Tala Salam

I attribute my success to resilience, curiosity, and the people who have supported me throughout my journey. Growing up between Lebanon and the U.S. meant constantly adapting to new environments, and that taught me how to stay grounded, push through challenges, and lead with intention. Balancing my athletic career with school and personal life also shaped me early on. It taught me discipline, time management, and how to stay committed even when things get difficult. Those lessons carried into my professional life, where I’ve grown through roles in operations, humanitarian work, and project management. Each chapter expanded my perspective and strengthened my sense of purpose. At the core of everything is my community. My family and chosen family (friends) have been my foundation. These are the people who support, empower, and remind me of what I’m capable of. Their support has shaped my confidence, my work ethic, and the way I show up professionally and personally. My success is deeply tied to them.

The best career advice I’ve received is to stay adaptable and open to growth. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life came from unexpected places and people in ways I couldn’t have planned. You have to be being willing to pivot, learn something new, or step into unfamiliar territory. I also learned the value of leading with integrity and surrounding myself with people who genuinely support and challenge me. The guidance and encouragement I’ve received throughout my journey remind me that staying grounded in your values and connected to the right people creates a strong foundation for long‑term growth.

My advice for young women entering this field is to stay confident in your ability to learn and adapt. Tech and project management evolve quickly, and you don’t need to have everything figured out on day one. What matters most is being curious, asking questions, and trusting that you can grow into any role you step into. Your perspective, your voice, and your lived experiences are strengths not things to minimize. I also encourage women to embrace tools that expand their reach and efficiency. Learning how to use AI thoughtfully can help you work smarter, communicate more effectively, and open doors you didn’t even know existed. The industry rewards those who stay ahead of the curve and builds confidence with emerging technology is one of the most empowering things you can do early in your career.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is keeping pace with rapid digital change while still centering people and impact. There’s a constant push to modernize systems, adopt new tools, and streamline processes. However, it has to be balanced with thoughtful implementation, change management, and making sure teams feel supported rather than overwhelmed. Resource constraints, competing priorities, and the complexity of working across different regions can also make it difficult to move as quickly as the technology evolves. At the same time, those challenges create huge opportunities. Digital transformation, data‑driven decision making, and responsible use of AI can significantly strengthen humanitarian work and project delivery when used well. There is so much potential to improve efficiency, expand reach, and design solutions that better serve communities in need. The opportunity now is to harness these tools intentionally, build capacity within teams, and ensure that innovation is aligned with real-world impact.

The values that guide me most are integrity, purpose, and consistency. I believe in showing up with honesty, doing the work with intention, and staying grounded in what matters even when things move quickly or become challenging. Whether I’m managing projects, supporting teams, or navigating change, I try to make decisions that reflect clarity, accountability, and respect for the people involved. I also deeply value community and growth. The support I’ve received from my support system has shaped how I show up for others and I carry that forward in my work. I care deeply about creating meaningful impact and long-lasting impact especially as technology and AI reshape how we work. Those values keep me centered and help me lead with both empathy and ambition.