Karima Ragab
Karima Ragab, PR and Community Manager at Algebra Ventures.
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Title: PR and Community Manager
Company: Algebra Ventures
Sector: Venture Capital
Degree: Multimedia Journalism and Business Administration at the American University in Cairo
How does your usual day look like?
I wake up around 6:30am, and typically love to enjoy my cup of coffee while the world is still sleeping. I either read a few pages from a book or go for a run, depends on how I feel.
I then open my laptop around 8am and read Egypt’s leading newsletter, Enterprise, to make sure I’m up to date with the latest headlines. I go to the office twice a week, which I enjoy very much. On these days, I commute for one hour to the office, located in Zamalek (the Manhattan of Cairo) in downtown.
I tend to make it to my desk by 9am and dive right in. I’m best productive in the morning so I tend to finish my deep, uninterrupted, work before noon to ensure maximum efficiency. Office days are when we have the most meetings since we’re all at the office, and these tend to start around noon. I always meal prep before I go to the office to make sure I’m eating clean.
I finish work around 5:30pm and I tend to hit the gym for some functional training if I didn’t work out in the morning. I then hang out with either family or friends before going to bed around 10:30pm.
What are the things you like the most about your job?
I love how each day is different from the one before, how dynamic it is, and the fact that I can’t imagine doing anything else.
What are some of the skills you utilise the most in your day-to-day?
Communication and analytical skills for sure, but also being able to time manage and stay organized throughout my day.
What was one of your happiest days in your career and why?
The happiest days tend to also be the most exhausting ones, when I’ve given it my all and my efforts have paid off.
One memorable happy day was October 4th of last year, when I organized a company milestone event at what was then Cairo’s newest restaurant, located inside the Great Pyramids’ premises. It was the first private event to be held at the venue, overlooking the magnificent pyramids of Giza. Regardless of how hectic and stressful it was, I felt very happy.
What was the toughest career decision you ever made?
The toughest would have to be resigning from my previous job and joining Algebra. I loved my co-workers and my boss back there, so getting the courage and guts to tell them I’m leaving, not knowing for sure if it was the right move, was very scary.
What is something you had to learn to become better at your job?
I had to make a few (big) mistakes to learn and become better at my job. I learned (the hard way) that you can’t please everyone. You’ll sometimes have to call the shots and trust that you are making the right call.
How did you get to become a PR & Community Manager?
I actually started out as an intern at my previous job. Back then, I didn’t even know what PR was but wanted to give it a shot. I then climbed my way up each year before landing this role at Algebra Ventures.
What's the one piece of career advice you have for anyone interested in becoming a PR & Community Manager?
I say go for it! We’re a rare breed haha. On a serious note, I love my job so much that I would gladly encourage people to go for it. However, do not be fooled into thinking it’s all glam and fun – most of the work is actually done sitting on my desk. Nevertheless, if you’re a fast learner, if you’re good with people and have great intuition, then there is a good chance you’ll come to love your job.
What's your number one productivity hack / when or how are you most effective?
I work with the sun, meaning that I am most productive in the morning, preferably focus the best from 8am to 11am. My number one productivity hack is to block time on your calendar to work on a specific task on your own and uninterrupted.
What makes you gracefullyBOLD?
I call it like I see it. It might sometimes come out as too aggressive, but you can trust me to give you my unfiltered opinion whenever asked (and sometimes voluntarily). I am also someone you can depend on 100%. At work, I’ll deliver as promised and with my friends and family, I will be there no matter what.
How do you spend your weekends or downtimes?
I like to take it slow on weekends as my weekdays tend to be packed. If I’m not traveling (which happens a lot), I have coffee in bed, get some reading done, workout and go out with family and friends.
How do you deal with stress and build resilience?
Working out keeps me on my feet and helps release stress. Other days when I’m overwhelmed, I talk to the closest people to me and openly share how I feel, which automatically makes me feel better.
Building resilience comes by making mistakes, owning them and deciding not to repeat them.
What would have been your alternative career path or alternative University degree?
Being a lawyer for sure.
In a hypothetical world, what would be your dream job?
My dream job would be to travel the world and make a living by writing about and visually documenting my travels. I would also love to become a part-time destination travel photographer, preferably in Italy and Greece.
One word answers & quick fire round. Let's go!
Your superpower: Reliable and trustworthy.
Favourite restaurant: Crimson Bar & Grill.
Favourite fashion brand: Zara.
Favourite beauty product: Sunkissed Nudestix.
Favourite perfume: Euphoria by Calvin Klein.
Book recommendation: The 5am Club by Robin Sharma or Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson.
Next holiday destination: Paris, Portugal and España.
Your hobby: Working out, writing, travel blogging.
Who inspires you: My mother.
Last thing you learnt: A mini session on how to build Egypt’s new economy.
Thank you Karima for sharing your journey & wisdom with us!
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