We get how busy things can get, which is why we have come out with a bite-sized edition of Curated Conversations that translates our guests’ key learnings into digestible, effective information that you can absorb in 5 minutes (or less) anytime, anywhere. We like to think of it as a crash course on-the-go to make sure you can rev up your career even when you only have minutes to spare. Real advice, real experts, real quick. That’s a promise.
In this episode of #bitesizedconversations, Rohma Theunissen catches up with one of the most respected leaders within the Middle Eastern retail industry, Rania Masri El Khatib, to ask her the 5 qualities leaders need to have to guide businesses through these tumultuous times.
About Rania Masri El Khatib
Rania is a senior retail executive with over 20 years of experience in the sector, starting from the shop sales floor. Passionate about the future of fashion and the evolving retail landscape, Rania served as the Chief Transformation Officer for Chalhoub Group, where she was responsible for spearheading the company’s growth in a more multichannel environment while honoring the group’s heritage as the leading luxury retailer in the Middle East. Rania’s team, called SHIFT, supported the Group in reaching its vision to become a hybrid retailer bringing luxury to the fingertips of customers everywhere. Prior to leading the group’s transformation team, Rania was responsible for developing and launching Level Shoes, a pioneering retail concept dedicated to the world of footwear. She spent five years as the General Manager of the 96,000 square foot concept store which was recognized globally as revolutionary, garnering accolades like “Retailer of the Year” just two years after launching. Her deep love of luxury is not only a result of developing new concepts, but also stems from growing global names in new markets.
As the head of Ralph Lauren’s Middle East operations for five years, Rania worked on elevating the brand’s strategy within the region and lead its expansion across 10 countries. Rania first moved to Dubai in 2002 to work with Azadea Group, managing regional development for Bershka, an Inditex Brand in the Middle East. Born in Lebanon and raised between Saudi Arabia and Canada, she loves to travel and enjoys learning new languages. She started her career in Montreal after completing her luxury fashion marketing studies there. A mother of two young girls, Rania is a firm believer in mentoring and empowering women to be leaders across the industry and beyond.