Marwa enjoyed the academic process, graduating with first class honours in Construction Engineering at the American University in Cairo. She holds master’s degrees in Construction Engineering and Environmental Science. She also completed her PhD in Geotechnical and Environmental Research and even taught at the University of Cambridge before joining Shell in 2007 as a research lead, where she’s now the Research and Development Technology Manager in Qatar Shell Research and Technology Center.
She appreciates the supportive culture in Shell. “It feels like a family. Working here, I get a lot of opportunities to travel and interact with different nationalities – it’s made me more sensitive to other cultures. A diverse workspace calls for a high level of tolerance and kindness – professionally and personally. A lot of people also work virtually, leading to a modern, dynamic workplace. The Shell environment allows me to connect with local expertise as well as work on cross-regional and international projects to gain knowledge, share ideas and ultimately move forward together.”
According to Marwa, Shell has always been attentive to employees’ needs and the flexible working policy is just one way in which they stay true to this value. “People work flexibly for all kinds of reasons – some have elderly relatives to look after or want more time at home with their kids while others just want to work the hours that suit their lifestyle.
Not everyone is capable of working typical business hours – some people do their best work late at night or really early in the morning. Thanks to the Shell working policy, people can work flexibly, virtually and part time, and this helps them maintain a better work-life balance.”