Some people spend their careers chasing headlines. Amena Bakr has built hers by looking beyond them.
While markets fluctuate, headlines multiply, and speculation spreads at lightning speed, she remains focused on something far simpler: the facts. The more she speaks, the clearer it becomes that her success has been built not on reacting first, but on understanding what matters.
For the latest instalment of ELLE’s series inside the mind of regional changemakers, Step Into My Office, we sat down with Bakr to discuss integrity, power dressing, the realities of work-life balance, and the lesson that transformed the way she approaches every challenge.
WHO IS AMENA BAKR
As Head of Middle East and OPEC+ Insights at Kpler, Bakr sits at the intersection of energy, geopolitics, and global markets. Over the course of two decades, she has become one of the region’s most trusted voices on OPEC policy and the energy sector, reporting from across the Gulf before making the move from journalism into management.
Yet speaking to Bakr, it’s not her credentials that leave the strongest impression. There is a calmness to her that feels almost at odds with the fast-moving world she inhabits.
Away from market reports and shipping data, Bakr is refreshingly down-to-earth. A passionate traveller, devoted pet owner, and regular caretaker of community cats, she speaks with the same warmth about animals as she does energy markets.
It is perhaps this combination that makes her so compelling: deeply knowledgeable yet entirely without pretence, analytical without losing sight of her humanity.
WHAT DOES DRESSING POWERFULLY MEAN TO YOU?
Like many women, Bakr’s relationship with style has evolved alongside her career. The definition of professionalism she carried into her twenties bears little resemblance to the one she embraces today.
“When I was entering the world of journalism, I thought the best thing I could wear was a skirt and a nice-looking blouse.”
Over time, she realised those choices reflected expectations more than personality. As her confidence grew, so did her understanding of what made her feel comfortable, capable, and most importantly, herself.
“I developed my sense of styling and my image over time. We all kind of go through phases.” Today, her uniform is far more structured.
“To me, dressing for a conference or an interview means a power suit. A power suit doesn’t have to be boring; it can be something very fitted and smart. That to me is feminine, but also really powerful.”
WHAT’S YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLE IN BUSINESS?
For someone who has spent nearly two decades reporting on one of the world’s most scrutinised industries, credibility isn’t simply a professional asset – it’s the foundation of everything.
Bakr’s answer comes without hesitation: integrity.
She speaks about honesty not as a lofty principle, but as something that shows up in everyday interactions. Whether speaking to sources, clients, or colleagues, she believes trust is built through transparency rather than certainty.
“When I get asked by clients things that I don’t know, I’m not afraid to say, ‘Sorry, I don’t know,’ or, ‘I will get back to you, I need to check.’ There’s nothing wrong with saying you don’t know something. It preserves your integrity.”
Equally important is passion. Bakr admits she could never commit herself to work that doesn’t genuinely interest her.
“When I got into the energy sector, it wasn’t just because it made sense. It’s something that meant a lot to me and I was passionate about it.”
WHAT’S A CALL THAT YOU MADE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING?
Throughout her career, Bakr has covered political upheaval, market volatility, and some of the most consequential developments in the global energy sector. Yet the lesson that shaped her most didn’t come from a headline, but from a conversation.
Early in her career, a senior official and mentor she deeply respected offered a piece of advice that would fundamentally change the way she approached both work and life.
“If your house is on fire, running all over the place and panicking will probably get you killed. You need to calm down, breathe, look around you, assess the situation, and then act.”
The metaphor paints a potent picture. A lasting lesson about resisting the instinct to react before understanding the full story. To slow down. To assess. To verify.
Years later, it’s a philosophy that continues to shape her work. In an industry driven by speculation, breaking news, and constant noise, Bakr has learnt the value of patience.
“We read a lot of headlines saying, ‘There’s a peace deal,’ or ‘There’s this,’ or ‘There’s that.’ I don’t immediately jump on that. I look, read, verify what’s happening, and then make a judgement call.”
Looking back, she believes perspective is one of the greatest gifts experience can offer.
“When you start off, you just want to get the scoops. You act in a kind of haste. Being a wire reporter, I was always in a hurry to get places.”
Today, she’s more interested in understanding the bigger picture than being first to react.
“If you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, that gives you a completely different perspective.”
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUNG WOMEN ENTERING THE INDUSTRY TODAY?
After nearly two decades in a sector traditionally dominated by men, Bakr has learnt the importance of knowing which voices deserve your attention – and which don’t.
“The energy sector is very male-dominated globally, not just in the Middle East. Being a woman covering it was already a challenge, but then being in the Middle East added another layer.”
Yet she is quick to point out that being different can sometimes become a strength.
“Standing out in that sense also has its advantages. You’re the only woman in the room, so they remember who you are.”
Her advice is simple: learn from criticism, but don’t internalise negativity.
“As you grow in your career there will be a lot of toxic noise and people who will try to bring you down. Block the noise from around you and listen to advice that, sometimes, people are giving critically but in a way that you learn from and develop.”
WHAT DOES WORK-LIFE BALANCE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
If there’s one thing Bakr isn’t interested in, it’s pretending she’s mastered the elusive art of balance.
“There is no work-life balance, per se,” she says with a laugh.
In an age where productivity is often packaged into neat routines and morning rituals, her answer feels refreshingly honest. The reality, she admits, is that some seasons are inevitably more work-heavy than others.
“It’s very difficult to juggle everything. You find these people saying, ‘Oh, I’m superwoman,’ or ‘I’m superman and I’m doing everything.’ But the juggling act doesn’t work.”
Part of that, she explains, comes from the simple fact that she genuinely loves what she does. After almost two decades spent covering energy, politics, and global markets, the line between professional and personal has become increasingly blurred.
“It’s not because it’s work. It’s just a part of who I am. It sometimes doesn’t even feel like work. It’s like, ‘Oh, it’s just being me. It’s Amena.'”
That doesn’t mean she doesn’t make space for herself. Travel remains a favourite escape, while her two cats occupy a special place in her life. She also spends time caring for stray animals in her community. “I’m a huge fan of all animals, but cats are special to me.”
For Bakr, balance isn’t about perfectly dividing her time. It’s about finding moments of joy within a life that is deeply connected to the work she loves.
