Womens Era Archives

Karen Cripe: The Inspiring, Promising, Seasoned Entrepreneur

An inspiring entrepreneur and a highly accomplished leader with extensive experience in print management, sales, prepress, and digital printing, Karen Cripe, the President of Label Logic, has successfully navigated her journey from an aspiring entrepreneur to an inspiring businesswoman.

Karen possesses extensive knowledge in digital printing, prepress, sales, bindery, and print management. With a Bachelor of Science and Business degree from Aquinas College, she is a skilled business development specialist specializing in engineering and psychology.

Karen holds a wealth of experience as the CEO of Label Logic. Tycoon Success Magazine had the opportunity to have a conversation with the pioneer to learn more about her business and success story.

Label Logic: Premier Solutions for Labelling Needs

A national supplier of labels, tags, and RFID, Label Logic, Inc. is based in Elkhart, Indiana. It has expanded steadily since starting in a modest garage in 1997. They work out of a sizable manufacturing facility where they manufacture and supply labels, tags, RFID tags, printers, ribbons, and software to various sectors. There are nine Flexo/digital printing presses, a plate-producing department, an internal art department, and two RFID insertion devices. They have a committed staff that takes pride in their services’ honesty and high caliber.

“Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small local business, you will be pleased with the level of service and quality that we offer you. We are leading the way with bleeding-edge industry software that automates planning, organizes, and controls resources, procedures, and protocols to ensure your projects are managed efficiently“, the leading lady added.

Karen’s Inspiring Beginning: The Roller-coaster Ride

Karen’s unwavering and persistent attitude made her a natural-born inspirational entrepreneur. She earned an associate’s degree in graphic art and design and a bachelor’s degree in engineering psychology over the last 25 years from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Karen is the founder and president of Label Logic Inc., an Elkhart, Indiana-based flexo and digital printing business with 72 employees. In 1997, she started the business out of her house. In 2004, she moved into a facility and bought their first two presses, and became certified in RFID technology. Label Logic is one of only six US businesses certified in RFID tags and labels. The company has received the title of Flexographic Label Company of the Year six times. The leading lady also won the Enterprising Women of the Year award in 2017 and was honored as one of the Top 20 CEOs of 2020.

Healthy Work Environment: The Company’s Key Focus

Teamwork and appreciation are the two elements that make Label Logic’s work environment healthy and inspiring. The team at Label Logic is encouraged to bring their ideas to the table. They have free reign over their departments. The company employs happy people who are more family than employees.

The company also includes various departments with a mix of male and female employees. Everyone is urged to come up with unique ideas and answers to issues. They collaborate constantly. According to Karen, every leader should possess two qualities: integrity and enthusiasm.

The Impact of an Unpredicted Pandemic

“We had a lot of work producing labels for meat packers, hand sanitizer, and bottled water. We closed between shifts to sanitize the tools and every workstation, keeping everyone secure. Few people missed any work. To get the orders out the door, everyone pitched in”, the leading woman said.

Apart from the pandemic, staying ahead of the curve with continuous improvement in every area is another challenge that Karen and her team strive to overcome.

Future Endeavors at a Glance

Karen Cripe is confident that her bright future will come true thanks to the steadfast support of her wide range of clients, her team, and her unwavering dedication. Additionally, she wishes to remain at the forefront of RFID innovation and develop the industry’s top product.

Parting Words by Karen Cripe

I love what I do!

May Bahjat Kanounji: A Steadfast Leader Spearheading Change

Established in 2016, BloomingWear is a retail lingerie brand of Nama Arabia Apparels Co. Ltd., a flourishing business by the Al Nahdi family, known for more than 40 years in the field of wholesale in Saudi Arabia for their successful investments across a broad spectrum of industries, ranging from personal care to fashion, food, and beverage, among others.

Inspired by the visionary Mrs. Huda Al Nahdi, BloomingWear was born to cater to the daily needs of Arab women. The brand is keen on offering its clients the confidence and comfort they crave through its wide range of high-quality lingerie, undergarments, homeware, sportswear, faith wear, maternity wear, bridal necessities, and beauty accessories. Top Saudi-based designers meticulously craft all these products using the highest quality fabrics.

The brand caters to women of all ages and life stages, including single and married, brides-to-be, expectant mothers, and young girls transitioning into the beautiful world of womanhood. BloomingWear is also the go-to lingerie store for all ladies and gentlemen looking for gifts for all occasions.

The lingerie brand has grown exponentially in just seven years since its inception, expanding from only four stores in its first year to more than 35 stores nationwide. This can be attributed to the brand’s focus on customer satisfaction and ensuring every woman feels comfortable, happy, and elegantly sexy.

