IWD 2025 - an interview with: Grace El Mahmoud Marabe

Tell us a little about your career journey leading to where you are now.

With a foundation in law, I transitioned from a trained legal professional to an entrepreneur and business advisor. My career journey spans three continents—USA, Africa, and the Middle East—where I have leveraged my expertise to build businesses, provide strategic guidance, and navigate diverse markets for myself and my clients. 

What does the International Women’s Day slogan “accelerate action” mean for you?

This slogan has less to do with speed and more to do with intention and purpose.  “Accelerate Action” is more than a call to move faster—it’s a rallying cry to push boundaries, break barriers, and propel change forward with intention and urgency. It’s about seizing opportunities in business, leadership, or advocacy, and implementing change and making it happen—now, not later.

How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?

It is absolutely essential for women to lift each other up. True progress is not about individual success—it’s about collective elevation. When women support, mentor, and empower one another, we break cycles of limitation and create pathways for greater opportunities. For me, this means celebrating each other’s wins, sharing knowledge generously, and ensuring that no woman feels alone in her journey. It’s about turning competition into collaboration and using our influence on opening doors for those who come after us. Society often tries to pit women against each other, especially when we are in spaces often occupied by men.  But when we lean into the narrative of working together and with purpose, we can make impactful changes globally. 

How important is diversity across senior leadership teams? 

Diversity in senior leadership is vital for innovation, collaboration and decision-making, and reflecting the diverse markets and communities that organizations serve. Because our culture often dictates our perspectives, when there is cohesive understanding of other perspectives, companies are more attuned to social impact and have more satisfied workforces.  Embracing diversity at the senior level is not just a matter of checking a box, but a strategic advantage for sustainable success in a globalized world.

Senior leadership: 26%, C-suite: 19%, 1 in 4: Chief-level. These are the percentages and numbers of female leaders in our industry. What do these numbers represent to you?

These numbers mean there is room for improvement in women placed in leadership positions. Has there been some progress, Yes. But overall, some industries remain very male dominated and there is still a need to encourage women to shine in these sectors. 

As a successful leader, how do you think (business) leaders can accelerate action toward closing the gender gap and ensuring equal opportunities in the workplace?

Business leaders can close the gender gap by focusing on the following:

1. Implement Inclusive Policies: Make sure the company profile and corporate mandates have inclusive policies 
2. Set Measurable Goals: Goals should be realistic and measurable not lofty or unrealistic. 
3. Foster Mentorship: Women already in leadership roles should mentor up and coming leaders. 
4. Promote Representation: Boards and task forces should have a percentage of women making decisions strategies.

Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial/managerial/leadership success?

Here are my top tips for Entrepreneurial success:

• Delegate Effectively: Recognize that you cannot do everything yourself. Delegating tasks empowers your team, fosters trust, and allows you to focus on strategic decisions.  
• Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: View setbacks as chances to learn and improve. 
• Invest in Personal Development: Commit to ongoing learning and self-improvement.
• Communicate Transparently: Open and honest communication builds trust within your team, encourages collaboration, and ensures everyone is aligned with organizational goals. 
• Build a Strong Network: Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and industry contacts. 
• Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Define specific, measurable objectives for yourself and your team. 

What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a woman thinking of starting a career at leadership level?

Be confident, build a network of mentors and colleagues who encourage you, don’t be afraid to fail and everything is a lesson or a learning experience. 

Have there been any role models through your life (work or professional) who have helped shape you as a leader? 

I have been fortunate to have women who have been instrumental in my personal and business growth over the years. In university, I had some professors who would inform me to apply to programs and would often advise me on how to grow my career and may words of wisdom and advice.  These mentors have been integral to my growth, and I continue to pay it forward to also mentor other young women.