Minu Nair on being a mother, student and woman in leadership

4 min read

“You’re too strong-headed for a woman.”

My grandmother’s words still ring in my ears. My family was always generous with the career options they had for me; I could be a doctor, a nurse or if, at the end of the day nothing else worked out, a teacher. So it’s safe to say that the Master in Talent Development & Human Resources came a bit out of left field. But in the end, I was supported by a loving husband to help make that year at IE Business School a reality.

Life before IE Business School

From growing up in India to developing my career in Dubai, life always seemed to get more and more confusing. I completed my Bachelor in Hotel Management, and I earned a management trainee badge from a prestigious Indian hotel chain after graduation. That’s when reality hit. Hard.

I couldn’t see myself working in hotels for the rest of my life. The glamor was there, sure—there were 14-hour shifts in high heels that required a smile, and struggling to pull the inventory trolley across the butchery section! The list goes on, but while I knew it wasn’t for me, I did make note of three valuable lessons prior to pulling the plug on the work:

1. Empathy is a priority with each and every customer

2. Learn one new thing every day

3. We always have a choice

Turning lessons into leadership

After leaving the hospitality field, I got hooked on travel and tourism—and through my job with Emirates Airlines, I began to learn what leadership meant, particularly in the face of obstacles. A leader has purpose, vision, and the zeal to deliver—and to lift their team to deliver with them. A female leader must have all the same characteristics, albeit with more hurdles to overcome, and with the social expectation of elegance and humility.

Books about being a woman in leadership have spread far and wide, but the one that changed my own mindset was Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War for Women. It served as a guide for me to understand my own strengths and weaknesses, how to turn disadvantages into advantages, and how to pick my battles. The workplace itself is a battlefield (I personally like to refer to it as a jungle) and it’s important to equip yourself in the best way possible. Make yourself indispensable. Take risks. Try new things, even if it’s wearing something you normally wouldn’t. Turn discomfort into comfort, and own it.

There’s a necessary element of humility when it comes to leadership. Accepting that you don’t know everything, but having the drive to learn and continuing to ask questions until you learn as much as possible, will lead to your seat-swap at the table and employees one day asking you the questions. It was continued failure that led to my first major success.

Shift in philosophy and career

I moved up at Emirates quickly, from customer service agent, to tour consultant, to senior tour consultant, and finally, to reservations tour officer. So, why did I leave my job behind to pursue a master’s degree at IE University?

It was simple: people. I had a boss who equated leadership with profit—nothing more, nothing less. I think a leader should be someone who is responsible for equipping their team with the tools they need to reach their personal bests, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the organization. Though the world is exceedingly digital, I knew it was a mistake to forget the humans that make everything—including tech—possible. Companies need technical experts, but they also need human capital experts.

Being a woman in leadership

In understanding my priorities, I saw opportunity. The corporate ladder stands tall. And for women, it often stands taller. When a golden chance comes around, you must grab it with both hands for the climb to come more quickly. The next peg in my ladder looked like a master’s degree, so I grabbed it.

Women in leadership have a long, hard-fought history, and mothers like myself are adorned with even more challenges. Companies have begun understanding the importance of our spots at the table—and on the once-elusive ladder.

Being a working mother has had its challenges. Studying a full-time master’s degree in a foreign country had its challenges. Being away from my family had its challenges. But I knew that fulfilling my passions was worth it. That my future was worth it. And that, while the best lessons I’ve learned come from my son—being a bit more tech-savvy and keeping my inner child alive—I’ll leave you with a few tips of my own. 

Advice and tips

Empathy is a priority with each and every customer.

Step into the shoes of others. Everyone has a story. And while you read those of others, don’t neglect your own. Take five minutes at the end of each day to reflect and be grateful. You wouldn’t speak badly of a loved one, so don’t be negative with yourself. At the end of day, we’re all works in progress.

Learn one new thing every day.

Failure is inevitable. But so is growth. Ask questions and accept uncertainty. The most qualified person you know has new questions every day.

We always have a choice.

Our moments of truth are our own. Regardless of what has happened, we can make choices to affect what will happen. Take time to do fun, unexpected things. Each year I make sure to do something new, whether it’s white-water rafting in Bali, flying in a seaplane or sandboarding in the desert.

This is my story thus far in the corporate world as a woman in leadership. I would like to attribute all my success to my role model: my mother—a strong and determined, yet soft and caring woman. Go out into the world with the pride and respect that you deserve and never give up on yourself.

Learn more about Minu’s inspiring story by reading this Humans of IE exclusive.