GLAMOR Women of the Year Award 2024 in Partnership with Dyson: Mona Ghazi receives “Visionary Award sponsored by Dyson” award
Mona Ghazi is what some might call a “child prodigy”: She began her first studies at the age of 14 and founded her first company at the age of 16. However – and this is what sets the winner of the “Visionary Award sponsored by Dyson” apart GLAMOR Women of the Year Awards 2024 from child prodigies, she knows how much work you have to put into studying or starting a business.
The entrepreneur, who has a bachelor's degree in both business administration and computer science, is now doing her doctorate in the field of neuro-entrepreneurship. Among other things, Ghazi founded the Neuro-Entrepreneurship Institute, where high performers can learn to be really successful with less stress and more mindfulness.
Mona Ghazi did not let herself be dissuaded from her vision and her dreams - GLAMOR is therefore honoring the young entrepreneur with the “Visionary Award sponsored by Dyson” at the Women of the Year Award 2024.
Mona Ghazi in an interview about mindfulness, empowerment and equality
Mona Ghazi is only in her early 20s, but she is a role model for women of all ages. Instead of procrastinating or thinking about it for too longMona Ghazi made it easy to think about the syndrome: she studied when she was a teenager, founded companies, sold them, and is now doing her doctorate and has founded her own institute that deals with demanding jobs, mindfulness and stress management. How do you come up with the idea of studying as a teenager and turning your dreams into reality? Where does this courage come from? Mona Ghazi revealed this in an interview.
GLAMOR: We are pleased that you are celebrating the Women of the Year 2024 with us. If you were on the jury, who would be your Woman of the Year?
Mona Ghazi: Anahita Thoms because she is one of the first female partners at the law firm Baker McKenzie and forstands up. She is an important role model for me and other young women building their careers because she is assertive and gentle.
What empowers you?
Like-minded people around me, role models who are already where I want to be.
If you could give your teenage self one tip, what would it be?
Energy management is more important than time management: pay attention to what gives you energy and what takes away energy. Structure your calendar so that you get energy most of the time. Feel everyone, instead of pushing them away. That strengthens you. This makes you authentic and approachable.
Imagine having one wish to make the lives of women around the world more equal/better/freer. Which would that be?
I would womenso that they dare to dream big and make those dreams come true. If I had one wish to make the lives of women around the world more equal, better and freer, I would want every woman to feel the inner strength and confidence to use their voice and pursue their own dreams realize it – without fear of social norms, prejudices or restrictions.
Imagine a world in which every woman has the opportunity to follow her own path, regardless of her background, her life situation or the expectations of others. It would be a world in which women strengthen and support each other, in which success and freedom are within everyone's reach - and in which we enrich the world with our uniqueness.
Will feminism and female empowerment still be needed in 2024?
That depends entirely on where we are on earth. In Germany, I grew up very privileged in my generation and have many advantages because I am a woman.was always a given for me. But precisely because things are already going well in many areas, we need feminism andin 2024 anyway.
I see feminism here as a term for equality between men and women, with an important focus on women's rights in order to break down structural and cultural barriers that still exist worldwide. For me, female empowerment means encouraging women to recognize their strengths and go their own way - authentically and without compromise. Feminism remains an essential tool for creating a more just world where diversity is truly valued and every woman has the freedom to achieve her full potential.
How do you like your “Women of the Year” title?
For me, this title represents the power of community and support that I have experienced and want to pass on. It is an incentive to continue to stand up for female empowerment, authentic growth and equality while inspiring others to pursue their own dreams.
When, how and/or where do you feel most comfortable?
Under my duvet, with a beautiful light composition from my “Philips Hue” lamps, candles flicker, and jazz or piano music is playing, and I just relax.
Looking back, what has been the biggest hurdle in your career so far? How did you overcome them?
Looking back, the biggest hurdle in my career was certainly my self-doubt as to whether I could really make a difference with my ideas and approaches. Especially as a young founder in the tech and start-up world, I often had the feeling that I had to prove myself twice as hard in order to be taken seriously. A limiting belief that stuck with me for a long time was the thought that I was only good enough if I worked really hard. This belief ultimately led me to become a...slipped.
How did I overcome this hurdle? It took a lot of inner work to get over thisand separating my self-worth from the value of my company. I also have a great network of people who continually encourage me to reach my potential and myto follow. This path was anything but easy, but it encouraged me to remain authentic and true to my vision - without sacrificing myself for it.
What advice do you have for young women out there?
Trust that your voice and your ideas matter, and don't let that stop you from dreaming big. Dare to dream big. Write to your role model, consume the content that inspires you, and become the version of yourself you want to be in six months.
There is no need toor being perfect – true strength lies in remaining authentic and having the courage to make mistakes and learn from them. Surround yourself with people who support and inspire you, and don't forget to take breaks to take care of yourself. Success is not a sprint, but a marathon. Go your own way and don't be afraid to do things differently - that's where your greatest strength lies!
What scares you? What gives you confidence?
