#17 Breaking Barriers: Redefining Success and Confidence in Male-Dominated Industries with Neyla Merheb

In this episode of Business Savages, Olya Grovel hosts Neyla Merheb, a venture capitalist with global experience across New York, Dubai, and Paris, to discuss navigating the male-dominated finance and investment industries. Neyla shares her journey from trading floors to venture capital, emphasizing the importance of confidence, boundary-setting, and resilience. She dives into the unique dynamics women face in the workplace, the need for empathy in leadership, and the thin line between confidence and ego in founders. This insightful conversation offers an honest look at the challenges and advantages of being a woman in high-stakes finance, with practical advice for all entrepreneurs.

Learning Takeaways:

1. Confidence vs. Ego in Leadership: Neyla explains the importance of discerning between confidence and ego, especially in founders, as a predictor of sustainable business growth and team cohesion.

2. Boundary-Setting in Professional Relationships: Neyla highlights how setting personal and professional boundaries, such as limiting personal contact through work platforms, can protect one’s peace and maintain professionalism.

3. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Learn how women in leadership can leverage empathy to create healthier workplaces and foster constructive feedback dynamics.

4. Self-Evaluation in Gender Dynamics: Neyla challenges listeners to examine whether the challenges they experience are truly external or if internalized narratives may be holding them back, urging listeners to adopt an empowered mindset.

5. Workplace Competition and Empowerment: Neyla and Olya discuss intra-gender competition, highlighting the need to shift from a competitive to a collaborative mindset in women-dominated spaces.

Homework:

• Confidence Check: Assess your recent professional interactions. Are you displaying confidence or leaning into ego? Make a note of any recurring themes and identify areas where you can foster genuine self-confidence.

• Set a New Boundary: Identify one boundary you could set in your work life, whether it’s time, communication, or interaction-related. Implement this boundary to protect your mental well-being and maintain professionalism.
• Reflect on Empowerment: Write down how you see yourself in male-dominated settings or any other challenging environment. Are there areas where you feel victimized, and if so, is it an internalized belief or an actual external barrier? Aim to adopt an empowered, resilient mindset.
• Celebrate Diversity in the Workplace: Observe the different strengths in your team or professional environment this week. Write down three unique qualities your colleagues bring to the table and see how these can complement your strengths to create a collaborative work atmosphere.