A focus on female success and leadership

22 Oct, 2014
 
A focus on female success and leadership
Zahra Al-Harazi

Women from the AUT Business School and the Auckland business sector heard from the passionate and award-winning immigrant entrepreneur Zahra Al-Harazi over lunch recently.

Al-Harazi shared her story of growing up in Yemen, before moving to Canada in 1996 where she qualified in design, started a strategic marketing and communications studio and began attracting accolades and awards.

Recognition for Al-Harazi’s talent and tenacity has included being named in Calgary’s ‘Top 40 under 40’, named as a Calgary ‘Leader of Tomorrow’, Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (Chatelaine), and as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Womens’ Executive Network.

Women at the event had the chance to ask Al-Harazi questions about her success.  When asked about her ‘internal dialogue’ that drives her success, Al-Harazi replied that it was a simple phrase she repeats to herself many times a day:  “I am very fortunate”.  She also urged women in the group to take credit for their successes - “something women do not do enough.”

In New Zealand Al-Harazi was hosted by Professionelle, Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) and the AUT Business School.