About Rana
Challenging today to create a better tomorrow
Rana Nawas is a Corporate Strategist and Podcaster
Hello, I’m Rana Nawas. I’m a growth driver, changemaker, and lifelong learner with a passion for transformation. Influenced by my engineering degree and Master’s in Superconductivity, my career has been fueled by curiosity and perseverance.
Over the past 24 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across four continents in various strategy and sales roles. My career began at McKinsey & Company in London and has since taken me through roles with the Dubai Government and GE Capital, and most recently as Partner in the Transportation Practice at Oliver Wyman.
In my role as Regional Director of a $1B business at GE, I had the challenging but rewarding experience of pioneering new markets, launching new services, and acquiring new customers in some of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets. At Oliver Wyman, I studied the future of aviation and workforce transformation, focusing on how technology such as AI will impact the employee and passenger experience at airports.
Entrepreneurship is in my DNA. I’ve launched businesses, invested in AI start-ups, and founded When Women Win, a podcast that amplifies the voices of global female leaders. Reaching 183 countries, partnering with UN Women, and airing on Emirates flights, it empowers companies and individuals to achieve gender parity and success. I helped GE start the desalination business in the Middle East and I was Chief Revenue Officer of a logistics SaaS in Houston.
As a keynote speaker, panelist and moderator at business events, I’ve covered numerous topics, from the future of mobility to AI impact on employees to owning your narrative to being a leader of the future. These perspectives have been featured in international media including CNN and Vogue, and I have contributed articles to publications like Forbes and GQ.
I’m a cancer survivor, water-faster and cross-fitter, living and leading with resilience. I thrive on bringing impactful conversations to the world and inspiring meaningful change. Currently based in Dubai with my husband and two young sons, I continue to push boundaries and empower others to do the same. Please connect with me on LinkedIn.
My Experiences
In 2022, I found myself drawn back to the world of management consulting, joining Oliver Wyman. The firm’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to inclusion resonated with me, making it an ideal fit.
As a Partner in the Transportation and Services Practice, I was deeply involved in shaping the future of transportation. My focus was on leveraging technology to ensure travel is barrier-free, safe, reliable, and accessible to a broader audience.
My commitment to gender parity continued as the Regional Champion of the Women in the Oliver Wyman Network. In this capacity, I was dedicated to increasing female participation in the private sector, understanding their needs, and identifying ways to fulfill them.
“I had the pleasure of listening and talking with Rana about women, equality gender parity, social justice and how we can be fairer and inclusive, be equal and make opportunities.” – Khatija Ahokas, LinkedIn Recommendation.
I had the opportunity to contribute as a lead author to the Oliver Wyman Forum’s report on the future evolution of airports. This report offers a detailed outlook on the advancements expected in the 2030s, 2040s, and 2050s, aimed at enhancing the air travel experience. In November 2023, I also co-authored the ‘Financing the Airports of Tomorrow’ toolkit. This paper, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and Oliver Wyman, explores innovative financing solutions for future airport infrastructure. I’ve also written two Op-Eds for the World Economic Forum, one on the 5 trends shaping the next generation of airports and the other on why tackling scope 3 emissions will help win the climate change war.
My commitment to gender parity continued as the Regional Champion of the Women in the Oliver Wyman Network. In this capacity, I was dedicated to increasing female participation in the private sector, understanding their needs, and identifying ways to fulfill them.
“I had the pleasure of listening and talking with Rana about women, equality gender parity, social justice and how we can be fairer and inclusive, be equal and make opportunities.” – Khatija Ahokas, LinkedIn Recommendation.
Achievements
Host of the
Middle East’s
#1
Podcast When Women Win
Advisor to
Ellevate Dubai Board
Featured on
Media Partner for
Published in
Follow Rana
PEDRO OLIVEIRA
Managing Partner at Oliver Wyman, Middle East & Africa
“I was impressed with your entire presentation, but particularly wanted to emphasize how much I appreciated your forthright opinions and honest feedback on our gender diversity situation. I found your insights on gender parity thought provoking and was impressed with the effort you had put into understanding our own situation.”
MAYSOUN RAMADAN
Head of Communications, Roche Diagnostics Middle East
“Rana’s compelling storytelling and corporate background allowed her to inspire the team in such a way that resonates with them long after the session. She brings the perfect balance of emotion and inspiration to any corporate event and truly shows the amazing achievements that can happen ‘when women win’.”
SANNE WASS
Senior Reporter at Global Trade Review (GTR)
“It was a pleasure to have Rana as the keynote speaker at our latest Dubai-based GTR Women in Trade Finance event. Rana’s energy and thought-provoking speech really captured the audience – women as well as men – and took the event to the next level. It was one of the most attended sessions of our two-day conference and the feedback has been amazing.”
HESSA AL GHURAIR
Chief HR Officer, Commercial Bank International
“I was impressed with your entire presentation, but particularly wanted to emphasize how much I appreciated your forthright opinions and honest feedback on our gender diversity situation. I found your insights on gender parity thought provoking and was impressed with the effort you had put into understanding our own situation.”
SANNE WASS
Senior Reporter at Global Trade Review (GTR)
“It was a pleasure to have Rana as the keynote speaker at our latest Dubai-based GTR Women in Trade Finance event. Rana’s energy and thought-provoking speech really captured the audience – women as well as men – and took the event to the next level. It was one of the most attended sessions of our two-day conference and the feedback has been amazing.”
HESSA AL GHURAIR
Chief HR Officer, Commercial Bank International
“Rana’s session was one of the very few ones that made me feel happy with whatever I have achieved so far – we need more authentic speakers like her.”
PEDRO OLIVEIRA
Managing Partner at Oliver Wyman, Middle East & Africa
“I was impressed with your entire presentation, but particularly wanted to emphasize how much I appreciated your forthright opinions and honest feedback on our gender diversity situation. I found your insights on gender parity thought provoking and was impressed with the effort you had put into understanding our own situation.”
MAYSOUN RAMADAN
Head of Communications, ROCHE Diagnostics Middle East
“Rana’s compelling storytelling and corporate background allowed her to inspire the team in such a way that resonates with them long after the session. She brings the perfect balance of emotion and inspiration to any corporate event and truly shows the amazing achievements that can happen ‘when women win’.”
