Tania Asmar on the Dire Need for Sustainable Actions & Awareness

Resourceful, reliable, and leading by example, Tania Asmar, Chief of Staff, Climate, Transformation and Governance Officer at Orange Egypt boasts more than 15 years of experience as an active member of Orange. During her tenure, Tania had notable imprints on all the projects she undertook and has worked her way up to hold her current position.

As an advocate of climate change action, Asmar has dedicatedly worked on raising awareness of the topic internally and externally, and in this talk, she shares with us the long way, she, and the organization have come in taking the necessary sustainable actions.

If you were to have dinner with any woman in history, present or otherwise, who would it be and why?

Tania Asmar - Chief of Staff, Climate and Transformation Officer, Orange Egypt

Well, that would be a number of female pioneers; it wouldn’t be fair to name a single one. Women like Amelia Earhart, Simone Veil, Rosa Parks, Margaret Thatcher, Fayrouz, Florence Nightingale, and many more have left indelible marks on history. But if I were to pick a woman to join for dinner, it would be Rosa Parks.

Rosa Parks is known as "the mother of the civil rights movement.” She catalyzed the struggle for racial equality when she courageously refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which saw the participation of 17,000 black citizens. Recognized for her unwavering commitment to justice, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton.

Her legacy of resistance against racial discrimination and injustice continues to inspire generations. Rosa Parks once said, “I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people,” a powerful statement that encapsulates the essence of women's empowerment.

How would you define success as a person playing such a significant role in their organization, and in your personal life?

In my opinion, it’s a number of things together that define success.  I’d say staying a step ahead of the game, being a diligent hard worker, fostering relationships built on trust in and respect for peers and colleagues, eloquent and regular communication, efficient interpersonal skills, active listening and delegation to reliable and competent team members are all key success ingredients, in both corporate and personal lives.

What were the critical success factors for you in moving up in business as a woman and as a leader?

As the saying goes, “nothing is impossible!” I am a firm believer in this mantra, and my journey has been defined by resilience, self-development, and proactivity. Drawing from a diverse blend of experiences acquired from working across different cultures, my international exposure has equipped me to operate effectively at both the corporate and operational levels, refining my macro and micro perspectives when approaching any project or challenge.

As a trailblazer in cultivating Orange Egypt’s green initiatives, when did you first get interested in climate change and the environment?

To be honest, before my role, I could hardly consider myself a climate advocate, but taking on this role has made me realise the magnitude of “global warming” on the planet and on future generations, and it has opened my eyes to the vast initiatives we can take on towards climate action. Today, I can confidently assert that sustainability is now a priority for me.

Currently, Orange Egypt has challenging projects encompassing energy and circular economy with a focus on meeting the net zero carbon as the ultimate goal. To achieve this goal, I’m committed, with the support of my team, to raising climate awareness, internally and externally, with the full realization that this is the key tool to achieve scalable impact.

Have you noticed a difference in attitudes towards climate change since you acquired your latest role?

Like I just said, personally, my attitude has changed. Likewise, my team members have come a long way in exploring collaborative efforts with partners and suppliers to implement impactful climate actions. Internally, we have focused on raising awareness on the subject and we still have a long way to go.

Today, we have several channels to raise climate awareness internally, OrangeECO monthly newsletter, Green Committee with a representative from each department bringing to the table actions, leads, suggestions, in addition to Climate Training Toolkit and a GreenBox mailbox at Orange Egypt; it’s always a delight to see colleagues share their suggestions and innovations on the subject.

Last September, we ran a Climate Campaign with a lot of engagement activities, online and on-ground at our premises drawing the attention of colleagues to discover Orange’s climate ambition and the three scopes of carbon emissions.

In terms of significant initiatives, we are very proud to be powering up almost all our buildings using solar energy, and we have in place a Power Purchase Agreement signed with New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) to power up Orange Egypt’s network sites throughout the country.

In addition, we have implemented interesting initiatives including collecting paper waste that has yet to be recycled, climate contests, workshop on upcycling plastic waste into bags of all sizes/styles, workshop on recycling, and collection of e-waste.

As a result, I can proudly say I have been noticing engagement is increasing on the subject whenever we have posts on LinkedIn, and during the e-waste collection campaign we had over 1000 electric and electronic equipment collected from colleagues.

What do you feel has been the most difficult aspect of your work in addressing climate challenges and building a more eco-conscious work culture?

Injecting climate action into business is a challenge for now as we need to translate all the actions into cost/revenue/budget. We’re working on this as we know that there is a direct co- relation between these initiatives and business practices, we just need to develop it.

Aside from this, we know old habits die hard, so expecting people to use reusable mugs instead of plastic / paper cup or tote bags instead of plastic shopping bags, will continue to be work in progress. We all tend to be lazy at times and opt for disposables, so, consistent awareness is the only tool to overcome this.

How can individuals take action on climate change outside of work, and how have you implemented these in your own life?

Setting the example through personal behavior is crucial and I firmly believe in learning and adopting sustainable practices in day-to-day life. This includes consciously using a tote bag instead of plastic bags, refusing to use plastic unnecessarily, and making a diligent effort to sort plastic, glass, metal, paper, and organic waste from my trash. Waste is resource and it’s important for us to comprehend and value that. Furthermore, I recognize the impact of education on raising climate awareness, particularly among our children who are often more knowledgeable due to increased environmental education in schools.

What energizes you about your work?

The prospect of change and challenge is what truly energizes me in my work. I thrive on taking on challenges, especially when it involves acquiring new knowledge to achieve success in various roles, projects, and assignments. Wearing multiple hats and moving across four positions since joining Orange Egypt speaks volumes about my passion for embracing new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Do you believe that women’s empowerment is a vital key to fighting climate change?

As a rule, women empowerment is vital to any key transformation and yet when it comes to combatting global warming, I would say it goes beyond a single gender; it’s a combined effort by all, excluding no one.

To do that, it is crucial to promote STEM education (science – technology – engineering –math) amongst girls. Once awareness in injected into children from a very young age, it will become part of the culture and will gradually scale up to embrace climate action and environmental transformation.

Is there a key lesson or advice on the advancement of gender equality and individual climate action that you would love to share with young women and men?

I strongly believe in the perceptive words of Ban Ki-Moon that achieving gender equality requires the active engagement of women and men, boys and girls. It's a responsibility that falls on everyone's shoulders. Therefore, we all have a role to play in educating and treating our children equally, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to sustainability and the planet as a whole. By nurturing and empowering the next generation with equal opportunities and information, we can pave the way for competent and equal men and women, each contributing their unique skills to the preservation of our planet and its resources.