South Asian Academy of Management

Synopsis

This case follows the career journey of Samina, a second-generation British Pakistani retail leader, as she transitions from RetailCo in the UK to a multinational retail firm in Dubai. Samina, who rose through the ranks to become the youngest Store Manager in RetailCo’s history, faced skepticism and resistance from some colleagues, particularly older white male managers, who attributed her promotion to diversity targets rather than merit. Despite proving herself through strong leadership and results, she felt exhausted by the constant need to justify her success.

Her move to Dubai provided new opportunities, where she found a more diverse and multicultural environment at the senior level. However, she remained aware of systemic inequalities affecting employees at lower levels, particularly South and Southeast Asian workers. This case explores the complexities of diversity, bias, privilege, and career mobility in different cultural and corporate environments.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

By engaging with this case, students will:

• Analyse the challenges of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in different cultural and organizational contexts.
• Evaluate the impact of implicit bias and structural barriers on career progression for minority professionals.
• Compare diversity management approaches in Western and Middle Eastern corporate environments.
• Develop strategies for organizations and individuals to foster inclusive leadership and address systemic discrimination.

Target Courses and Programs

This case is relevant for:

Masters and UG: Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organizational Behaviour – covering DEI strategies, leadership, and workplace bias.

Masters and UG: International Business and Cross-Cultural Management – focusing on global workforce diversity and expatriate experiences.

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Authors: Professor Nicolina Kamenou (Heriot-Watt University) and Professor Jawad Syed (Lahore University of Management Sciences)

Copyright and Permissions: (c) South Asian Academy of Management. An inspection copy of this case is available free of cost at the following link. For classroom use or to order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, email: info@southasianaom.org OR call (+92) 3291009981. This publication may not be digitised, photocopied, or otherwise reproduced, posted, used or transmitted, without the permission of South Asian Academy of Management.