Growing up in Lebanon in the 1980s, Rima Assi lived in a war-torn country rife with tension. “There was very little acceptance of people’s differences,” she recalls. Today, she works to combat such intolerance, especially in the workplace.
A senior partner in McKinsey’s Abu Dhabi office, Rima has emerged as a trusted advisor to Middle East governments on public finance and as a steadfast champion for gender parity. Earlier this year, she gained a new way to shape the region’s future and push boundaries when she was elected to the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL), the World Economic Forum’s organization of professionals under the age of 40 working to improve the state of the world.
Founded more than 15 years ago, YGL now includes more than 1,300 alumni composed of public officials, business innovators, artists, educators, technology developers, journalists, and activists of more than 100 nationalities.
Since joining McKinsey, Rima has focused on improving the everyday experiences and opportunities of residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. That means working with finance ministries on reallocating resources and funding for programs and processes, like loan approvals, that will help change the lives of citizens for the better. “I’m looking forward to using the YGL platform to continue making this region a great place for all kinds of people to live,” she says.
Of particular importance to Rima are women empowerment and finding ways to attract and retain women in the workforce, critical issues in GCC countries, where the workforce is predominately male. “Women matter in companies and in society,” she once argued in Newsweek Middle East. “They constitute half the world’s working-age population but generate only 37 percent of GDP and undertake 75 percent of unpaid work. Enabling women to be equal partners in society and the workforce will not only be equitable in the broadest sense but unambiguously good for business.”
We’re taught from such a young age not to be as forceful or perseverant as men, which is counter to what the work environment often asks of us.
McKinsey senior partner, Rima Assi
Rima can attest to those statistics. Given the large expatriate community in the GCC, she says she has seen many high-performing and accomplished women leave the workforce because they don’t have the support systems, like local family and close friends, necessary to maintain their careers. “What’s needed are more role models and sponsors for women here who can help change corporate cultures and mind-sets,” she says.
It’s a call Rima has been answering herself for nearly a decade. About 8 years ago, she started to think more carefully about finding ways to drive the corporate advancement of women in the region. Since then, she’s spearheaded trainings and networking events where she brings together experts on various topics, like grit and perseverance, to help inspire and encourage women. She also has contributed to research in our Women Matter report on boosting employment and equal pay for women, and has helped actively recruit men and women from different countries, nationalities, and beliefs to foster a greater sense of diversity and inclusion within our Middle East offices.
“There are so many biases that are perpetuated and instilled in women, starting from childhood,” she says. “We’re taught from such a young age not to be as forceful or perseverant as men, which is counter to what the work environment often asks of us.”
By giving talks, hosting conferences like the Global Women’s Forum Dubai, and publishing articles on gender parity, Rima is committed to getting that message out. Over the next five years, those efforts will be boosted in a new way, thanks to the YGL.
“We’re already seeing meaningful progress here in policies on maternity leave, severance, and equal pay,” she says. “We’ve still got a way to go, but this new platform will hopefully quicken the pace of our progress.”