alefdx
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Pursue a work promotion
Star this Commitment
Week 5 of 26
alefdx commits to:
Invest at least 3 hours each week on pursuing a work promotion. This includes working on network, commercial impact, visibility and other required endeavors.
4
0
Last reported: Success
Next report due:
November 30
8:00 PM GMT
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My Commitment Journal
 JPSERHAL
November 24, 2025, 5:38 AM
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Hi amore, Good amount of energy invested this week ! - ok for the meeting with Kashif. One thing I didn't understand is why you're being positioned vis-a-vis Ed. Why would YOU be up for promotion IF HE is up for promotion? I'm sure there are politics involved here. My best advice would be to try to separate his journey from yours, in the mind of Kashif (and perhaps rest of MDs who look at it this way too) - if worth the effort. - Ok for Imad and visibility with Charles . Stefan: Ok, the meeting was about the economic situation and what that might represent for you and the strategies BR is setting in place such as indian office. The very last part of the meeting where you connected on personal level was the real value here. Gives you good reason to follow up with him on any of the personal interests mentioned, thus keeping you top of mind. Ok for Matthias Philippe - Ok for the timeline. Is this the timeline you had in mind? Promotion next year means candidacy made in April? - Ok for showcasing value outside of numbers. This echoes what was told to you (culture, leadership) - "Don't be too pushy" : Ask the others fresh MDs how they managed it. I think you should be relentlessly talking about your work and impact across all boards. Saying "I want promotion" may not be the right way, but promoting your work while communicating a clear intent may be the way to go. Seek advisory on how to manage. - Ok for finding 2 people willing to fight + 1 person you know closely. Do you have a list of who this might be? Perhaps it is time to finalise that list so that you can adapt your time investments. Kashif as person close to you? Who would be the 2 others? Yes, starts holding Kashif accountable for giving you exposure. Perhaps set a goal for the both of you and follow up on it. Well done amorino ❤️ Keep pushing ! |
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alefdx
November 23, 2025, 10:44 PM
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Completed this week - Catch-up with Kashif o "fair" that I should pursue my promotion when certain to be in a good position, but if Ed is up for promotion next then I should definitely be too o SAMA, KIA, PIF, Finstreet make for a good narrative for my recent impact o list of names of sponsor candidates is good. Tarek Chouman: not very close. Ahmed: a bit less influential. o Use L'Imad to gain visibility with Charles o Have lunch with Ali to learn about exact steps - Catch-up with Stefan o Stefan expressed confidence in near-term business performance, citing strong utilization and revenue, but warned about fragile global markets, geopolitical risks, and overvaluation in private assets. Both Stefan and Alessio noted that a downturn could boost demand for advisory services. Pension fund vulnerabilities and valuation issues in credit and private markets were highlighted as systemic risks. Resource planning focused on the Middle East team’s growth to 20 members, onboarding needs, and leadership bandwidth concerns, with the Abu Dhabi hub expected to improve cohesion. Project prioritization emphasized selectivity due to high utilization, targeting strategic sectors like pensions and insurance. Cross-regional collaboration challenges emerged, including reliance on US talent, time zone issues, and execution risks in projects like Beacon. Stefan advocated building capacity in India to leverage talent and reduce costs. Leadership gaps and key-man risk, particularly in the US team, were flagged, alongside dysfunction and poor communication among senior leaders. Protecting high performers from burnout and clarifying roles were deemed critical. o The meeting ended with personal anecdotes about weekend plans, music, and hobbies, reflecting a collegial atmosphere and shared interests outside of work. - Catch-up with Matthias - Catch-up with Philippe o You need consensus in MD group in FMA before nominations are made. You find out if you'll be allowed to be put up for promotion in early April (MDs will decide before that) o Form is submitted in May. You need to have trusted people to review it for you o In the Form you need to convey value of what you do beyond numerical terms (FMA is always small revenue), find other ways to capture value o Don't be too pushy for next year. "I aspire - would love that to be next year but what advice can you give me". Be prepared for promotion to potentially be 2027. If you look too pushy for 2026, you will come across as immature. o All conversations with potential sponsors should always be positioned as requesting advice on promotion process. Make people invested in helping you. o Stakeholders: you need at least 2 ppl to really fight for you, spend their own political capital. Put at least 2 big names, + one name of someone who knows you closely o Kashif should help engineer exposure. He needs to bring me to committees o Most managers who bring candidates for promotion will spend 6-12 months telling MDs across regions about their candidate, so their names will be known to decision makers well in advance of the promotion process. Managers introduce the candidate to relevant people. - Booked London and Milan trips - Prepared email note to broadcast PIF commercial win (pending review from Kashif) - Rescheduled meeting with Ali based on suggestion from Kashif (meet in person in Kuwait for deeper conversation) |
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JPSERHAL
November 20, 2025, 6:00 AM
