Khadija Mercer proves that the youth aren’t just the future, but the present too.
A young woman brimming with potential, Khadija Mercer is the quintessential representation of Bahrain’s highly-driven youth. At just 19 years old, Ms. Mercer is not just a university student, but the Director of CSR and Marketing at Mercer Consultancy and a budding entrepreneur who is currently developing her own business concept.
As an individual, Ms. Mercer’s main aim is to continue learning about the sector that she is involved with and the general economic climate of Bahrain. “The consultancy that I represent focuses on providing counsel with expert advice regarding areas such as Governance, Banking, Strategy and Operations, and Islamic Finance,” she explains, adding that the consultancy’s direct involvement with many of their clients includes advice on public relations.
“We have confidence that our work does ultimately enhance the professional services sector for the Kingdom of Bahrain,” she adds.
Despite being a fresh addition to Bahrain’s workforce, Ms. Mercer has an interesting insight into the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on young women in the Kingdom. “We see now that the capacity for adaptability is a crucial one that applies to all aspects of life, both in the corporate and the personal. In retrospect, I have found that the Kingdom’s collective efforts to provide flexibility has given women a better environment to balance multiple priorities,” she says.
“Being in lockdown, especially for many women, was an opportunity to take some time to re-evaluate our current situations, and figure out how to move forward with our lives most effectively.”
Ms. Mercer strongly believes that women in Bahrain have the potential to impact the economy. “Firstly, I have had the pleasure of meeting numerous women that I feel have an existing impact on the economy whether they are CEOs or in other leadership roles,” she says, highlighting that women conduct the majority of consumer purchasing. “Our influence in the consumer market cannot be overlooked.
According to Ms. Mercer, women in Bahrain undoubtedly have the potential to do more for the benefit of Bahrain’s economy. “I hope that becomes a motivator for growth and for more women to take up leading positions in the corporate field especially. If there is one sentiment that I could share today it’s that the Kingdom provides so much for female entrepreneurs and I look forward to seeing more women take up these opportunities,” she says.
Time management has proved to be key, when juggling her responsibilities. “I am in my second year at university, pursuing my bachelor’s degree. Alongside that I’ve been working at the business consultancy for about a year now,” she says, adding that she has been developing her business concept in her own time. “I do consider myself a very optimistic individual when it comes to multitasking various priorities with my personal life.”
“I think I can speak for many women that we have numerous unsaid commitments – the responsibilities to our families as a daughter, a sister or a mother, the time that we promise to our friends too,” she says. “All of these things have to be kept in mind, but with the right motivation taking those risks reap many benefits for yourself and the people around you.”
Ms. Mercer’s business concept involves designing and showcasing clothing lines for bespoke abayas. “I do hope to open a store and specifically pay more attention to customised luxury pieces,” she says, when asked how she would like to grow her business. “I would also like to find new ways to provide ethically-made and environmentally-friendly garments and make products such as these more accessible to the consumer market.”
“As a Bahraini woman, I hope that I give back to my country and create a significant impact in some type of way.”
