Hadel Kneifati
Hadel Kneifati is an experienced retail and customer service professional with over four years of experience, currently preparing to return to university studies in Business Administration. She works as a Retail Sales Specialist at Victoria’s Secret & Co. and part-time at Crust, a baking company in Davison, Michigan, where she demonstrates adaptability, dedication, and a commitment to delivering high-quality service. Her current focus is on building strong customer-facing and social skills as a foundation for future administrative and leadership roles in business and healthcare settings.
A bilingual communicator fluent in Arabic and English, Hadel emphasizes patience, vigilance, and thoughtful engagement in every interaction. She applies these values to her professional roles, using her retail and sales experience to strengthen leadership, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Hadel’s professional philosophy centers on integrity, attentive service, and fostering meaningful connections with clients and colleagues.
Hadel grew up in a household with a parent who worked as an orthopedic surgeon, inspiring her interest in hospital business administration. She has successfully balanced family responsibilities with work and academic commitments and holds an Associate’s degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services from Mott Community College, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She has been accepted to the University of Flint (UFM Flint), starting Summer 2026, to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, continuing her pathway toward leadership and professional growth in business and healthcare administration.
• Mott Community College - AA, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
• Certificate from Phi Theta Kappa
• Member of the Arab Heritage Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, adaptability, and a strong commitment to both personal and professional growth. Balancing family life as a mother of three with academic pursuits having studied from 2006–2018 and preparing to transfer to UM-Flint in Summer 2026 for a degree in Business Administration has taught me resilience and strategic planning. Growing up in Pennsylvania with a father who was an orthopedic surgeon and opened a hospital inspired my interest in business administration, particularly in healthcare settings. Professionally, I have built experience in retail and customer-facing roles, where communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are essential. Being bilingual in Arabic and English and having studied abroad for eight years has broadened my perspective and enhanced my ability to connect with diverse communities. I’ve also explored entrepreneurial ventures, such as planning to launch my own food product, and I’ve learned that postponing a goal is not failure it’s strategy.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For mothers and students returning to school/work: build your strength through self-care, eat well, be persistent, and set yourself up to meet new challenges.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Balancing work, education, and family life has been one of my greatest challenges. Economic instability, low pay in administrative fields, and the pressure many women face when returning to school or the workforce are realities I know well. Through it all, I rely on patience, vigilance, and prayer. Self-care is not optional it’s necessary, especially for mothers who are trying to build a future while holding everything together in the present.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are perseverance, discipline, and community engagement. I have successfully managed household responsibilities while pursuing my education, which has strengthened my resilience and time-management skills. I am passionate about creative and personal development, including playing guitar and the balmy drum at the Flint Institute of Music, practicing calligraphy daily, and exploring culinary ventures such as planning to launch my HK samosa product. I also prioritize giving back, volunteering at my local mosque during Ramadan, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through fitness activities such as gym workouts, walking, sauna sessions, and swimming.