With unwavering dedication, Reem Gadelrab spearheads communications and fundraising strategies at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation as its Marketing and Communications Director, leveraging her role to spread awareness and save lives
With unwavering dedication, Reem Gadelrab spearheads communications and fundraising strategies at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation as its Marketing and Communications Director, leveraging her role to spread awareness and save lives.
Drawing her inspiration from the lives impacted by the foundation, as well as the women around her, Gadelrab wholeheartedly believes in and embraces the foundation’s mission, all while emphasizing the importance of balance, avoiding burnout, openness to learning, and resilience in the face of challenges.
The first time I’d ever visited the Aswan Heart Center was 8 years ago when my father had a procedure done there. The few days that I spent at the center completely shifted my perspective. A year later, I was headhunted, randomly, by the foundation to start a marketing department from scratch.
Although I want to give back to the community, it was a difficult decision to leave the career in the automotive field that I had been building for so many years and transition to the NGO field.
People believe that marketing is similar no matter where you are, but it's not. Working at an NGO is more challenging, especially when your work directly impacts or saves a child's life.
Although sometimes it can be very demanding, it is also very rewarding. It's a large responsibility and weight to carry, being the person responsible for building the communication and fundraising strategy for such a reputable and beloved NGO as the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, particularly since it carries the name of Professor Magdi Yacoub.
Witnessing day by day how many lives we save, and how many families we affect by making them happy to get their loved ones back, has made me eager to pursue growing constant support for the foundation and, more importantly, to contribute to spreading awareness about the foundation, its mission, and the vital role that it plays in saving the lives of heart patients so that people are aware of the value it brings and support it meet its goals and save even more lives.
Reem Gadelrab - Marketing and Communications Director at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation
As the Marketing and Communications Director at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, my biggest sources of inspiration, professionally, stem from the incredible individuals whose lives have been touched by the foundation's work as well as every single person whether in the medical team or the management team.
Every single person has been an inspiration.
Seeing their dedication in everything they do has pushed me to work harder, and as the person in charge of the foundation's communications, I try to highlight their values and dedication to their work for all to see.
On a personal level, my late father has always been my greatest source of inspiration. He instilled in me the values of compassion, empathy, perseverance, and service to others, which continuously drives me to make a positive difference in people's lives. I will always aspire to fill half of his shoes.
Also, all the female figures in my family, all of whom are very successful in their careers across various fields and can juggle a million things every day.
I'm surrounded by a lot of women, whether it be friends, colleagues, or mentors, who remind me every day how to be successful and human.
If I had a magic wand to instantly change one thing about healthcare accessibility in Egypt, I would ensure universal access to high-quality healthcare services for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic status.
This would mean implementing comprehensive healthcare coverage that includes primary care, specialized treatments, and medications, ensuring that no one is left behind due to financial constraints.
By making healthcare accessible to everyone, we can significantly improve the overall health outcomes of the population and reduce disparities in health outcomes.
This change would not only save lives but also contribute to building a healthier and more equitable society for all Egyptians.
The most motivational thing for me is waking up every day knowing that I work for a greater purpose, and I go to bed every night feeling like I need to push myself harder tomorrow.
Nonetheless, I believe in not overworking yourself, not as easy as it sounds especially in my field and role, however, I always try to manage giving myself a good break when I feel overwhelmed to be able to continue fulfilling my duties.
In addition, I keep a constant eye on the new trends in the market, checking out the news daily, and having a daily discussion with my team to get diversified insights and plan accordingly. Another thing that I do is check out our track records in the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation which keeps me motivated and passionate no matter what.
As the person responsible for raising most of the funds for the foundation, every single patient who walks out from the Aswan Heart Center is considered an achievement.
Four years ago, the new center was just a dream and a piece of land, and the fact that it's almost completed and seeing all it's become fills me with a great sense of achievement and fulfillment. People often said that it was a far-fetched dream, and so, even though we faced many challenges getting here, I'm very proud of where we are.
Otherwise, every time I feel like I have made an impact on a team member, whether in their career or their personal lives, their success, whether with me or far from me, feels like a triumph.
By default, everyone thinks that what we do is easy and every single person is a critique and assumes that they know what happens in the communications and marketing field. This couldn't be further from the truth. Showing everyone the science and hard work behind it and earning their professional respect is sometimes an obstacle to overcome.
What's challenging is that our job takes a lot of learning, and a lot of long working hours and requires us to always be on the go. Finding the right work balance that is fair to both the career and family, without compromising either, is challenging for a lot of women.
Nowadays, things have shifted and I see a lot of women pioneering in their careers, especially in the marketing and communications field.
Women own this field. If you look around, you'll find that most of the communications directors in Egypt are women, and most of the marketing teams are women as well.
I'm lucky to work in an organization that empowers women, especially in managerial roles, with most of the departments in the organization being led by inspirational women who strive to inspire other women too.
In essence, be bold, resilient, and true to yourself as you pursue your dreams. Believe in yourself, embrace your uniqueness, and pursue your passions fearlessly.
Firstly, build self-confidence and trust in your abilities. Secondly, seek mentors and role models who can offer guidance and support. Surround yourself with positive influences, and continuously invest in personal and professional development.
Stay curious and adaptable to industry changes. Advocate for equal opportunities and gender diversity in the workplace, and use your voice to challenge stereotypes. Prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
I learned the hard way that sometimes you need to be strong but not hard-headed. You shouldn't burn bridges when angry, even though it sometimes takes a toll on your mental health and peace of mind.
Take every piece of advice into consideration as a learning process, and don't let yourself burn out, especially in this line of work that is not a typical 9 to 5 job. This job requires a lot from you, so you need to be open to stopping what you're doing to look at things from a fresh perspective to be able to be bold, creative, and yield results.
