The Hidden "I" in YOU.

Noura M. came to me with one objective; to help her secure her second interview with an American advertising firm. When I asked about her first interview she slumped her shoulders and shook her head. She just didn't understand what had happened. 

After all, she was the most qualified person in the room.

The recruiter couldn’t see it.

She was being interviewed for the Senior Global Marketing Director position.

The interviewer asked: “Tell me about a campaign you led.”

Noura's answer: “We found the gap. We built the strategy. We delivered 40% growth.”

The recruiter’s takeaway: not senior enough. Not driving the work.

In the Gulf region, leading with “I” can signal arrogance. In the US, leadership is often heard through ownership. If you don’t claim your contribution clearly, Americans fill in the blanks for you.

Translation isn’t ego. It’s accuracy.

A suggestion I gave Noura to try for this next interview: “I led the strategy. I made the key decisions. The team executed with me. Here’s the result.”

When you play small to be polite, the American market takes you at your word.