Women Of Influence 2025: Heriot-Watt University's Claire Roper-Browning

As the Global Director of Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions, and Communications at Heriot-Watt University, Claire Roper-Browning plays a critical role in the financial sustainability of the institution—after all, she oversees GBP 150 million (US$190.5 million) in student revenue across its five campuses in the UK, UAE, and Malaysia.

Having built a strong (and growing) student population across the university globally, Roper-Browning’s role has placed her at the heart of the university’s strategic growth, demanding, as she puts it, “strong commercial acumen, stakeholder engagement, and innovative leadership.” As it so happens, her experience also ties closely to the wider changes she has witnessed across her field.

“The growing presence of women in leadership roles, especially in marketing and communications, has brought a shift towards more inclusive, empathetic, and people-focused decision-making,” Roper-Browning says. “Women of influence bring a depth of insight that often comes from balancing many varied perspectives, whether personal or professional. That has changed how we communicate, how we lead teams, and how we shape strategies and most importantly, how we lift each other up. And when women are in senior roles, it creates a lasting impact, and it gives other women the confidence to raise their hands, to speak up, and to step forward. That visibility matters. When you see someone who looks like you, leads like you might lead, or has navigated the same challenges, it helps you believe that it is possible for you too.”

Lessons Learned: Q&A With Claire Roper-Browning

Looking back on your journey, if there is one piece of advice you’d give yourself before you embarked on your career, what would that be? Additionally, if you could go back in time and tell yourself something that you should avoid or simply not do, what would that be?

My one piece of advice would be to invest in yourself. Life-long learning is key to a career that is structured, fulfilling, and future-ready. As the world around us changes rapidly, industries evolve, disruptions emerge, and technology advances; you must be open to growing with all of those changes.

Formal education plays an essential role in this. It does not have a time limit, whether you are at the beginning of your career or years into your journey, going back to study, upskilling, or pursuing a new qualification can open doors that might not have been possible before. It strengthens your foundation and gives you the tools to think critically, lead effectively, and contribute meaningfully.

However, growth is not always linked to degrees. Some of the most powerful learning happens through peers and mentors. Mentors can support you in navigating challenges, having been in similar situations themselves, and can open doors to support your growth journey.

Be curious, and be open to new experiences and challenges. And always remember to lift others on your way up.

Pictured in the lead image is Claire Roper-Browning, Global Director of Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions, and Communications at Heriot-Watt University.

Claire Roper-Browning was one of Inc. Arabia's Women of Influence 2025, a showcase of 30 women rewriting the rules of business in the MENA region. For the full list, please click here.