I spent 12 of those years as country manager for AIG Lebanon and last year, I was offered the opportunity to take my current role in Dubai. I am here because of the sponsorship programme at AIG, which links high potential female employees with the most senior leaders in our business to nurture their careers.
What is your go-to gadget?
I would say my iPad.
What was the lowest point of your career?
My husband went through chronic illness for five years, when our kids were still really young. I had to find a higher paid job with longer work hours to support the education of my two sons and pay the medical bills for my husband’s illness. I was widowed when I was 37 and I had no support. It was tough and creating a balance between work and family was not easy, but it made me a very efficient person when I was at work.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
Don’t be afraid to have a voice and be confident enough to make tough decisions. One decision can reshape your future.
What is your most indulgent habit?
Spending time with my friends and my brothers and sisters. Now I’m in Dubai I don’t see them very often because they are in Lebanon, but when I’m in Lebanon, we meet on Sundays and have lunch together. Sometimes we go to the mountains, to the movies or theatre, or we go travelling together. I want to feel free and completely detached from work when I’m there so that when I go back to work, my battery is recharged with energy.
What do you have on your desk at work?
My laptop, phone and a notebook that includes my to-do list.
What can’t you live without?
My job, family and loving friends.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
I have had to juggle many roles. My older son is now doing very well as a doctor, while my younger son has just graduated as a mechanical engineer. Making a balance with work and being a mother was not always easy, but it has definitely made me much better at handling my career. I have also had tremendous support from AIG. Their corporate culture provides flexible hours and enables us to create a work-life balance. I don’t think there are many companies like that. I’ve seen many women I know dropping out of their jobs because it’s too demanding. They did not have recognition of their capabilities from their employers and they were not provided with flexible hours. AIG recognises the glass ceiling women face, and tries to address these issues by introducing sponsorship and mentoring programmes to help aspiring women to advance their careers, and to make it easier for them to create a balance between work and their lives at home.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
I would probably swap with a young female graduate from the insurance industry because it would allow me to use everything I’ve learnt along the way at a much earlier time in my life. I feel that the opportunities in the industry now are a lot better than they were at the time when I joined.
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