44 women leaders share advice to power your success

Nazneen’s insights on overcoming challenges to seizing opportunities, and actionable advice on how young women can chart their career paths with confidence and resilience| Gulf Business  

There’s a truth I’ve come to understand over the years: life is unpredictable, and the best way to prepare for it is through knowledge and planning. I learned this lesson in a deeply personal way after being widowed in my early thirties, unprepared for the financial responsibilities that lay ahead. Having never worked or managed finances on my own, I found myself navigating a future I wasn’t ready for.

That experience taught me the importance of financial awareness. It’s easy to feel secure, but stability can change in the blink of an eye. I learned that financial security isn’t something to take for granted — it’s something we build and nurture, no matter where we are in life. Life can change unexpectedly, and the only way to steady ourselves is by being informed, planning, and staying prepared. Though I started from scratch, gaining control over my finances brought me a sense of freedom and confidence I hadn’t known before.

Legacy planning is also an important part of the journey. It’s not just about inheritance; it’s about the decisions we make now and the impact we leave behind. Financial independence allows us to live with purpose and build a meaningful legacy.

To young women: take charge of your finances, plan for the unexpected, and invest in a future that reflects your independence and the legacy you want to create.