What is your advice to a young generation of Arab women who want to succeed in business?

Take life seriously. Set goals. You have limited time so do not waste time. Do not assume that someone else knows everything.

The points that helped her to achieve her goals: Time management, keeping deadlines, organizing oneself, setting high standards, having a vision of the future, sharing responsibilities, appreciating the work of others, having an open-door policy.

Raja Easa Saleh al-Gurg
Managing Director, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
18 May 2005
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

Educate yourself. Work harder than your male colleagues. Take calculated risks. Network.

Maha Khaled al-Ghunaim
Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Global Investment House
22 May 2005
Kuwait City, Kuwait

 

The new generation should have patience and be ready for every surprise, especially in the first years of the business.

Alia Ahmed al-Qatami
Director of Silver City
24 May 2005
Kuwait City, Kuwait

 

Focus on your goals and do not be aggressively ambitious as it is moderation that makes a successful, rounded personality.

Elham Hassan
Senior Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers
13 November 2005
Manama, Bahrain

 

When one gives advice to future generations, the future Arab women business leaders, a multitude of factors and dimensions need to be shared in order to understand the secret behind good business sense and witness a young generation of empowered and visionary businesswomen.

Confronting challenges head-on and creating opportunities from these challenges is imperative for your overall growth and development. One thing I do firmly believe in is: do not try to change things quickly or drastically – try it, let it flow, understand the situation and then implement. This allows you to clearly assess and analyze the situation and measure the impact of your decisions before permanent changes are executed. Today, the Arab world is facing numerous changes, developments and challenges, and the role of Arab woman in society for some has developed quickly and for others is still developing. See where you fit in, how comfortable are you in such environments, and adapt accordingly, ensuring that you utilize your skills in a manner that best serves your interests and the interests of your community.

Look at your work from different perspectives. How does your work contribute to your community, society as a whole and in the development of your field and country? Be effective in building yourself to be a well-rounded intellectual and utilize your empowerment and capabilities to be great representatives for our nations, religions and communities as a whole. There are three central principles that need to be kept in context throughout your career which will guide you to where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow:

Love your work – be passionate; that is the strength and motivating driver towards excellence. In Western culture, people look upon work as a form of self-fulfilment, while throughout much of the East people look upon work merely as a means to make money and survive. The idea of work as a form of self-fulfilment and self-realization is alien to many in the Arab world, resulting in the lack of appreciation and conceptualization of work ethics and corporate culture. The only way around this is to fall in love with whatever occupation you choose because you will be spending a large part of your life practising it.  

Be true to your work – can you do it? Be honest with yourself. Are you the right person for the job? Are you in the right organization? How dedicated and focused are you to become a true professional? Your everyday actions will be under continuous watch by others, at times even scrutinized, which will be utilized as a rating reference. What kind of image do you project and how do you treat those around you? Do you stick to your decisions or simply are swayed by others?  

Finally, look at the world as if you were seeing through a glass prism; see things from other people’s perspectives and from different angles. Be open, think outside of the box and move away from the ‘Me’ and ‘I’ factor.

Sarah A al-Ayed
Vice-President of Trans Arabian Creative
Communications Service (TRACCS) and Managing Director of TRACCS Saudi Arabia
12 November 2005
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

 

If you are trying to enter an unfamiliar market, enlist the support and help of your family. If you are committed to your business, do not take ‘no’ for an answer, and do not accept the ‘rule’ that women don’t do this or that.

Muna Noor Ritchie-Radwill
Partner and General Manager Oman Heritage Gallery
6 November 2005
Muscat, Oman

 

Seek opportunities and determine your own future.

Sheikha Hanadi Nasser Bin Khalid al-Thani
Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of Amwal, CEO of the Al Wa’ab City real estate development project and Deputy CEO of Nasser Bin Khalid al-Thani & Sons Group
30 May 2005
Doha, Qatar