From Procurement Engineer to All-Female Construction Leader: How Aline Daoud Disrupted a Male-Dominated Industry
From procurement engineer to founder of an all-female construction company operating across five countries, Aline Daoud disrupted a male-dominated industry by proving that competence, trust, and clear communication matter far more than stereotypes. In this episode, she reveals how she scaled Konnect & Co during Qatar’s embargo, managed two companies simultaneously while earning an MBA from Oxford, and built high-performing teams by listening more than speaking.
What you will learn
- The critical mindset shift from employee problem solver to systems-building founder
- How to build trust with clients through over-communication and on-ground verification (Gemba Walks)
- Practical strategies for scaling a lean, high-performing all-female team in male-dominated industries
- Why crisis periods are opportunities: adapting to uncertainty by listening to what clients truly need
- How to find your passion: the role of experimentation, childhood fascination, and resilience
Key discussion topics
- From civil engineering family background to founding Konnect & Co during Qatar’s embargo
- First client acquisition: visiting 300+ factories and building client confidence through progress reports
- Leadership philosophy: leading by example, emotional intelligence, and weekly team huddles
- Why detail-orientation without perfectionism drives execution: limiting options to three per meeting
- Running two businesses: Konnect & Co and the Blockchain Research Institute Middle East
- The Gemba Walk framework and on-site verification for preventing errors and saving costs
- Building trust in male-dominated fields: competence over labels, women in construction, and disrupting stereotypes
- Education as a catalyst: Executive MBA from Oxford, blockchain certifications, and pursuing diplomacy
Guest background
Aline Daoud is the founder and managing director of Konnect & Co, one of the first all-female-led construction engineering and procurement companies operating across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Oman, and Lebanon. A civil engineer with an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford, she specializes in supply chain management, value engineering, and owner representation for luxury projects. Aline is also managing partner of the Blockchain Research Institute Middle East.
Learn more about Aline
Connect with Aline on LinkedIn
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About Business Unbound
Every week, host Florian Haufe dives deep into conversations with visionary global leaders to bring you insights, inspiration, and the real stories behind success.
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