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-net-worth 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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