Reflections on my first week as CEO...

Last week marked my first week as the CEO of Penny Appeal. It's been an exhilarating and energising time, from meeting with the Board of Trustees to having my first all staff meeting, to mapping out the coming weeks and months with my teams not just here in the UK but across the world! Throughout my first week I've felt both apprehensive and inspired at the same time.

I've been in the Senior Executive team of Penny Appeal for some time, but now as the leader of the organisation, I feel a unique additional burden of responsibility that is new for me. The buck ends with me. I can't look to anyone else. Others are now looking to me. The week has been buzzing with positivity and promise.

Having Each Other’s Backs

It's comforting to have the full backing and support of a diverse and talented Board of Trustees, and it's testament to their vision and character to have appointed me as the first woman to have such a role amongst the major Muslim charities of the UK. I'm reminded now more than ever why it's so important to surround yourself with people who have your back and even more important to make sure you remind the people you work with, that you have their back too.

I've been inundated with messages of support and the most heartfelt messages have come from fellow women in the charity sector, both from inside and outside the organisation. One dear friend told me "this is such a big moment for women, women and girls experience the brunt impact of poverty, conflict and instability, your appointment as CEO means so much more than you could imagine." I've worked with many CEOs over my career, but like many of us, never a woman. I've been thinking a lot this week about what additional layers of responsibility this carries, being a torchbearer, lighting the way for others and also leaning into the unique gifts, insights and experiences that us women have to share with the world.

The Power of People

Over the past couple years, I've led one of Penny Appeal's biggest departments, managing dozens of staff. I've always been a big believer in the power of people and I know when people feel empowered, supported and enabled, they're able to bring their best and when they bring their best, everyone wins. As I think about the areas that I want to focus on as CEO, investing in our people is going to be one of my main priorities. Just thinking about this has also given me a newfound appreciation for every time a senior member of staff or CEO took some time to invest in me and build me up.

The Healthy Burden of Responsibility

One hadith that’s been on my mind is the words of our Prophet ﷺ, who said “All of you are shepherds and each of you are responsible for your flock.” In a sense, we are all leaders and those of us in the charity sector carry an immense trust, an amana, to steward our donors' hard-earned contributions in the best way possible.

There’s so much that happens behind the scenes to honour this trust and yet a lot of the trust in the charity sector has eroded over the years and this is made worse by the cost of living crisis. I’m determined that we steer away from a giving crisis too, and I’ve promised myself to do more to showcase our efforts and open up our work and activities to greater transparency. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements on this front!

As I closed up for the week, I wanted to thank everyone for their support so far. Confiding in a friend about the weight of responsibility I’ve felt this week, they reminded me that the apprehension and heaviness I feel is an essential motivator and shaper of behaviour. That it enables us to be sincere and act in the best way we can, and the day I should start worrying is the day I stop feeling that weight. May Allah keep us all sincere and grant us every success. Ameen!