Maha Abouelenein: 7 Rules of Self-Reliance

Maha Abouelenein is an American Egyptian with more than 30 years of global communications experience advising global corporate giants, startups, governments, CEOs and high networth individuals. She is the CEO of Digital and Savvy, a strategic communications consulting firm with offices in the States and Dubai. Maha is the author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself and Own Your Future*.

One of the definitions of the word currency in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is, “General use, acceptance, or prevalence.” All of us want to be both accepted and prevalent in the work we get to do. In this conversation, Maha and I discuss how your reputation is perhaps the most important currency of all.

Key Points

• Personal brand isn’t about self promotion, it’s about leadership.


• Rather than promoting yourself, promote the ideas that you stand for.


• Reputation is currency. It’s the only thing you truly own and its value comes from how other people perceive it.


• Sometimes it’s the right move to take a job to earn. It’s also important to take jobs to learn.


• Knowing what you stand for is key, but this doesn’t come overnight.


• We all make missteps. What’s often more remembered is how you respond. Apologize and have empathy when things go wrong.

Resources Mentioned

• 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself and Own Your Future* by Maha Abouelenein

Interview Notes

Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

Related Episodes

• Making the Case for Your Promotion, with May Busch (episode 526)


• How to Tell a Story About Yourself, with David Hutchens (episode 661)


• An Invitation for Kindness in Leadership, with James Rhee (episode 693)

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