Nabila Farhat
Nabila has been recognized throughout her career for her significant achievements, including being elected as Young ICT Lady of the Year 2023. This accolade underscores her message to young women starting out in technology: ‘Never be afraid to embrace challenges.’ With over a decade of experience in the IT industry, Nabila has held various roles, such as Tester, Test Manager, Business Analyst, Project Manager, Change Manager, Scrum Master, and Product Owner. Her journey showcases a passion for the full IT lifecycle and a commitment to continuous growth. Currently serving as an Account Manager for a major banking group, Nabila is dedicated to making a positive impact on both clients and consultants by providing support, coaching, and challenging assignments. Known for her compassionate management style, she leads by example, demonstrating high emotional intelligence and authentic empathy. Nabila champions the importance of connectivity, the transformative power of technology, and encourages young women to overcome impostor syndrome, trust their capabilities, and pursue their desired career paths with confidence.
Table of contents
Get to know Nabila
Your career at a glance
Nabila began her journey with Capgemini in 2010, where she assumed several roles including Tester, Test Manager, Business Analyst, Project Manager, Change Manager, Scrum Master, and Product Owner. Through these diverse experiences, Nabila has developed an extensive range of skills and a keen interest in the full IT life cycle. Her consistent drive for growth has led to steady career progression. In 2021, Nabila decided to take on a new challenge as an Account Manager for one of the largest banking groups. She is passionate about making an impact, not only by ensuring end-to-end results for clients but also by providing challenging assignments, necessary support, and coaching for consultants. Nabila’s career path is characterized by her ability to build bridges between people and empower those around her. Known for her compassionate management style, she is regarded as a human leader. Nabila strongly believes in leading by example, possessing high emotional intelligence and authentic empathy in her interactions with people.
Describe yourself in 3 words
On a scale of 1 to 5, where are you today in life?
On a scale of 1 to 5, where are you today in your career?
On a scale of 1 to 5, how happy are you today with your life?
Your favourite book?
Starting with Why” by Simon Sinek. The book explores the idea that successful individuals and organizations begin with a clear sense of purpose—the “why”—rather than just focusing on the “what” or “how” of their actions, as we tend to do automatically. Sinek argues that this purpose-driven approach inspires and motivates others, leading to greater success and fulfillment. I found this book insightful and thought-provoking. Sinek’s storytelling and real-world examples help bring his ideas to life and make them easy to understand. I especially loved how the book encourages people to find meaning and purpose in both life and work.
Your favourite quote?
If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.
What childhood passion have you lost in adulthood?
Painting and drawing.
Which passion or pastime will you never let go of?
Cooking 🙂 It’s a passion I will never let go of, as it allows me to express creativity and bring joy to others through delicious meals.
Your dream of a completely different second career?
Life coach. I would love to help others achieve their personal and professional goals by offering guidance and support.
Cut loose from all strings, what would you like to do with your life?
Helping people who are suffering.
Nabila’s career
Your work motivations?
What motivates me to do my best work is facing new challenges.
Your family’s contribution to your career?
My family contributes to my career by providing mental support and motivation
The biggest obstacles to career growth in our industry?
Time constraints are a significant factor, especially with little kids at home.
Your biggest obstacles facing the technology industry?
One of my biggest obstacles in the technology industry was not being technically skilled myself.
What have you gotten noticed for throughout your career?
Throughout my career, I have been recognized for being elected as Young ICT Lady of the Year 2023
The major accelerators for success in our field?
The major accelerators for success in our field are learning openness, curiosity, and motivation.
What question do you get asked most often in your line of work?
In my line of work, the question I get asked most often is, 'How do you manage to handle your work-life balance?
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is the continuous challenge and change—it's never monotonous.
Your role models and mentors?
My role model is my sister, who has built a successful career in the same field while also managing her family life effectively.
Your golden piece of advice to young women starting out in technology
Forget about the Impostor syndrome. If it's the direction you want to take, you have all the right, skills, capacity to do so.
