1. Can you introduce yourself and explain how sustainability became a core part of your life?
I like to think of myself as a changemaker, someone who believes that sustainability is not just a topic or an industry, but a collective responsibility.
My journey with sustainability was not a sudden switch; it was an evolution that paralleled the transformation I wanted to see in the world. I felt called to be part of the solution, not the problem. That belief guided me through years of work in leadership, culture change, and entrepreneurship.
Tawazoun originally began as a platform focused on gender balance, but as the world shifted, particularly after the pandemic, the need for a broader, more holistic framework became undeniable. That’s when Tawazoun evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem of balance, with a mission to humanize business and empower communities toward wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability.
2. How do you keep yourself updated on the latest information and developments in climate change and sustainability?
When you are passionate about something, staying informed becomes second nature. I am constantly connected to communities, both as a member and as a host. I attend key events, engage with thought leaders, and regularly explore new research and articles. With the wealth of knowledge available today, I make sure to stay updated and relevant. This allows me to bring a diverse and global perspective into my work.
3. Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) do you resonate with the most, and why?
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Because real change is not a solo act. The work I do is deeply rooted in cross-sector collaboration, co-creation, and building bridges between different ecosystems. Partnerships, when values aligned, become the greatest accelerators of sustainable transformation.
4. What are your thoughts on climate change and the four key categories of individual emissions? How do you calculate your individual emissions?
We are not only facing a climate crisis, we are facing a consciousness crisis. While it is useful to calculate individual emissions and raise awareness, I believe the real shift begins when we look inward and question how we live, consume, and connect with the planet.
I encourage using personal emission calculators and data tools to gain insight, but what matters most is what we do with that awareness. It is about the mindset shift, not just the metrics.
5. What innovations or unique practices have you introduced in your daily life that have helped reduce your environmental footprint?
In my personal and professional life, I am constantly looking for meaningful, practical changes that reduce waste and promote conscious living. I have eliminated single-use items wherever possible and embraced reusables in daily routines, from shopping bags to water bottles. I also shifted toward mindful consumption, especially in fashion and lifestyle, making intentional choices that support circularity and longevity.
One innovation I am proud of is our move to seeded paper brochures and business cards at Tawazoun, a simple but powerful way to embody our message. Instead of traditional materials, we now use cards that can literally be planted to grow something new, symbolizing regeneration and impact in every interaction.
We also design educational tools and games for children to help them understand concepts like waste, water use, and everyday sustainability in fun and accessible ways. Through the Tawazoun Index, we help people measure their personal and organizational alignment to sustainability and balance across our four pillars.
And on a systemic level, we promote flexible, remote-first work practices that reduce commuting and energy footprints, while allowing people to work in harmony with their own rhythms, because sustainability begins with well-being.
6. In what ways do you balance sustainability with your personal or professional goals?
This is exactly the essence of Tawazoun, which means balance in Arabic. I chose this name intentionally because balance is not a luxury. It is a value and a way of being. It is how we ensure that sustainability is not treated as a separate activity but as something integrated into how we live, lead, and build.
There is no fragmentation for me between personal and professional purpose. I believe the best leaders are those who are aligned in both. That is why my work focuses not just on external strategy but on building balanced individuals, inclusive workplaces, conscious societies, and a thriving planet.
Through Tawazoun and Sustain Leadership, we design experiences and tools that help individuals and organizations anchor sustainability into their decisions, cultures, and communities. Whether it is in how we run a company, teach our children, or show up in day- to- day conversations, balance is the lens we return to.
7. Could you share a particularly challenging moment you faced while pursuing sustainability and how you overcame it?
One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the perception that impact work should come with sacrifice, especially financial sacrifice. There is still a narrative that those working in sustainability should do it ‘out of passion alone.’ I had to learn how to advocate for the value of this work, and to design business models that support purpose with profitability. That shift has allowed me to sustain the impact, and to help others do the same.
8. What causes are you most passionate about, and how do you actively contribute to them?
I am deeply passionate about economic empowerment, inclusive entrepreneurship, and building socially conscious leadership.
I often say, “I am in the business of building people who build sustainable businesses.” Because when we empower entrepreneurs, especially youth and women, we are not just creating individual success stories, we are creating jobs, changing communities, and designing better futures.
Through programs like Excellerate, Seeds of Sustainability (SOS), and our inclusive innovation incubators, we help develop purpose-driven change makers who align profit with purpose and inclusion with innovation.
Our approach is grounded in the idea that inclusive growth is the only sustainable growth and that the leaders we nurture today will shape the more equitable and resilient economies of tomorrow.
9. How do you involve your friends, family, or community in your sustainability efforts?
It is part of my day-to-day life. Everyone around me knows what I stand for. Whether I am hosting workshops, speaking at events, or co-creating programs, I always try to bring others along on the journey. With Tawazoun, we are now building a holistic ecosystem that includes education, community engagement, green champions, and our own marketplace, all designed to make sustainable living accessible and integrated.
10. As you move forward, what new sustainability goals do you have in mind for the future?
The next chapter for my team and me is about scaling impact while staying deeply rooted in values. We are currently working on certifying our Seeds of Sustainability (SOS) program, our flagship educational offering that empowers individuals and organizations across all levels to understand, practice, and advocate for sustainability in everyday life and leadership.
We are also expanding our youth leadership tracks, including the Green Champions initiative in schools, where students take on real world sustainability challenges and become ambassadors for change within their communities. This is just one way we bring our vision to life by investing in the next generation of balanced, conscious leaders.
At the heart of it all is our mission to make balance a lived experience. We want to build tools, spaces, and learning journeys that make sustainability accessible, practical, and aligned with purpose, whether in homes, classrooms, startups, or boardrooms. That means more partnerships, more cross sector collaboration, and more creative platforms where people and planet are not in conflict but in harmony.