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Ok. I understand that you've planned several meetings with new people, as a referral from existing contacts. Good job. I also see you've written down the takeaways from your meeting. Good. I understand you're trying to get to work with Anne as a way to expand your reach. Good. I also see you spoke with head of UAE - It's Yazeed I assume? Good job on sharing updates across all boards amore. Well done for creating a stakeholder map. --- Overall comment: You're continuing to invest a lot of effort in meeting new people and sharing updates on your work. good job amore, you're planting seeds. This phase may need to continue for a while, while you find the path that bring you the best return for your time invested. This first phase is a phase with no shortcuts. Continue to position Kashif and all senior stakeholders on your side and keep pushing ! - With regards to the updates you're sharing, try to make sure they understand the value of the work you're doing. Try to always add a value-added (saved time / money, or generated revenue). |
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alefdx
November 17, 2025, 9:32 PM
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Completed this week - Catch-up with KK re. promotion process. Takeaways: o Received high-level timeline but needs detail from ppl who got promoted this year o Speak with Ali Alqadhi re process in Middle East -> scheduled recurring meeting starting next wek o Speak with PDK re process in Europe -> scheduled recurring meeting starting next week o Schedule intro meeting with APM’s chief of staff -> scheduled for next week Introduce work I’ve been doing Touchpoint with Anne Anything more I should do more to work with her / where can I support - Catch-up with Head of UAE o Notes Provided overview of my recent work: KIA, PIF, SAMA, Beacon, Abu Dhabi Update on work with cash management team and retirement working group Updated and coordination on CBUAE discussions Asked for support in pitching to FAB; he mentioned relationship is difficult o Next steps Update him on meetings scheduled with Paul K from CBUAE - Received / reviewed MD promotion candidature form from Karim - Created stakeholder management workbook, drafted plans for most sponsor candidates Plan for next week - Catch-up with Kashif (rescheduled as he wasn’t available) o 2026 FMA strategy o Stefan says wait before MD promotion o Meet with Charles on promotion? o Exact list of sponsors. Who do you know best? Ask for help o “Had a chat with Karim; he advises that we put ball in motion on stakeholder requests” o Win notes PIF AI/ ADI - Catch-up with Stefan D o Earn his support for candidature - Catch-up with Philippe: congrats, exact steps, candidature form template - Catch-up with Ali: congrats and exact steps, candidature form template - Catch-up with Scott o Advice on how to get Anne Parthiot-Mans to support me - Think of promotion criteria / leadership wheel and narrative I can build (BlackRock Academies) - Regular update of stakeholder management spreadsheet - Milan / London logistics (travel to London w/c 1 December?) - Plan approach with Beccy Milchem from cash management |
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Displaying 1-4 of 4 results.
November 17 to November 24
Successful
Success
Success
JPSERHAL
- Referee approval report
alefdx
- Committed user success report
Completed this week
- Catch-up with Kashif
o "fair" that I should pursue my promotion when certain to be in a good position, but if Ed is up for promotion next then I should definitely be too
o SAMA, KIA, PIF, Finstreet make for a good narrative for my recent impact
o list of names of sponsor candidates is good. Tarek Chouman: not very close. Ahmed: a bit less influential.
o Use L'Imad to gain visibility with Charles
o Have lunch with Ali to learn about exact steps
- Catch-up with Stefan
o Stefan expressed confidence in near-term business performance, citing strong utilization and revenue, but warned about fragile global markets, geopolitical risks, and overvaluation in private assets. Both Stefan and Alessio noted that a downturn could boost demand for advisory services. Pension fund vulnerabilities and valuation issues in credit and private markets were highlighted as systemic risks. Resource planning focused on the Middle East team’s growth to 20 members, onboarding needs, and leadership bandwidth concerns, with the Abu Dhabi hub expected to improve cohesion. Project prioritization emphasized selectivity due to high utilization, targeting strategic sectors like pensions and insurance. Cross-regional collaboration challenges emerged, including reliance on US talent, time zone issues, and execution risks in projects like Beacon. Stefan advocated building capacity in India to leverage talent and reduce costs. Leadership gaps and key-man risk, particularly in the US team, were flagged, alongside dysfunction and poor communication among senior leaders. Protecting high performers from burnout and clarifying roles were deemed critical.
o The meeting ended with personal anecdotes about weekend plans, music, and hobbies, reflecting a collegial atmosphere and shared interests outside of work.
- Catch-up with Matthias
- Catch-up with Philippe
o You need consensus in MD group in FMA before nominations are made. You find out if you'll be allowed to be put up for promotion in early April (MDs will decide before that)
o Form is submitted in May. You need to have trusted people to review it for you
o In the Form you need to convey value of what you do beyond numerical terms (FMA is always small revenue), find other ways to capture value
o Don't be too pushy for next year. "I aspire - would love that to be next year but what advice can you give me". Be prepared for promotion to potentially be 2027. If you look too pushy for 2026, you will come across as immature.
o All conversations with potential sponsors should always be positioned as requesting advice on promotion process. Make people invested in helping you.
o Stakeholders: you need at least 2 ppl to really fight for you, spend their own political capital. Put at least 2 big names, + one name of someone who knows you closely
o Kashif should help engineer exposure. He needs to bring me to committees
o Most managers who bring candidates for promotion will spend 6-12 months telling MDs across regions about their candidate, so their names will be known to decision makers well in advance of the promotion process. Managers introduce the candidate to relevant people.
