At Mondia, leadership is about vision, innovation, and empowering teams to thrive. In honor of International Women’s Day, we sat down with some of our inspiring female leaders to hear their thoughts on leadership, career growth, and the lessons that have shaped their journeys. Let’s dive in!
Nalini Govender, People Director
Q. What’s one thing that always makes you say, ‘This is why I love working in HR’?
The ability to create a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and motivated. Seeing employees grow, solving people challenges, and driving impactful HR strategies make this work truly rewarding.
Q. Mondia operates across diverse regions—how do you ensure a strong, people-first culture across different markets and teams?
Building a strong, people-first culture at Mondia across diverse regions starts with understanding and respecting local nuances while maintaining a unified global vision.
Julie Levy, VP Business Development & Partnerships
Q. What has been the most rewarding part of stepping into your new leadership role?
For me, great leadership is built on two essential pillars: having a clear vision and being able to communicate it effectively. The team at Mondia is exceptionally talented, and I trust them to navigate the best path to success. However, for them to make the right strategic decisions, they need clarity on what success looks like. Stepping into this role has given me the opportunity to provide that direction and ensure alignment across the team.
Beyond strategy, leadership is also about motivation and engagement. At the end of the day, we’re all human, and how we communicate, inspire, and support each other is just as critical as the decisions we make.
Q. Your role focuses on global partnerships—what’s your approach to building and maintaining strong relationships across different markets?
Building and maintaining strong relationships, for me, comes down to three key factors:
- Creating win-win opportunities- identifying synergies between businesses and ensuring mutual benefit.
- Delivering the right content- understanding customer needs and providing engaging, high-quality experiences.
- Thinking ahead- anticipating industry shifts and forging strategic partnerships for the future.
Natalia Barros, Director of Business Optimisation & Marketing
Q. What’s the biggest impact your role has on shaping Mondia’s future growth?
My role focuses on driving scalable growth by optimizing acquisition, retention, and customer engagement. By leveraging data-driven insights and innovative campaigns, I help Mondia expand its user base efficiently and deepen customer loyalty—ultimately fueling Mondia’s expansion and ensuring long-term success.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d share with women looking to excel in marketing?
Stay curious, data-savvy, and adaptable. Marketing is constantly evolving, so be open to learning new technologies, experimenting with creative strategies, and using analytics to inform decisions. Master the balance between creativity and analytics and always tie efforts back to measurable business impact.
Petra Mejas, Commercial Director, Europe
Q. How do you navigate challenges in a competitive, fast-paced industry while leading with confidence?
I see challenges as opportunities for growth, staying confident by focusing on solutions, maintaining a clear vision, and keeping my team motivated.
Q. What’s one unexpected skill that has helped you succeed in partnerships?
I’d say it’s Grace Under Pressure — I tend to stay calm and solution-oriented, even in high-stakes negotiations, which helps foster trust and drive successful outcomes.
Marwa Ben Rayes, Key Account Director, MENA
Q. How do you navigate challenges in a competitive, fast-paced industry while leading with confidence?
Staying focused and adaptable is key. I navigate challenges by maintaining a clear vision of our goals while staying open to new ideas and strategies. I believe in leading with confidence by empowering my team, fostering open communication, and encouraging collaboration.
Q. What would you say was your proudest moment in Mondia?
Partnering with Amazon to offer DCB as a payment option on their checkout page in Egypt was one of my proudest achievements in Mondia. This milestone followed extensive negotiations and efforts across various areas, including commercial, technical, legal, and finance. I was incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to delivering exceptional results and providing outstanding support, which was key to the success of this strategic partnership.
Nada A. Razek, Strategic Partnerships Director, MEA
Q. Who inspires you in your career, and why?
Dr. Sara Al Madani—often mistaken for a social media influencer, but in fact, a powerful Emirati entrepreneur and former government board member. She has a remarkable ability to speak to her audience with an influential, logical, and approachable style. I believe this is key to building partnerships and strong relationships. You don’t just establish a partnership – you establish a durable business relationship.
Q. How do you navigate challenges in a competitive, fast-paced industry while leading with confidence?
- Eye on Goal, Determination: setting the eye on the overall bigger goal, not allowing small distractions to divert you off-path.
- Team empowerment & mentorships: mentoring the youth & passing knowledge, which is key to successful teams and organizations.
These inspiring leaders play a pivotal role in Mondia’s success, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to their roles. Their journeys reflect the values of collaboration, innovation, and empowerment that drive our company forward.
Want to learn more about how we’re shaping the future at Mondia? Stay connected with us on LinkedIn!
