Fatema Al Balooshi
Former Minister for Social Development, Health and Human Rights and now chairman of the Bahrain Trust Foundation.
Bahrain is seen as one of the region’s most progressive countries. How did the policies, processes and attitudes here assist you in your career journey?
Bahrain has always been a very progressive country and women have been given the opportunity to choose and to do the things that they wanted. The Culture that we have in Bahrain is a culture that allows women to choose to study, go abroad to study and to do whatever they think is appropriate. I think we have a very open-minded culture and society and that’s why we’ve been able to do a lot.
Bahrain as a government has always put policies that asked for equal opportunity which we have right now between men and women. And such things did help us. If you see in real life, whether it’s in education or in business, the majority are women I think. In education, for sure, the majority are women who are going to college. In the workforce, they are 30-40 per cent which is not a bad percentage when you think that quite a large group would [still] prefer staying at home and raising their children, which is a wonderful thing to do.
Did you feel you had to battle to make your mark? And what were the main challenges you faced?
As for the challenges, there are lots of challenges. There is no difference between male or female, the challenges are always the same. It’s how you prove yourself, your ideals and stamina and show people that you are strong enough to be able to withstand the challenges – so, it’s all there. Maybe there are sometimes some things that might affect women more than men especially such as maternity leave or women who take time out to raise children; when they come back to the workforce, they will have lost a lot of experience, those are hard challenges.
What would you say has been your proudest/greatest achievement?
To be able to help others and to support other people who are in need and to gain their love, their trust, their respect. In addition, looking at how you can transform your dreams and ideas into reality. I’m very happy that many of my ideas, I was able to make them into reality and this is something that I’m proud of.
Aside from being an incredibly successful businesswoman, you have demonstrated strong philanthropic ideals and active CSR commitments. Is this something you feel is more prevalent among women in business?
Social work, charity work, philanthropy is something I love to do, I think many people do, it’s not particular to women, it’s men and women. There are other people who don’t like to do it at all. As for me, one of the things I’ve done is that I established, with colleagues, Bahrain Trust Foundation which is a charity, not-for-profit organisation and we’ve been building schools around the world. We have our own idea of micro-schools, supporting education initiatives, getting local writers to write stories for our children in the schools. We’ve been supporting start-ups and home-based businesses creating an internet platform for them to sell and market their products. There are so many things that you can see over at Bahraintrust.org our website and also on our Instagram.
All this I’m happy to do it because it gives me the satisfaction that I’m doing something that I love. This is what makes me wake up every morning and decide to go to the office to do something and to help others. It’s a wonderful thing.
Do you think it is easier for Bahraini women starting out in business today? Do you have a message of encouragement for them?
I would encourage all women that if they have the skills and the talent to start a business, then why not? The support is there, there is no differential between men and women. But not everyone or all women are made to be businesswomen. Some people are made to be an employee, not to face the challenge of creating a business and all the hurdles that come with it. So, I would encourage the women who are right for this to be businesswomen.
Hala Farouk Al-Moayyed
Executive director, Almoayyed International Group
You have been trailblazers in your respective fields. What would you say gave you the incentive and drive to push forward into what were not traditionally female roles.
Doing what I love and enjoying my work is very important to me. It wasn’t a conscious decision to move into a non-traditional female role; however, it happened when I followed what I loved doing.
Bahrain is seen as one of the region’s most progressive countries. How did the policies, processes and attitudes here assist you in your career journey?
I really like the process of transparency that the tender board has created under the leadership of His Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Bahrain is an environment where women are accepted at work and attitudes are always positive towards females. As a woman, I am fortunate to be in Bahrain to have access to such an open-minded society.
Did you feel you had to battle to make your mark? And what were the main challenges you faced?
I don’t feel that I had to battle to make a mark, bit I always try my hardest not to be biased in decision making. Challenges always exist in every work environment. I believe in analysing the situation and try to reach the most logical solution.
Who were your greatest supporters?
My father, Farouk Al-Moayyed, my husband, Ahmed Alkhan, and my brother, Mohammed Al-Moayyed have been my greatest supporters. My mother, Fadia Al-Gosaibi, and grandmother, Aysha Al-Moayyed, have also provided me with immense personal support and I am blessed to have the support of my friends and colleagues.
What would you say has been your proudest/greatest achievement?
I am very proud of having a beautiful family and I feel so grateful to have this. I am proud to be part of a successful, growing family business and look forward to many more years of development and accomplishment.
Aside from being incredibly successful businesswomen, you have demonstrated strong philanthropic ideals and active CSR commitments. Is this something you feel is more prevalent among women in business?
I think being philanthropic is deep-rooted and comes form inside you, and I am lucky to learn from my father, Farouk Al-Moayyed, who is an incredible philanthropist.
Do you think it is easier for Bahraini women starting out in business today?
Yes, of course, platforms such as Tamkeen and support groups for women are extremely helpful in setting up businesses.
Do you have a message of encouragement for them?
Believe in yourself, find a mentor and don’t hesitate to take the opinion of people you trust.
Are there any up and coming Bahraini women we should be looking out for?
The new generation of 20 to 30-year-olds should have some very interesting business developing soon.
How do you support other women?
I enjoy supporting other women through mentorship programmes, and I try to support businesses that are owned by women.
What would you advise women?
Work on yourselves, be positive and don’t allow failure to discourage you. Perseverance is key.
What makes women different?
Even if they are late, they always deliver!
How do you overcome challenges?
I sleep on it and see how I feel about the challenge the next morning. Every day has challenges, but you need to deal with them and overcome them to move forward.
