Faced with a slew of challenges inherent to conducting business in a challenging part of the world, Muna Batayneh, director of operations at Engineering Enterprise Company, sought innovative approaches and strategies for addressing complex situations in Iraq. Muna's quest prompted her to apply to our Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East (SELPME). While on Harvard Business School campus for the program’s first module, she sat down with us to share her thoughts about her experience thus far.
I started my career as an architect, building hotels in Jordan. When the time came for me to make a career move, I joined a real estate development company where I became involved in opportunities in the Middle East. With my design background, passion for buildings and landmarks, and financial knowledge, it was the perfect fit.
After three decades in the real estate sector, I felt like I had peaked and needed to "reset" in order to grow. This became evident when I began working in Iraq. To succeed in that environment, I had to find new ways to approach challenges.
Moving forward, I feel equipped to develop more creative strategies with out-of-the-box thinking. I have become more focused on identifying the company's competitive edge and emphasizing its value proposition. This program has enhanced my ability to manage the human resource side of things, and my ability to attract and retain talent, in particular, has grown.
I think the general perception of working in Iraq is that security is a major concern, and while that is somewhat true, it is actually not my primary issue. The biggest concern was applying our core competencies in a new unpredictable market in a country that has suffered for decades from wars and sanctions, as well as adapting to its very unfamiliar working environment, addressing the cultural and business uncertainties in an underdeveloped economy and dealing with a difficult market due to the existence of institutional voids and underdeveloped systems such as its banking systems—systems that we take for granted in established countries.
First, I would encourage attending the program as soon as practical. I waited too long and wish I had done it earlier. Through its case study method the program addresses various business concepts and enhances exposure to the ever-changing worldwide business environment. As a result, I'm learning a lot about other companies and how they deal with different challenges. Second, I recommend that participants be diligent in the case readings, keeping up with the material and interacting as it will elevate the experience. Most importantly, I recommend coming with an open mind and trying to shun biases about business practices.