Business Emirates Kz #22 (September - October 2018)

KAZAKHSTAN Do you see a lot in common between Arab and Kazakh female entrepreneurs? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: There is a lot of similarity between Arab and Kazakh female entrepreneurs. They are very ambitious, hardworking and dedicated to their work and yet they value the family life. How to support the right and stable balance between family and business?What would you advice to women? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: A Woman by nature is a giving person and she can attend to different things at the same time, and therefore, she can be a great mother and successful businesswoman. I myself when I had a toddler, I changed my business life style and worked fromhome, and my family was my first priority. Mothers are building the future generation, and therefore their role is so important and my advice to women, when you are at home switch your mind from business and when you are at work do vice versa, never mix the two and learn how to enjoy both. Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur? As I amaware, you are from business family. Was it your life choice? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: I pursued my education in USA in Interior Design and Fine Arts and I was very keen uponmy return to my country to practice my profession in the best possible way and therefore I decided to start my own Interior Design firm in 1989. At that time we hardly had women in private businesses. They were mainly working in the field of education as teachers. I believe, coming from a business family, I was ready for all the challenges and the hard work that I had to go through. Throughmy practice I learnt how to manage my office and learn frommy mistakes. Everyday I was learning something new in business management and I was very thankful to have the support of my family and husband who was my best advisor and who wanted me to be as successful as him. My ambitionwas very big and to reach my goal I startedwith commercial projects for people to seemy quality work and creative design, in order to gain their trust and work on bigger projects. Today, I amvery proud to say that I have worked on prestigious projects including corporate offices, restaurants, hotels, financial institutions and auditoriums that can accommodatemore than 2400 people, as well as luxury palaces and private villas. What vision and business skills did you inherit from your father?What did you develop yourself? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: I inherited frommy father determination, honesty, loyalty and leadership skills. I have learnt fromhim to be distinguished but humble, to aimhigh, to care for others and to support the community. I have learnt a lot frommy experience and my conclusion is that failure is another opportunity for success and makes you stronger. I also learnt with determination and hard work there is nothing called impossible. My strong belief inmy creator (ALLAH) is my biggest support. God created mankind to develop and flourish the globe, so we have to be productive people wherever we are positioned. When you believe in him you will never be disappointed. What is the most difficult thing about being the pioneer in the nice? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: A pioneer is one who is ahead of his time and it takes time for people to understand and support his vision. So one has to learn fromhis own failures and mistakes. How did you find your first client? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: My first client was an Emirati businessman who wanted to launch his first boutiques with baby products. He heard about me and invited me for the meeting. We discussed in detail his needs and requirements and my suggestions for his new outlet. He was very much impressed with my thoughts and designs and awarded me the project on the spot. This project led to many other bigger commercial outlets and thereafter to corporate offices and other projects. What is your mainmotivation in business and life? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: My motivation is to have a positive impact on others throughmy business or my life in general. I care for people to develop their skills and be empowered so we create a better living for everyone. As the UAE is a country of happiness, how do you understand it? Farida Abdulla Kamber Al Awadhi: Happiness is something that reaches your heart and soul, it is a right balance betweenmaterialistic and spiritual life: put these two together and you will be the happiest person. MOTHERS ARE BUILDING THE FUTURE GENERATION, AND THEREFORE THEIR ROLE IS SO IMPORTANT AND MY ADVICE TO WOMEN, WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME SWITCH YOUR MIND FROM BUSINESS AND WHEN YOU ARE AT WORK DO VICE VERSA, NEVER MIX THE TWO AND LEARN HOW TO ENJOY BOTH PERSON 20 / SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018 / BUSINESS EMIRATES