Engie Hassan | Co-Founder of Revelist & Founder of EngieStyle
A conversation with Revelist™ Co-Founder and EngieStyle Founder Engie Hassan on redefining leadership through strategic advocacy, boundary-setting, and the power of speaking up in industries that weren’t built with women in mind.
What has it taken to lead with both strategy and care in industries shaped by male-dominated norms?
In the world of filmmaking, where long days and tight budgets are the norm, I work as both a costume designer and head of the costume department. Being department head was an honor—not just a title, but a responsibility I took seriously. With my business background, I knew that if I scaled my team correctly, there would be no reason to go over budget.
Early in my career, I was seen as “the creative,” not the business lead. Yet all they really cared about were the numbers—without giving me the respect, authority, or trust to manage them. I noticed male department heads received faster approvals, while I had to over-justify my requests. Meanwhile, my team faced 6–7 day weeks and 14–16 hour shifts, leading to burnout and costly mistakes.
I reworked the system—adding the right people, creating rotated schedules, and proving that healthier hours improved quality, reduced mistakes, and saved money by avoiding overtime. To make my case, I requested formal meetings and came prepared with a one-page financial blueprint: labor breakdowns, cost comparisons, and clear strategies showing how a smarter approach could protect my team, deliver better results, and keep costs down. I mapped the hidden costs of understaffing—redo’s, delays, and exhaustion—and paired them with practical fixes.
The first two films were tough, but the results spoke for themselves: we stayed on budget, avoided emergencies, and saved thousands. Over time, producers began seeking my input before locking wardrobe budgets. I’ve gone from reporting to the production team to being part of it.
Standing up for how this process should be done—and for my team—was essential. I just wrapped my 11th movie, and I’m proud that I now flag issues to line producers and sometimes educate them on better solutions. What began as a fight for respect has become a role where I protect my team, keep productions on track, and ensure that numbers and artistry work hand in hand.
If there’s one thing I hope others take from my journey, it’s this: know your value, prepare your case, and speak up. Data can be a powerful ally, but so can determination. When you advocate for your team and your process with clarity and confidence, you’re not just protecting the budget—you’re setting a higher standard for everyone who follows.
How did you find your voice during a time when you questioned your value or boundaries?
In the early years of running EngieStyle, I learned that delivering exceptional work didn’t always guarantee being treated with respect. Clients would rave about the results—yet I’d wait months, sometimes years, to be paid. Others tried to negotiate rates down to levels that couldn’t even cover a tailor, while still expecting white-glove, designer-caliber service.
The toll wasn’t just financial. I would cry in frustration, question my worth as a businesswoman, and feel the weight of constant follow-ups draining my energy. The unspoken message—that my time and expertise were somehow negotiable—was corrosive. At times, it dimmed the passion I had for the career I’d built over decades.
What helped me find my voice again was knowing my worth—and having mentors who refused to let me forget it. Many were seasoned C-suite executives who reminded me that fair pay isn’t a luxury; it’s the baseline. With their guidance, I tightened contracts, set firm payment timelines, and, most importantly, learned to say no to projects that undervalued my brand.
That decision was transformative. It restored my confidence, safeguarded my mental health, and sent a clear message: expertise has value, and respecting it is non-negotiable.
It’s why I believe so deeply in spaces like SeekHer—where women can share these experiences openly, learn to set boundaries, and surround themselves with mentors and allies who will stand beside them. In community, we not only reclaim our voices—we protect the work, the passion, and the well-being that sustain us.
Who stood beside you when leadership felt heavy and helped you carry it with clarity?
I have been fortunate to have mentors and allies—both women and men—who did more than believe in me; they invested in me. Many were fellow CEOs who understood the weight of leadership, and artists who knew the creative and emotional demands of our industry. I built a circle for every need: a strategist to weigh opportunities, an industry veteran to navigate crisis, and peers who keep me grounded when life and work collide.
