As part of the United Nation’s International Women’s Day in March, we shared that we would be focusing on allyship in 2023 to help make Menzies a more inclusive, diverse and equitable organisation which will benefit everyone.

In the final part of our series, we’re pleased to share stories of allyship in action from Menzies-RAS colleagues in Pakistan.

Anisa Akhtar, HR Officer – Menzies-RAS, Karachi I represent our head office at Karachi Station as an HR Officer, and I am the only female in the HR team. I strongly believe women can be the best leaders, and I have strived for my station’s female employees to the best of my abilities, creating a space where all women feel proud to be part of the Menzies-RAS family.

Since I became an HR Officer our female employees are more confident in sharing their issues freely, and I am dedicated to educating the women around me about their rights and making them aware of the policies which benefit and cater to their needs and situation.

Respect is a need of every human being and I work to create a culture of respect. At our station, gender does not matter. The biggest proof of our equality-centric culture is that even though I am the single woman in my office, I won the high flyer award and set the example that women can perform just as well in any capacity. This really motivated my female team. I am a proud woman of Menzies-RAS.

Hasina Mehtab, Senior Accounts Officer – Menzies-RAS, Islamabad Growing up in a remote area of Pakistan with limited opportunities, pursuing a professional career seemed like a far-fetched dream for me, especially as a woman. However, I refused to let societal constraints hold me back from my goals. After completing my Master of Business Administration (MBA), I moved to Islamabad to start my professional career.

In 2017, I joined Royal Airport Services (RAS) as a front desk assistant to overcome my lack of confidence. Adjusting to the new culture and work environment was challenging for me and I even considered quitting the job and returning home. My colleagues encouraged me to stay and over time, I gained confidence and was able to work well with my colleagues.

As a finance graduate, I was keen to move into that area and when one of my co-workers noticed my interest, he went out of his way to arrange for me to spend my spare time as a finance trainee. I spent my after-shift hours learning finance-related skills, which helped me further my career.

My manager was happy with my performance as a finance trainee and my commitment to learn, and when a vacancy arose in the revenues & receivables section, he took a chance on me and offered me a permanent accounts assistant role.

As I was the only female in the finance department I was initially reluctant to share my thoughts openly with the team, but my department, especially my manager, supported me and created an environment that allowed me to be more comfortable with my colleagues.

During my time in this role, I faced many challenges and I could not have overcome them if my allies had not been there to support me. My perseverance and determination to overcome the obstacles paid off, and I was able to thrive in my professional career.

Salman Hameed, Head of Risk Mnezies-RAS, Islamabad I would like to commend our only female team member, Saba Imran, Risk & QA Officer, for her exceptional knowledge and excellent support. She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in her field, which she shared generously with us, as well as taking the time to explain complex concepts and provide valuable suggestions.

As a leader, I try to set a great example for all team members to follow. I always encourage open communication and through unwavering support, I hope to have given Saba the confidence to try new things and accomplish things she thought were impossible.

I strongly believe that our work is important, but I also recognise the importance of our lives outside of work. By prioritising work-life balance, I have created a positive and supportive workplace culture. I believe that happy and healthy employees are more productive and engaged in their work.