#BuildHer: Meet Luq Naeem, Sales Executive, Slalom Build

At Slalom, we champion diversity across our business because we know the best outcomes come from embracing the full spectrum of humanity. As part of our #BuildHer campaign, we’re spotlighting our extraordinary people who are committed to moving the needle on diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace.

Today, we introduce Luq Naeem, Sales Executive at Slalom Build. Joining the company in October 2020, Luq leads Slalom Build’s sales operations in Australia, originating opportunities, shaping and qualifying deals, and working with clients to initiate projects. Luq has deep expertise in sales, having held multiple senior sales roles at technology companies over the past seven years.

We spoke to Luq about why his sister has had a big influence on his outlook on life, what Slalom’s culture feels like, and what diversity means to him and the company.

Breaking barriers to learning

Reflecting on the women who have inspired him throughout his life, Luq speaks fondly of his younger sister, Amna Naeem. Growing up with five brothers in a religious family and in a conservative part of the world, Amna had different rules to follow than her siblings. Despite it being unexpected and uncommon for women in Dubai to complete tertiary education during the 2000s, she decided to take charge of her future and completed a university degree in architecture — being only one of two women in her family to take this path. Passionate about women having the freedom to study, Amna went on to become a primary school teacher in Pakistan. She now encourages the education of young women, presenting them with more opportunities and helping them forge their own identity.

Luq says he admires how his sister evolved from being a shy girl who did as she was told to a self-assured woman who knows and fights for what she wants. Amna has been unwavering in her efforts to change the perception that women are only child bearers in conservative families, advocating for women’s freedom to pursue education and a rewarding career.

His sister’s courage to take control of her life, even if it went against cultural norms, made Luq realise the power of authenticity. He always keeps in mind Amna’s advice to be true to yourself, with confidence that it will lead to the right opportunities. And Slalom Build certainly ended up being the right gig for him.

Treated like a human, not a candidate

Slalom’s warm and welcoming culture was felt from the first conversation. Luq recalls the recruitment process being more about getting to know each other as people and a two-way conversation, rather than focusing on specific skill sets that could be brought into the business.

While he was researching the company to assess the fit for himself, he learned about Slalom’s substantial organic growth in the Australian market. Despite the global pandemic and technical skills shortage, the company has grown to 200 employees in less than two years of launching in Australia. Luq attributes this fast growth to Slalom’s inclusive culture and its commitment to causes that make the world a better place. In 2021, 45 per cent of the people hired at Slalom Build were women, with women now accounting for over 40 per cent of the team. Statistics that are unheard of in the tech industry in Australia, according to Luq.

Having been at the company for more than a year, Luq can attest that Slalom values everyone bringing their true selves to work, which is why he never feels the need to act differently to fit in.

The power of being different, together

Slalom believes it’s far more beneficial to have people from all walks of life weighing in on matters, because then we can make fully informed decisions. Diverse businesses are more likely to be far more creative and productive, and likely to outperform less diverse companies — ultimately leading to better profitability. Women leaders have the power to stabilise heated conversations, for example whenever there is a discussion about a new process or change, the debate is less fierce and it becomes far easier to reach considerate conclusions, Luq notes.

It’s often too easy to ignore who’s not in the room, he admits. That’s why we have to consciously invite people from different backgrounds to contribute — and in ways that they feel comfortable — when designing, building, and refining products and services. This avoids biases being encoded into solutions and ending up with substandard offerings that fail to resonate with a sizable portion of the market.

For Slalom, embracing diversity and inclusion isn’t just about attracting the right talent; it’s also about creating opportunities for existing employees to achieve their career goals, like becoming future leaders or following new career paths.

While no company is perfect, Luq says Slalom does an amazing job at encouraging, empowering, and celebrating women that are making a genuine difference to the business and the broader community (for example, through the #BuildHer campaign).

Slalom recognises that diversity and inclusion is something we all need to continue working on to create a thriving workplace — and we’re in it for the long haul.

We hear you — your voice is welcome here

For women looking to make a name for themselves, whether at Slalom or beyond, Luq says to not let self-doubt get in the way of sharing your perspective and taking charge of your career growth. Of course, this is easier said than done, depending on the environment you’re working in. At Slalom, we invite all voices, and we want our people to have an empowering and rewarding career with us.

Meet more of our extraordinary women and men who champion diversity and inclusion and follow us here.