In Conversation with Ansa Hasan
Tell us about your background:
My name is Ansa Hasan, and I'm embarking on a new chapter in the city of New York. Throughout my career as an integrated marketing specialist, I've maintained a steadfast commitment to excellence, driven by a global brand focus and a talent for solving multicultural challenges.
I started my professional journey in graphic design, refining my creative skills and cultivating a keen eye for visual aesthetics. As time progressed, I made a strategic transition into marketing post my Master’s degree, particularly within the spheres of apparel, fashion, and lifestyle. This shift allowed me to merge my creative expertise with strategic marketing principles, creating a skill set that sets me apart in competitive marketing.
A cornerstone of my expertise lies in retail marketing and product sourcing. Navigating the complexities of this domain, I've employed a strategic approach to boost brand visibility and drive sales. I am proficient in industry-standard tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, and am able to blend creativity and technical proficiency in all the roles I have been in.
My professional journey has seen me assume leadership roles with prestigious organizations. As the former Head of Marketing for Porsche Pakistan Market, Middle East and Africa, I had the honor of guiding the brand's marketing initiatives in the dynamic market of the country. Subsequently, as the Marketing Operations Executive for Al Tayer Group in Dubai, I managed high-profile accounts, including Armani Group, Coach, and Gucci Group, contributing significantly to the success and growth of these iconic brands.
Beyond front-facing marketing roles, I've worked in back-end product sourcing, collaborating with industry giants such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. This experience has endowed me with a comprehensive understanding of the supply chain, from concept to consumer, enhancing my ability to craft holistic marketing strategies.
In addition to my professional pursuits, I am a single mother to two small children. Balancing the demands of a career with the responsibilities of parenthood has not only fortified my time management and multitasking abilities but has also instilled in me a profound sense of resilience and determination.
As I embark on my journey to New York, I carry with me a wealth of experience, a passion for innovative marketing solutions, and a dedication to delivering results. I am eager to explore the myriad opportunities that this city offers, and excited to contribute my skills and insights to the diverse and thriving business landscape of NYC.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
Looking back, I wish I had been part of more projects and internships than I did. I worked as an intern at Nicole Farhi and at Vauxhall Fashion Scout in London during and post my Masters. I found both experiences to be eye-opening, and now I wish I had done more. When one is working or studying, it's hard to take out time to gain experiences of all kinds. I wish someone had told me to make an added effort and do more. I think every project has a learning curve, and you only gain more from each one.
Best career advice you've ever received?
My mentor, and first boss, advised me to combine my graphic skills with fashion. That was what led me down my path to lifestyle and fashion. Before that, I had thought I would move into the world of advertising and work for an agency. Another little piece of adviser a senior colleague and friend gave was, that you can never have too many skills. Adding related and relevant skills to one’s bag, is just always a plus!
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Empathy. In all my years as a team leader or as someone part of a team, I have always felt that an empathetic leader who sees her team as people first and then as valuable resources and assets will always get results. Over the years, I have built teams of people and have always tried to ensure they know they can feel free to voice their opinions and come to me with troubleshooting or personal problems that would hinder their work. In the corporate world, I have come across people who tend to ignore that, and I personally have never found that to be productive.
Clear and simple communication is also vital to me. Inundating my team with too many emails or directives just floods the brain and makes it hard to get a smooth work flow. Sometimes the frills of internal corporate online systems are so unnecessary.
Lastly, I think it's great to mix things up and make sure the team is also adding to their skill set. Rotating people in their roles sometimes yields great results.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
I have spent a large part of my career working in Pakistan, albeit for international brands sometimes. It is a mostly patriarchal society that is now making room for women. The apparel and textile industry in Pakistan has still not fully opened its doors to women. This is a topic that I know sounds clichéd, but in a 3rd world developing nation, it’s far tougher than it is here in the west. I have worked for and with men who viewed me in a derogatory light sometimes. And to establish myself as a woman who knows her work, is good at her job and commands respect amongst those men was a frustrating and difficult challenge. I can’t say that I overcame it altogether, but i certainly left Pakistan in a much stronger position. I’m attaching a link to a story that was done by Reuters on the women in Pakistan. I was featured in that. https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/the-other-pakistan
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
A knitted black long black dress. You can either dress it up or dress it down. Additionally, I always have a collection of silk, cotton and chiffon Dupattas. A dupatta is a 90" long scarf that is part of Pakistans staple wardrobe. Although it's meant to be worn with the traditional shalwar kameez, I like to always keep a collection with me to wear with dresses/skirts/pants.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansahasan/
Website: https://ansahasan.myportfolio.com/
Instagram: @ansahasan