It scares me that it is incredibly difficult to find “truth” these daysto distinguish. This is a great danger, especially in (social) media, and leads to general social uncertainty. I am given confidence by people who advocate for certain topics despite a lot of hostility and who make the effort to cite all sources in a transparent and comprehensible manner.
When was the last time you thought: “Now I have reached my destination”?
This morning in the gym, when I completed an exercise for the first time and realized that it was worth sticking with it.
Do you have a role model?
My role models are people who authentically go their own way and show both courage and empathy. I am particularly inspired by personalities who do not give up despite setbacks and challenges and use their experiences to help others.
I admire women like Marie Curie or– People who have fought against resistance and pushed boundaries without losing their integrity. Another great role model is Leonardo da Vinci. As a polymath, he showed that you can combine many professions in one life and that real success comes from following your passion and fascination. It is also believed that hewas – like me – and I can identify with that on a personal level.
All these people prove to me that the real strength lies in the combination of knowledge,and the willingness to serve others. They motivate me to stick to my own vision while making a positive difference for others.
Is there anything you're surprised you've achieved?
When I was twelve years old, I had a plan that I would get several bachelor's degrees to learn a lot of different things and then skip the master's so that I could go straight to a doctorate based on all the knowledge I had learned. To this day I can't believe that it actually worked out the same way and that I can now do my doctorate with two bachelor's degrees without a master's degree.
Do you have a motto that you stick to?
“I will figure it out. If they can do it, I can do it. If it’s meant for me, it will happen. If not, something better will come.”
What is the absolute highlight of your year?
Being flown to Milan by an internationally known management consultancy to give a talk about neuro-hacking to an exclusive group of female entrepreneurs.
You started your first studies at the age of 14, and since then things have been going uphill for you and your career. What business tip do you have for us and all young professionals?
Be honest with yourself. Dare to dream big. Then do the smallest, simplest to-do to fulfill that dream.
What needs to happen in Germany so that we can achieve equality at work?
A mindset shift and the education of the younger generations are needed. I also think thatshould be because social media is the biggest source of learning.
What does your daily routine look like – and how do you bring mindfulness into your everyday life?
My daily routine begins between six and seven o'clock. I take the first 30 minutes just for myself to reflect on my dreams and visualize my day. This time helps me to center myself and start the day consciously. Then I go to the gym for 30 minutes. Then I take time to set my priorities clearly and consciously get into the flow before opening emails or going into meetings after 1 p.m.
I bring through small– be it a short walking meditation, a few minutes without a screen or consciously breathing in and out before switching from one task to the next. I think it's important to always pause for a moment and ask yourself whether you're working in harmony with your own goals and values. This gives me clarity and energy and ensures that I go through the day with a certain amount of ease.
In the evening I briefly reflect on what made me smile that day and how I can have more of that in my life. For me, mindfulness is not just a one-off ritual, but rather an attitude that runs through my day.
You are a young woman. How do you deal with unwanted advice from elders? Do you feel like you're being laughed at despite your success but because of your age?
I now see unwanted advice from older people as part of the journey - especially as a young woman going her own way, it's somehow part of it. At first I saw it as criticism of my skills and often wondered whether I would be taken seriously given my age and experiences. Now I tend to take such advice more calmly and try to filter out what is really useful. After all, every piece of advice, even if it comes unsolicited, can bring new perspectives.
Of course, sometimes people make fun of you because of your age or gender - it's frustrating, but I don't let it stop me. My focus is on what I want to create and what values I represent. In the end, success and perseverance speak for themselves and often generate more respect than long explanations.
What was the most surprising discovery in your professional field?
Learning in your sleep. If the brain gets into a certain frequency range, for example through hypnosis or through alpha frequency music, then the brain can connect information more quickly. Shortly before falling asleep, all people reach this state - the alpha or theta state. In this way, you can use neuroplasticity to learn while you sleep.
Do you still have the typical young adult life or do you sometimes feel like you're missing out on this part of development?
There are few things in my life that are typical, and I have learned to accept and even embrace that. I started my first studies at the age of 14, while my classmates of the same age were going through a completely different development. It wasn't always easy because I often felt like I was outside of the “typical” young adult life.
But along the way I found people who had similar experiences to other students who started their studies just as young. With them I had like-minded people who shared my perspective and ambitions, which gave me a lot.
Of course my life path wasn’t “classic”, but it feels absolutely right to me. The experiences and opportunities I've gained have gotten me to where I am today - and I wouldn't change a single step of it.
If you could invent or develop something tomorrow that would immediately make the world a better place (for women), what would it be?
If I could invent something tomorrow that would immediately make the world a better place for women, it would be a “mental empowerment ring” accessible at the touch of a button. A ring that reminds women in a split second how valuable and capable they are by automatically providing mental support, especially in stressful situations or when doubts arise.
This tool could provide personal, calming affirmations via thought transferenceoffer or activate a short mental technique to center yourself in difficult moments and build self-confidence. Especially in a world in which women are often confronted with pressure and prejudice, a kind of “mental power boost” would be valuable support. In this way, women could go their own way with increased self-confidence, regardless of external influences.
