Salam Abou Hanna

We recently had the opportunity to interview Salam Abou Hanna, Senior Executive Assistant and Coordinator of Ben Nevis Energy, a single-stop solution from Well Management to Construction in Brownfield oil and gas operations. With more than 16 years of administrative experience, Salam has expertise in delivering top-level executive support across industries, from legal and finance to energy sectors. Her commitment to leadership and exceptional performance has earned her several recognitions, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards and a Guinness World Record. A trailblazing leader, Salam Abou Hanna has further played an instrumental role in the expansion and growth of businesses across the MENA region.

Triumphs of Salam Abou Hanna

We started the session by asking, “What specific achievements or innovations are you most proud of?”

Salam Abou Hanna shared, “One of the achievements I’m most proud of is being honored with two major awards, the Fluxx Award in Hong Kong, a Lifetime Achievement Award (Legal), and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education (LOSD Excellence Award) at the UK House of Parliament, 2025. Both reflect years of commitment to excellence, integrity, and leadership across multiple industries.

I also take pride in having successfully transitioned across sectors, moving from legal and finance into the energy sector, while consistently adding value through executive coordination, legal strategy, and operational efficiency. Some specific accomplishments I’m proud of include, leading cross-functional projects that supported international energy partnerships, while playing a key role in the launch and expansion of business operations across the MENA region. Additionally, I also introduced streamlined processes that improved executive decision-making and stakeholder alignment, and supported the C-suite in global negotiations and legal structuring for energy contracts.

Moreover, earning over 10 professional certifications, along with 2 Guinness World Records, reflects my drive for continuous growth and excellence. What makes these achievements meaningful to me isn’t just the recognition, it’s the real impact they’ve had on teams, organizations, and the communities we serve.”

Plans for the Company: Delivering High-Impact Projects

We requested Salam Abou Hanna to share her aspirations for the company, and preferred approaches to achieve the same.

Salam Abou Hanna  mentioned, “If I could achieve one major goal for our company next year, it would be to secure and deliver a large-scale, high-impact energy project that strengthens our footprint in a new or underserved market.

Doing this would not only drive growth and revenue, but it would also demonstrate our commitment to bringing reliable energy solutions to regions that truly need them. I believe it would deepen trust with our partners, open doors to new collaborations, and reinforce AED Global Energy’s reputation as an agile, dependable player in the sector. Personally, contributing to such a milestone would mean creating tangible value, supporting communities, and proving that when we work strategically and collaboratively, we can expand our impact well beyond the boardroom.”

Adaptability Amidst Uncertainties

To gather her perspective on rising as an efficient leader in the current times, we asked Salam Abou Hanna, “What do you believe is the most important quality for a leader in the current world?”

I believe the most important quality for a leader today is adaptability, paired with integrity. In a world that changes overnight; whether it’s technology, geopolitics, or the way we work, leaders can’t afford to stay rigid. They need to read the moment, adjust their approach, and guide their teams through uncertainty without losing sight of their core values. 

Adaptability means listening more than you speak, staying curious, and having the humility to admit when something isn’t working, then being bold enough to change course. But it’s integrity that anchors that flexibility. Without integrity, adaptability can look like inconsistency. So for me, it’s that balance: a leader who can evolve with the world while staying true to their word and their people,” she reflected.

Navigating through Challenges

Challenges are an inevitable part of every professional journey, which can often lead to major breakthroughs and growth. To learn more about the tough phases Salam overcame recently, we posed the question, “What’s a challenge you’ve recently faced, and how did you navigate it?”

Salam Abou Hanna explained, “One of the biggest challenges I faced, and one that still shapes who I am, was moving from the USA to the UAE. It wasn’t just about changing countries; it meant adapting to a completely different culture, work environment, and way of doing business.

When I arrived, I had to build my professional network from the ground up, prove my skills in a new market, and learn how to navigate complex dynamics across different industries and nationalities. It pushed me to become more flexible, more patient, and more resilient than ever before.

Looking back, I can honestly say that the risk was worth it. Fifteen years later, I’ve not only built a stable and successful career, but I’ve grown into someone who can connect with people from all walks of life and lead with understanding and respect. The experience taught me that real growth comes when you step into the unknown with faith in yourself, and a willingness to keep learning every single day.”

Embracing AI: A Blend with Human Expertise

We further asked, “What are your thoughts on adapting to AI in the current business landscape?”