What is your leadership style?
My leadership style is that of a human leader.
Which supporting skills have helped you most as a leader?
The supporting skills that have helped me most as a leader include communication skills, emotional intelligence, adaptability, as well as coaching and mentoring.
How have you gained commitment from your team?
I have gained commitment from my team by being compassionate, transparent, a good listener, and earning their trust
Can you detail an error you made while managing a customer?
In the past, I believed that solving customer service issues independently and only sharing positive outcomes was the best approach. However, I realized that this could make customers feel neglected and distrustful if they perceived a lack of effort on unresolved issues. Now, I handle such situations differently by being more transparent. I share each step of the problem-solving process, including any challenges faced along the way. This approach not only keeps the customer informed but also demonstrates the effort put into resolving their issue, regardless of the outcome. Ultimately, this transparency helps build trust and improves communication.
How do you keep in mind the customer experience in your daily work?
In my daily work, I keep the customer experience in mind by always trying to put myself in the shoes of the customer.
What attracted you to the field of technology?
What attracted me to the field of technology was the constant change and movement, along with the absence of monotony.
"Dare to make the leap towards a career in technology! Forget about the impostor syndrome. If it's the direction you want to take, you have all the right, skills, and capacity to do so.”
Let’s get technical
Explain the technology that drives your current business.
Working for a bank, our business is primarily focused on the development of applications, both for clients and internal use. The technologies we use include Java and React, along with the development of APIs to facilitate communication with back-end applications.
What is technology for you?
Technology is about using knowledge and resources to create solutions that improve our lives and help us achieve our goals.
What are your views on future technology trends?
One of the most recent technology trends is AI. I view it as a set of assistant tools that will make our lives easier by saving us time on tasks we are not specifically skilled at.
In your opinion, what is the greatest technological invention and why?
In my opinion, the greatest technological invention is the telephone. It revolutionized communication by enabling real-time conversation over long distances, something previously impossible. The telephone also laid the groundwork for subsequent technologies like mobile phones and video conferencing. Its profound impact on society continues to shape our world today.
Rate these technologies from highest to least impact on business.
- AI
- Chat GPT
- Smartphones
- Blockchain
- Human-like robots
- Edge cloud
- 3D printing
- Security
- Smart concepts (cities, buildings, …)
- IoT
Can technology do good for society, or would it be better off without it? Explain.
Technology can undoubtedly benefit society. Throughout history, as technology has evolved, it has consistently proven beneficial. The key is to use it appropriately, ensuring that it complements rather than competes with our local workforce.
How do you keep your technology skills up to date?
I keep my technology skills up to date through trainings, fostering interest among colleagues by highlighting the positive aspects of new technology. Effective change management and good communication are crucial to this process.
What are your favourite online tools?
Some online tools that facilitate my job include translation tools and Google for a variety of searches. Recently, I've also started using ChatGPT to assist with certain searches. These tools are invaluable because they enhance efficiency and provide quick access to information, which is essential in today’s fast-paced work environment. I recommend them to others for these reasons.
What are your favourite websites?
Google 🙂
Your favourite and least favourite technology products?
My favourite technology product is my smartphone, although it becomes my least favourite when used excessively.
The woman behind the technology
What makes each human unique?
What makes each human unique includes their personal life experiences, interests and hobbies, environment, and education.
What is the relationship between the mind and the body?
The mind and body are deeply interconnected. A clear and healthy mind often leads to better physical functioning of the body, and conversely, when the body is in good physical shape, it can positively impact mental well-being.
This or that?
Read the instruction manual
Just figure it out
Early adopter
Proven enthusiast
Laptop
Desktop
Apple
Windows
Fail at something
Never attempt it
Listen to the mind
Listen to the body
IOS
Android
E-book
Physical book
Flying cars
Personal robots
Bing
Phone call
Brainstorming session
Solo research
Packed lunch
Cafeteria
Work late
Start early
High Heels
Flats