Page 206 - AAE PR REPORT - MARCH 2025

In addition to her role at ECI, Al Mazrouei serves as Chairperson of the Harvard Business School
MENA Advisory Board and sits on the boards of financial institutions such as Zand Digital Bank and
Al Ansari Financial Services. “In the UAE, we see women in leadership as a norm,” she says,
pointing to the fact that nearly 40% of the UAE Cabinet comprises women. She acknowledges
however that in global financial sectors, gender representation remains a challenge.

Raja, who is both a career person and a mother, stresses the importance of supporting women’s
professio al development, but also has a message for women, saying, “There is no deadline for
success. “Women should be able to balance career and personal responsibilities at their own
pace.”

Challenges and leadership approach

Launching the DIFC FinTech Hive in 2017 was a pivotal learning moment for Al Mazrouei. At the
time, fintech was still a developing industry in the region, and the initiative, as well as her
leadership role within this sector faced skepticism, she shares. Today, DIFC hosts over 1,500
startups and the FinTech Hive is celebrated as one of the city’s success stories.

“Leadership is not about authority but authenticity,” says Al Mazrouei. Her leadership style has
evolved from authority-driven to authenticity-led, and most importantly stems from understanding
oneself. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges that failure has been a crucial teacher, saying:
“I have failed a few times, and it was okay. Every setback is an opportunity to learn, adjust, and
come back stronger.”

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