The moment things shifted
In 2023, Mai Dawood made a decision that would reshape her professional and personal life. After holding a senior position in banking in Egypt, she chose to leave that role and relocate to Riyadh with her son. The move was driven by a clear priority: reuniting with her husband, who was already based in Saudi Arabia. Yet the reality of the transition proved more difficult than anticipated.
The initial months in Riyadh brought unexpected challenges. Away from the professional networks she had built over years in Egypt, separated from the familiar rhythms of her previous work environment, Mai found herself questioning the decision she had made. The self-doubt was real and pressing—a natural response to such a significant upheaval, but one that tested her resolve during those early weeks.
What they tried
Rather than rush back into employment, Mai made a deliberate choice to step back from work entirely. She took a five-month break, using that time to adjust to her new environment and settle into life in Riyadh with her family. This pause was not a retreat but a strategic decision to give herself and her son space to adapt to their changed circumstances.
During this period, Mai allowed herself to process the transition without the pressure of immediately securing a new position. The break gave her time to understand the professional landscape in Saudi Arabia, to reconnect with her family on a daily basis, and to consider what her next career move might look like. It was a period of recalibration rather than stagnation.
What worked, what didn't
The five-month break proved to be the right approach for Mai. Rather than attempting to maintain the pace of her previous banking career while managing a major relocation, she gave herself permission to prioritize the adjustment period. This decision to slow down, counterintuitively, enabled her to move forward more effectively.
Following this period of adjustment, Mai joined PwC Middle East. Her extensive experience in banking positioned her well for this opportunity, and the move represented a successful transition into a new phase of her career. The break had served its purpose: it allowed her to regain her footing and approach her next role with clarity rather than desperation. What might have seemed like a setback—leaving a senior position and taking time away from work—became the foundation for a meaningful next chapter.
"Choosing to leave that role was a significant decision, but my family came first." — Mai Dawood, in an interview with PwC Middle East, 2023.
What they'd tell someone else
Mai's experience offers a particular kind of wisdom for those facing similar crossroads. The willingness to prioritise family over career momentum, and to acknowledge that such transitions require time, speaks to a different way of measuring success. She did not attempt to prove herself immediately or maintain the trajectory she had established in Egypt.
Her story suggests that adaptability during major life transitions is not simply about finding a new job quickly—it is about recognizing what matters most and building your next steps from that foundation. The self-doubt she experienced was not a sign of weakness or poor judgment; it was a natural part of moving between countries, roles, and contexts. What distinguished her path was the decision to honour both the difficulty of the transition and the values that prompted it in the first place.
- Left senior banking role in Egypt in 2023
- Relocated to Riyadh with her son to join her husband
- Faced initial challenges and self-doubt during the transition
