Alia Al Nuaimi,

Diversity and inclusiveness lead consultant, Ernst and Young

Alia Al Nuaimi has been working as a diversity and inclusiveness lead consultant with global professional services provider Ernst and Young since February 2020.

Born in Dubai, Al Nuaimi studied finance and management from the American University in Sharjah. “I graduated in 2010 and joined Emirates airlines in 2011 as a revenue optimisation flight and demand analyst,” she said.

As much as she enjoyed working for Dubai’s flagship carrier, she needed more out of her career. “I felt like this isn’t me. I completed my Co-active Training Institute coaching certification in 2018 since coaching, mentoring and people development came more naturally to me,” she said.

Al Nuaimi then applied to Ernst and Young, where she found a platform to be creative. Here she oversees the career paths of UAE nationals across the MENA region. “These are common social misconceptions among UAE nationals. There is a belief that work in the private sector is hard and involves several long hours. In the beginning, even I felt like I couldn’t do it. But that’s seldom the case,” she said. “I was newlywed, and I assumed things like my career would ruin my marriage. Luckily, I am married to a guy who is working in the private sector. We push each other to work better,” she said.

She said Emiratis directly contribute to nation-building. “Through various projects, we are actively giving back to the country’s economy,” she added. Speaking about Nafis, Al Nuami said: “We have already begun creating strategies to hit the targets set as part of the programme. At Abu Dhabi, we are already in at 14 per cent nationalisation, and Dubai is at six per cent,” she said.

Word of advice to Emiratis: “Do not be fearful, and you can still give back to the country by being in the private sector,” she said.