From Learning to Leading - A Celebration of Growth at Wateen

At Wateen, leadership is not just a title — it’s a responsibility to shape the future, inspire others, and drive real, lasting impact.

Over the past few months, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in Wateen’s first-ever Leadership Accelerator Program, conducted in collaboration with Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

As a group of 40 passionate leaders — Directors and Senior Managers across different functions — we embarked on a rigorous, deeply immersive journey spread across three transformative modules: Personal Effectiveness, Leading Teams, and Organizational Effectiveness.

The program was more than just an academic journey. It was a mirror, a map and a catalyst. It challenged us to re-examine ourselves, rethink how we lead others, and reimagine how we contribute to building a stronger, more future-ready Wateen.

Some reflections that stand out for me:

Personal Mastery Before Team Leadership

We explored how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal values are the foundation of authentic leadership. True influence starts from within — and this program made us realize that before we can lead others effectively, we must first understand ourselves deeply.

One of the most powerful aspects was the self-assessment exercises, which enlightened us on our unique personality types and communication styles. Gaining this awareness allowed us to confront the often-subconscious patterns that define how we interact, influence, and inspire others.

From there, we built a roadmap on how to evolve: to transform our strengths into conscious leadership behaviors, and to bridge gaps where blind spots existed. This reinforced that leadership transformation begins not with external change, but with internal evolution.

Key takeaways: Self-leadership isn’t optional — it’s the bedrock upon which all effective leadership is built.

Empowering Teams with Purpose

Through case studies, simulations, and practical frameworks, we learned that leading diverse teams is not about setting ambitious targets alone — it’s about cultivating ownership, creating psychological safety, and aligning people behind a shared vision.

One experiential highlight was the Everest Simulation, a dynamic exercise that truly brought out the essence of how teams and leaders react and behave under rapidly changing, unforeseen conditions.

It revealed how critical trust, adaptability, and communication are — especially when navigating uncertainty and pressure. It also made us realize that individual sacrifice is often the silent catalyst behind true team success — because sometimes, stepping back is the boldest way to lead forward.

For anyone who has not experienced it before — the Everest Simulation is highly recommended as a reflective team-building and leadership development activity.

Key takeaways: Great teams are not commanded into existence — they are empowered, nurtured, and trusted into becoming high-performing units.

Driving Systems-Level Impact

The final module stretched our thinking beyond our immediate roles and individual teams — pushing us to consider leadership from an organizational, systemic lens.

We explored how organizations grow, change, and build cultures that sustain excellence in a rapidly evolving world. This broadened perspective emphasized that leadership isn’t only about short-term wins; it’s about designing systems, structures, and environments that enable long-term success for people and the business alike.

We also learned the importance of strategic alignment — ensuring that leadership actions at every level connect back to the broader mission, vision, and future aspirations of the company.

Key takeaways: True leadership impact is measured not just by team results, but by the systems and cultures you help create and leave behind.

As a culmination of our journey, each one of us had the opportunity to present our learnings, action plans along with suggestions to our senior management team (including our CEO) — showcasing our growth, vision, and readiness to lead change. I am deeply grateful to our leadership team for taking the time to join us throughout this journey, for hearing us out, and for the investment they made in supporting and believing in this initiative.

We celebrated this powerful moment with a closing dinner filled with inspiring conversations, reflections, and a collective commitment to the future.

A special thank you to the brilliant program directors — Dr. Arif Butt and Dr. Jamshed Khan — for designing a journey that pushed boundaries, ignited transformation, and set the foundation for a new generation of leadership at Wateen. They truly inspired us to grow not just as professionals but as leaders who are bold enough to dream, humble enough to learn and courageous enough to lead real change.

Why This Matters for Wateen

This program is a testament to Wateen’s belief that people are at the heart of transformation. By investing in the development of our leadership bench, we are not only preparing for the future — we are actively shaping it.

I am proud to have witnessed and experienced first-hand the energy, reflection, and renewed purpose this journey has ignited in all of us.

Because leadership, at its core, is about service — to our teams, our mission, and our future.

Here’s to building a culture where every leader is a catalyst for change. Here’s to Wateen’s future — bold, resilient, and people-powered.

#LeadershipAcceleratorProgramme #LUMSxWateen #PersonalEffectiveness #OrganizationalEffectiveness #LeadingTeams #LeadersofWateen #REDC #LUMS #Wateen #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployerBranding

Written by

Sana Hassan

Head of People & Culture

Wateen