Fairouz Hussein, General Counsel at IMKAN Misr in Egypt, emphasises the growing importance of business acumen in shaping impactful, forward-looking legal leadership.
What qualities do you believe distinguish truly impactful GCs from good ones?
Impactful GCs see beyond legal issues and align legal strategies with business goals.
Having business acumen is very important. If the GC understands the company’s industry, operations, and market dynamics deeply, the GC can play a pivotal role within any organisation.
I also believe that business acumen supports proactive problem-solving that allows the GC to anticipate issues that may negatively impact on the business and address them before they escalate.
How do you balance the pressures of your role with personal wellbeing and resilience?
Defining work time and personal time helps create a balance.
I practice regular exercise and pursue my hobbies in order to maintain my wellbeing and resilience. Spending quality time with family and friends plays also a vital role.
If you could change one perception about the in-house legal profession, what would it be?
I would like to shift the perception from being viewed solely as a compliance or risk function to being seen as a strategic business partners who drive value, innovation, and ethical leadership within organisations.
