Dina Sidani

Entity: Chalhoub Group
Position: Head of Greenhouse/ Innovation Lab
Worked at PwC until: May 2009
Line of Service: Consulting

What have you been doing since leaving PwC?

I left PwC to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School. Once I had that in hand, I joined Chalhoub Group as the Head of Finance of different divisions and departments across the Group. I then headed finance for Noon for a short period of time before going back to Chalhoub to set up and lead the Greenhouse, the Group’s space for innovation and entrepreneurship.

How did working for PwC help you achieve your career goals?

PwC is a school that teaches structure and professionalism. It taught me how to tackle projects and problems with an analytical eye. I also built a great network of colleagues and friends that I’m constantly tapping into. I was lucky to have a manager there who also became a mentor and supported me throughout my career.

What made you shift direction in your career?

After working in advisory at PwC and getting an MBA, I wanted to apply what I learned as a consultant to get my hands dirty and make an impact in a business which lead me into the retail industry.

What's the last book you read?

I’m currently alternating between two books: Hacking Growth by Sean Ellis and the Billion Dollar Whale. But also I highly recommend an audiobook I finished earlier this year called AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee.

You’re clearly passionate about Innovation, what excites you the most about it?

Working with a blank slate and being able to shape solutions for business and customer pain points. But more importantly, I love working with people who are innovative, visionary and go-getters. I learn so much from everyone around me every day.

What is the best advice you ever received?

Two things: “have high standards but high empathy,” and “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” both from professors at HBS.

If you could be a fly on any famous person's wall- whose would you choose and why?

I’ve never really thought about this but I think Jeff Bezos to understand where the tech world is headed and given Amazon has managed to innovate successfully for years, I’d love to understand how he thinks.

If you had a magic pill that could grant you any superpower, what would it be?

Teleporting! I love to travel and discover new places.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I wish I could sing but I have the worst singing voice ever.