I reached a senior executive level at a relatively young age. This was met with incredulity by many people. Some believed that as an Emirati I must have been appointed to my position due to family connections. Others accepted that I might have a strong education but I had no experience. All felt that I had not ‘earned’ my position. That a certain amount of ‘seasoning’ in the trenches was part of the unwritten code for promotions. It was puzzling.
I asked my friends and colleagues in London and New York what the norms were in these global financial centers. They painted a completely different picture, a culture based on meritocracy and accountability where there is nothing wrong with ‘seasoning’ but firms were happy to back a younger candidate if he exhibited potential. Indeed, these companies felt that creating a fast track system was an important element of their success.