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March 6, 2025
In honor of International Women's Day, we sat down with Anissa Abou, General Manager, Maghreb & French West Africa at Signify
At Signify, we strive to create a work environment where everyone is encouraged to be themselves, knowing our people are our greatest asset. We sat down with Anissa Abbou, who has worked in the lighting industry for decades, including the past 12 years at Philips Lighting until we became Signify.
From an early career in HR to growing professionally into commercial leadership roles in Europe, Dubai and Casablanca, she shares lessons on navigating our careers and shaping a great place to work.
One of the most impactful ways to further your career is to identify coaches and mentors, who can advise you in your professional journey.
Mentorship provides a unique opportunity to develop one-on-one relationships with a more senior professional, who can offer guidance, support and feedback. This coaching also plays an essential role in 'demystifying' or encouraging more women to pursue a career in certain fields.
This might look like internal mentorship opportunities, speaking with a former manager you admired, or reaching out to a role model on LinkedIn. Learn more about Signify's mentorship program in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report.
Whether it's on-the-job experience, stretch assignments, or formal training, learning opportunities are the secret ingredient that enable employees to reach their full potential.
While Anissa began her career in HR, her colleagues and manager thought she would be equally well suited for a position in Sales. This is where her career really kicked off. While she was new to the role, she celebrated some early wins and realized she had a knack for building relationships with clients. As someone who likes to try new things, she soon realized that so long as you have the support of your manager and team, it becomes easier to take on these new opportunities.
At Signify, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment, acknowledging that this leads to better outcomes for the individual and the business.
Throughout her career, Anissa has observed that effective coaching requires leaders to take the time to engage in meaningful conversations, actively listening, and thoughtfully considering diverse perspectives. Embracing this approach not only creates a culture of empathy internally but also brings positive change to interactions with suppliers, customers, and other external stakeholders. Anissa has enjoyed coaching her team, with some even reaching out to her years later to share how much of an impact she's had on their career. "There is no bigger success story," she shares.
"My values align with Signify's in terms of its commitment to sustainability and innovation. I also enjoy the freedom to complete projects in the way I would best approach them. I have had great support from my people managers over the years with many opportunities for professional development, including a move to Dubai, where I lived for 16 years, before Africa, where I am now building up the market."
Learn more about Signify's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our recently launched Annual Report.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2023, we had sales of EUR 6.7 billion, approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for seven consecutive years and have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for four consecutive years, placing Signify in the top one percent of companies assessed. News from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.
