Growth Through Giving

Some of the most important conversations in my career didn’t happen in meeting rooms.

They happened while walking through an exhibition, standing inside a beautifully designed hotel lobby, or over coffee with a colleague who casually shared an idea that completely changed the way I looked at things.

Those moments taught me something early on; inspiration doesn’t always come from presentations or strategy decks. Sometimes it comes from people, places, and the willingness to stay curious. If there’s one thing my career has taught me, it’s that no real success happens alone. Every step forward I’ve taken has been shaped by people,  mentors who guided me, colleagues who challenged me, and creative minds who pushed me to think differently.

And curiosity has been the thread connecting all of it.

Interestingly, my path into marketing wasn’t something I had planned from the beginning. I studied pharmaceutical sciences at Cairo University, and at the time my world was very structured and scientific. While I appreciated that discipline, I slowly realized that what truly energized me was something else entirely, creativity, storytelling, and understanding how people connect with ideas, brands, and experiences.

Marketing gave me a place where all of that could exist together.

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across different industries and markets, each experience teaching me something new. My early career took me into the world of global lifestyle and fashion brands. It was fast-paced and incredibly formative, showing me that brands are far more than products, they are stories, identities, and experiences that people choose to connect with.

One of my favorite memories from those early years was building campaigns from concept to launch. These projects brought together creative directors, designers, marketers, and retailers,  all working toward one shared vision. Seeing those ideas come to life in stores and campaigns was the moment I truly understood how powerful marketing could be.

Later in my career, I stepped into a new chapter with the GROHE brand that significantly expanded my professional scope. Over time, I took on broader responsibilities across marketing, overseeing marketing initiatives across Egypt and North West Africa, and later across Egypt, Libya, and Sudan. This role pushed me to think strategically while remaining closely connected to local markets and communities.

Today, my work has evolved further into a regional role focused on B2B influencer engagement across a diverse group of markets spanning the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and India. A large part of my work revolves around building relationships with architects, designers, developers, and creative professionals who play an important role in shaping the spaces where people live, work, and interact.

What I enjoy most about this field is the opportunity to connect with people from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Collaborating with creative communities and bringing professionals together to exchange ideas continues to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. In many ways, marketing becomes a bridge that connects ideas, creativity, and the people who help bring them to life.

Design and travel have also always been important sources of inspiration for me. Some of my most creative insights come from simply observing the world around me, walking through a beautifully designed city, discovering a new architectural concept, or noticing the small details that make a place memorable.

Those experiences often spark ideas that influence how I think about brands and storytelling. They remind me that great design, much like great leadership, is intentional. It’s about creating environments where people feel inspired, connected, and empowered.

That perspective is also why the International Women’s Day theme “Give to Gain” resonates so deeply with me.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to meet people who believed in sharing their knowledge and opening doors for others. Those moments made a huge difference in my journey and shaped the way I think about leadership today. For me, “Give to Gain” means creating space for others to grow. It means mentoring and supporting younger professionals entering the industry and building platforms where creative voices can be heard. When we help someone else succeed, we strengthen the entire community around us.

Leadership today isn’t about having all the answers. In my opinion, it’s less about hierarchy and more about connection. The best leaders I’ve worked with were the ones who listened, encouraged ideas, and trusted their teams.

Outside of work, I try to keep that same curiosity alive, exploring new destinations, immersing myself in inspiring environments, and connecting with people who are passionate about what they do. Those experiences constantly fuel my creativity and remind me why I love being part of industries built on ideas and innovation.

If I could share one piece of advice with the next generation of women entering marketing, design, or creative industries, it would be simple: don’t wait until everything feels perfect before taking the next step.

Confidence often comes after the leap, not before it.

Stay curious. Keep learning. Build meaningful relationships. And whenever you have the chance to help someone else move forward, take it.

Because in the end, the most powerful growth doesn’t come from what we achieve alone, it comes from what we build, share, and give to others along the way.

Rana Arafa Hassan

Leader, B2B Influencer Marketing, LIXIL IMEA