I believe adapting to AI isn’t just an option anymore — it’s becoming essential for any business that wants to stay relevant and competitive. AI has the power to handle repetitive tasks, analyze massive amounts of data, and uncover insights that would take humans days or weeks to find. That frees up our time and energy for what humans do best: strategic thinking, building relationships, and making decisions with empathy and real-world understanding.

At the same time, I think it’s important to approach AI thoughtfully. It should be an enabler, not a replacement for human value. The companies that will thrive are the ones that blend AI tools with strong human judgment, clear ethics, and the ability to adapt quickly to new technologies. Personally, I’m always looking for ways to embrace AI, whether it’s streamlining workflows, improving communication, or supporting better decision-making, as long as it supports people, not the other way around,” she added.

Career-Defining Projects

Intrigued to learn more about projects undertaken by Salam Abou Hanna that strongly impacted her career trajectory, we inquired, “Can you tell us about a project or initiative that has been particularly meaningful to you?”

Salam Abou Hanna shared, “One project that stands out is when I designed and implemented a professional filing system in two different companies I worked with. Before this, there was no clear structure, documents were scattered and hard to access, which created unnecessary delays and stress for everyone. I developed a clear, department-specific filing map, along with practical guidelines to keep everything organized and easy to retrieve. It was a simple yet powerful change that made our daily operations far more efficient and transparent.

Another meaningful initiative I’m proud of is starting regular team get-togethers and outings. I strongly believe that strong working relationships don’t just happen inside the office, they’re built through trust, open conversation, and shared moments. Organizing these informal gatherings helped break silos, boosted morale, and brought people closer as one team with a shared purpose. Together, these initiatives taught me that real impact often comes from caring enough to build systems and connections that make people’s work, and work life — better.”

Core Values behind the Journey

We asked, “What’s one major principle or value that guides your work every day?”

Emphasizing faith as a guiding value in her career, Salam added, “Faith. Not just in the spiritual sense — though that’s deeply important to me, but faith in the purpose behind what I do, faith in the people I work with, and faith that integrity will always stand the test of time.

This principle keeps me grounded when challenges come up, helps me navigate uncertainty with calm, and reminds me that real success is built on trust, respect, and doing what’s right even when it’s not easy. Faith, to me, is the quiet strength that fuels consistency, service, and resilience, and it’s the compass I return to every single day.

Because at the end of the day, I am not just my résumé. I am the lessons I’ve learned, the values I’ve stood by, and the people I’ve had the honor to serve.”

A Big Leap in Career: Lessons Learnt in the Process

We further requested Salam Abou Hanna to share a moment when she took a big risk in her career and the lessons derived from the decision.

One of the biggest risks I took was transitioning from a well-established role in the legal field, where I was recognized and comfortable, into the Oil & Gas sector. It meant stepping into a highly dynamic industry with its own set of challenges, regulations, and stakeholders, in a region where geopolitical dynamics can shift overnight. There was no guarantee of success, and I knew I’d have to prove myself all over again, build new networks, and adapt quickly. But I trusted my foundation, my experience in legal strategy and executive coordination, would help me navigate the complexity.

What I learned is that real growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. Taking this leap taught me how to be agile, how to manage risk under pressure, and how to see obstacles as opportunities for innovation. Most importantly, it showed me that if your values and work ethic are strong, you can thrive in any environment. I’m grateful for that risk, it reshaped my path and expanded my vision of what I can achieve,” she explained.

Expanding the Horizon

We wrapped the session by asking Salam, “What motivated you to take on your current role, and how has it shaped your career?”

What motivated me was the desire to keep growing — not just in title, but in impact. Stepping into my current role as a Senior Executive Coordinator at AED Global Energy was about embracing new challenges in a complex, fast-moving industry where strategic coordination and cross-cultural understanding truly make a difference. I was inspired by the chance to work closely with top-level leadership, manage critical projects, and contribute to a sector that drives real economic development in emerging markets.

This role has shaped my career by expanding my perspective beyond legal and administrative work — it’s deepened my understanding of global energy operations, strengthened my resilience, and refined my ability to align people and processes at the highest level. Above all, it has reminded me that growth happens when you’re willing to step into new spaces with curiosity, humility, and a commitment to deliver value every day. Believing in my motto: ‘Be bold to be impactful,’ I have reached the current position, and aspire to leave a strong impact behind,” Salam concluded.

Follow Salam Abou Hanna on LinkedIn.

Find Ben Nevis Energy on LinkedIn and visit their website https://bennevisenergy.com/

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