DUBAI — Women in the Kingdom are asserting themselves in ways that were unimaginable until recently and creating a niche for themselves in all walks of life. One such woman is Reema Al Sadlan who recently bagged Gold Stevie Award for Women in Business in the Female Executive of the Year category.

High-achieving organizations and executives around the world were recognized as Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners in the 14th Annual International Business Awards, the world’s only international, all-encompassing business awards program.

Reema Al Sadlan is customer service development manager at DHL, Saudi Arabia.

In an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette, Al Sadlan sheds more light on her remarkable achievement.

Q: Please tell us more about yourself?

A: Well, as you know, my name is Reema Al Sadlan. I’m Saudi and I work at DHL Express Saudi Arabia where I am the customer service development manager. I’ve been at DHL for 8 years. It was my first employer after graduating from King Faisal University in Riyadh in 2008, and it’s been my only employer, since then. It’s been a very exciting time, especially since I was one of the first females to work on the KSA customer service team in KSA.

Q: Tell us about your journey with DHL.

A: The year after graduating from university, 2009, I joined DHL as a customer inquiry Adviser. And from there, I’ve been fortunate enough to follow a truly satisfying career trajectory, so far. I moved on to tracing adviser in 2012 and then I spent two years as key accounts executive. In 2015 I was promoted to customer service training & development manager. I am the first woman to hold a customer services management position at DHL in Saudi Arabia, which I am really proud of. If I can show other young Saudi women that this kind of job trajectory is a reality for women today, it will be so important.

Q: Tell us the how you managed to win the Gold Stevie Award for Women in Business.

A: I think there are a number of factors that were considered. There are a number of projects that I have led that have proven to be successful for both the employees and the company overall.

I designed and developed the assessment center project — which is essentially what the name says it is — which is now being adopted at other DHL sites around the Middle East. I also designed and managed the ‘English for Everyone’ program that focuses on improving the English skills of our customer service agents during working hours.

Just this year, my team and I managed to complete 1900 hours of training for 130 customer service staff members. The size of the project was really unprecedented.

Q: What is the importance of this award?

A: Personally, it is very important to receive such an honor. I’m very proud and moved that I was chosen from a field of so many very experienced and talented people from around the world. It is also a recognition of my contribution to my company and to my country. I am humbled by this.

Q: How did DHL help you to win this award?

A: DHL is committed to empowering women and provided me with the opportunity to win this award. And even with that support from the company, I could not have won this without the support of my manager and my entire team.

Q: What are you planning for the future?

A: Ultimately, I would like to gain enough experience to become a member of the senior management team at DHL in Saudi Arabia.

Q: Any advice for young Saudi females?

A: Keep an open mind and have the willingness to learn and to work hard — and don’t ever be afraid to challenge yourself.