They showed up in ways that mattered—listening without judgment, offering counsel from their own hard-earned lessons, and at times working beside me to solve the problem. When late payment became a pattern in my field—sometimes months or years overdue, or rates renegotiated after the job—one mentor helped me design a payment structure with milestones, deadlines, and late-fee clauses. It changed everything: I was paid on time, respected, and free to focus on the work.
Motherhood expanded my circle. I gained allies who prioritized my mental health, helped me evaluate collaborations, and reminded me that asking for help is a strategic advantage. Many are CEO mothers who understand the quiet challenges—missing milestones for work, redefining the boundaries between career and family, and learning what truly works for your life. Those conversations are as much about resilience and perspective as they are about business.
The support I’ve received is what I wish more women had: a network that listens deeply, shares knowledge generously, and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves with you. The most effective leaders I know—at every stage—still seek counsel, because growth demands perspective. Surround yourself with people who challenge, champion, and stand beside you. Your voice is louder, your vision sharper, and your impact greater when you are not standing alone.
How does your work challenge the norms that silence women’s needs and elevate practices that honor them?
As the co-founder of Revelist, I am intentional about creating a culture where women feel heard, respected, and supported. I believe deeply that mental health and emotional wellness are inseparable from professional success. You cannot do your best work if you’re running on empty, silencing your needs, or bracing for judgment.
With Revelist, we’ve built on everything we learned from years of leading creative teams in high-pressure environments. We know firsthand how long hours, unclear expectations, and a lack of respect for boundaries can erode not just performance, but wellbeing. Revelist is designed to be the opposite—to make open communication, safety, and mental health part of the business model, not an afterthought.
We lead with listening. Whether it’s a team member flagging an unrealistic timeline or sharing that they’re struggling personally, those conversations are met with support, not dismissal. Safety starts with psychological safety—the ability to speak without fear of repercussion—and we put structure behind it: clear workload planning, fair pay practices, and realistic scheduling that protect both quality of work and quality of life.
Part of that culture is learning to rest well. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking ten minutes to unplug, breathe, and reset before returning to the task at hand. Those moments are not lost time—they’re an investment in clarity, focus, and better decision-making.
For women especially, mental health and career success should never be in conflict. At Revelist, the goal is simple: a culture where your voice is valued, your boundaries are respected, and your wellbeing is recognized as essential to the work.
How does SeekHer’s mission reflect the kind of leadership and equity you’ve worked to model?
SeekHer’s mission to connect gender equity and mental wellbeing resonates deeply with me because they cannot exist without each other. True equity means women have the support and safe spaces to thrive, not just survive.
By sharing my voice in this campaign, I want women to know that leadership is not just about holding a title—it’s about shaping the environment around you so that others can thrive. Speaking up is not simply an act of courage; it’s a responsibility we carry for ourselves, for our teams, and for the women who will come after us.
To the woman who’s still afraid to speak up, I would say this: your perspective is not just valid, it’s necessary. The moments you think you should stay silent are often the exact moments when your insight could change the outcome—for your career, your colleagues, and your industry. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to start with your truth and be willing to back it up, whether with data, lived experience, or both.
Surround yourself with allies and mentors who will stand beside you when your voice shakes. And remember—progress rarely happens in comfortable silence. When you speak, you not only claim your own space, you open the door for others to walk through.
“Speaking up is not simply an act of courage; it’s a responsibility we carry for ourselves, for our teams, and for the women who will come after us.”
About Engie
Engie Hassan is the Co-Founder of Revelist™, a women-led platform redefining rest and its role in emotional wellness, and the Founder of EngieStyle, a luxury fashion consultancy serving royalty, celebrities, and global tastemakers. With over two decades in fashion and wellness, she has styled for the world’s most prestigious events, collaborated with leading brands, and championed women’s empowerment across industries. An Egyptian American and mother, Hassan blends her expertise in style, personal branding, and advocacy to inspire women to prioritize themselves at every stage of life.
Connect Further
IG: @engiestyle & @therevelist_official | Website: therevelist.com