- Booked London and Milan trips
- Prepared email note to broadcast PIF commercial win (pending review from Kashif)
- Rescheduled meeting with Ali based on suggestion from Kashif (meet in person in Kuwait for deeper conversation)
November 10 to November 17
Successful
Success
Success
JPSERHAL
- Referee approval report
alefdx
- Committed user success report
Completed this week
- Catch-up with KK re. promotion process. Takeaways:
o Received high-level timeline but needs detail from ppl who got promoted this year
o Speak with Ali Alqadhi re process in Middle East -> scheduled recurring meeting starting next wek
o Speak with PDK re process in Europe -> scheduled recurring meeting starting next week
o Schedule intro meeting with APM’s chief of staff -> scheduled for next week
Introduce work I’ve been doing
Touchpoint with Anne
Anything more I should do more to work with her / where can I support
- Catch-up with Head of UAE
o Notes
Provided overview of my recent work: KIA, PIF, SAMA, Beacon, Abu Dhabi
Update on work with cash management team and retirement working group
Updated and coordination on CBUAE discussions
Asked for support in pitching to FAB; he mentioned relationship is difficult
o Next steps
Update him on meetings scheduled with Paul K from CBUAE
- Received / reviewed MD promotion candidature form from Karim
- Created stakeholder management workbook, drafted plans for most sponsor candidates
Plan for next week
- Catch-up with Kashif (rescheduled as he wasn’t available)
o 2026 FMA strategy
o Stefan says wait before MD promotion
o Meet with Charles on promotion?
o Exact list of sponsors. Who do you know best? Ask for help
o “Had a chat with Karim; he advises that we put ball in motion on stakeholder requests”
o Win notes PIF AI/ ADI
- Catch-up with Stefan D
o Earn his support for candidature
- Catch-up with Philippe: congrats, exact steps, candidature form template
- Catch-up with Ali: congrats and exact steps, candidature form template
- Catch-up with Scott
o Advice on how to get Anne Parthiot-Mans to support me
- Think of promotion criteria / leadership wheel and narrative I can build (BlackRock Academies)
- Regular update of stakeholder management spreadsheet
- Milan / London logistics (travel to London w/c 1 December?)
- Plan approach with Beccy Milchem from cash management
November 3 to November 10
Successful
Success
Success
JPSERHAL
- Referee approval report
alefdx
- Committed user success report
Completed this week
- Catch-up with Yazeed
- Lunch with Karim to strategize on stakeholders/promotion sponsors
- Attended stablecoin roundtable
- Identified long list of stakeholders and candidates for sponsorship
- Started planning stakeholder meetings and logistics for December (Milan/London)
- Drafted 2026 strategy for FMA (to present to Kashif)
Plan for next week
- Catch-up with KK on MD promotion
o Exact steps
o Discuss potential sponsors
- Catch-up with Kashif
o Exact list of sponsors. Who do you know best? Ask for help
o 2026 FMA strategy
o Meet with Charles on promotion?
o Win notes PIF AI/ ADI
- Schedule catch-up with Scott Harris
o Advice on how to get Anne Parthiot-Mans to support me
- Finish booking London/Milan logistics and meetings in December
- Schedule chat with PDK to obtain guidance on promotion process
- Detail stakeholder plan. Think how to leverage sponsors to better connect with ppl in Europe. Can Paddy/Tony/Yazeed make intros for me?
- Learning plan from chat with Kashif
October 27 to November 3
Successful
Success
Success
JPSERHAL
- Referee approval report
Ok amore, good progress this week, well done!
- Very good to stay close to Yazeed and communicate your desire for promotion. By being clear and intentional with your goals, and communicating them openly, you allow others to think of you and propose ways
alefdx
- Committed user success report
Completed this week
- Catch-up with Paddy (COO for Middle East, reports to Yazeed)
- Drafted document to implement retirement strategy (multi-department initiative with senior representatives from BlackRock Europe who may be in the promotion committee next year)
- Planned call with Yazeed for next week
- Planned catch-up with HR business partner for Middle East
- Strategized on how to leverage new project wins to gain internal visibility
Plan for next week
- Catch-up with Mohammed Al Fahim (Head of UAE)
- Catch-up with Yazeed. Agenda:
o Updates on recent BD wins
o Use monthly Global D & MD meeting for presentation on Kuwait and FMA
o Retirement strategy implementation
o Intro calls to senior mgmt of KSA banks:
o I want to pursue a promotion to MD next year. I value your [xxx] Want to work more closely in future
- Attend conference on stablecoins in Abu Dhabi, which relevant to support commercial objectives of Cash Business (another department of BlackRock)
- Plan travel in December including stop in Milan to catch-up with BLK Head of Southern Europe
- Progress public speaking course / book so I can update Kashif the week after
- Draft strategy for FMA Middle East for 2026 that I can present to Kashif the week after, before asking that I present it to the Middle East Steering Committee
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