The Steadfast Leader

With over two decades of experience in operational strategies and customer-centric marketing, May Mahjat Kanounji serves as the CEO of BloomingWear. May’s exceptional skills in making crucial decisions, overcoming business challenges, and transforming brands earned her recognition as one of Forbes’ top 50 impactful marketing and communications executives in 2020.

May joined the retail industry after meeting the Retail Guru George Davies, the visionary behind several incredibly successful household brands, including NEXT, George at Asda, Per Una at Marks and Spencer, and FG4 in the Middle East. He helped May understand that listening to all comments and feedback from employees and customers is a cornerstone for success.

“Working with him opened my eyes to the dynamic aspect of this industry, to the importance of change and its impact on customers. Working in retail is filled with excitement and opens countless opportunities to keep up with changing consumer behavior, new trends as well as cultural and economic developments. This is especially true in a country like Saudi Arabia, which has witnessed massive changes with the upcoming vision 2030,”- she explains.

As a CEO with a marketing background, May offers a unique perspective to BloomingWear. She understands marketers’ inherent advantages in providing long-term and future-focused strategies. She strongly emphasizes the customer, recognizing their central role in the brand’s journey. Leveraging her deep market knowledge, May strives to create exceptional experiences for BloomingWear’s clientele.

Effective communication is a key part of May’s leadership style. She believes fostering strong relationships between departments and externally with clients and suppliers is essential for the organization’s success. May’s marketing background also enables her to promote social responsibility and inclusion within the workplace, thus helping BloomingWear remain a responsible and inclusive brand.

“Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of our Company’s strategy. We firmly believe workforce-diverse teams produce diverse ideas, so we tend to recruit both Saudi and ex-pats of mixed origins. We allow for flexibility in attendance and working hours. We respect gender diversity and address inequalities through transparent dialogue. We listen to all voices during meetings and ensure our employees feel respected, safe, and secure at the workplace. This also creates a sense of belonging, so Blooming feels like one big family,”- states May.

Bringing Change

One of the primary differentiators of BloomingWear lies in its commitment to providing Arab women with precisely what they need and desire. Unlike several other retail brands in Saudi Arabia that primarily caters to non-Arab women, BloomingWear understands the importance of tailoring its designs to suit the needs of its clients.

To ensure its designs align with customers’ needs BloomingWear employs local designers in its head office. BloomingWear’s designers also actively engage with customers and conduct regular market visits to stay on top of the evolving world of fashion.

Tackling Challenges

One of the critical challenges the industry faces is its high turnover rate, and the brand constantly works on various strategies to increase employee retention. This is undeniably one of the most critical challenges encountered by any business, as, by the time May and her team trains and passes knowledge to employees, they quit opting for non-retail positions that may be less demanding.

On the other hand, as in different regions of the world, inflation took a toll on BloomingWear, with customers becoming increasingly price sensitive and cutting back on their spending. Hence, the brand is also paying special attention to its pricing strategy.

Finally, BloomingWear also faces challenges concerning data, where it strives to collect data from different channels (offline, online, loyalty) to provide a more unified personalized shopping experience for its customers.

Looking at the Future

The brand is planning to expand both vertically and horizontally adding more product categories to the range but also expanding the brand in new markets outside Saudi Arabia and strengthening our position in becoming the top shopping destination for comfortable elegance for women.

Nada Qureshi: Empowering Entrepreneurs and Transforming Lives

Nada Qureshi, an accomplished digital marketing manager, has embarked on an extraordinary journey from scaling renowned brands to becoming an influential entrepreneur dedicated to empowering professionals to achieve success in their own ventures. With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, Nada’s strategic expertise has played a pivotal role in the growth of several prominent organizations within the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC).

“I have had the privilege of joining three different startups as the digital marketing in charge, and in each instance, I played a pivotal role in transforming these companies into household brand names. Through innovative digital marketing strategies, I propelled their growth and success, leaving a lasting impact before moving on to new endeavors,” remembered Nada.

“Continuing my journey, I had the opportunity to work with two multinational companies renowned for their dominance in the real estate and luxury fashion industries where I was recognized for multiple campaigns, both locally and globally”

Having worked with startups as the digital marketing lead, Nada has been instrumental in transforming these companies into household brand names. Through innovative digital marketing strategies, she has driven their growth and success, leaving a lasting impact before moving on to new endeavors. Nada also thrived in roles within multinational companies in the real estate and luxury fashion industries, where her employee engagement campaigns earned recognition, including a Guinness World Record, and showcased her expertise in delivering innovative marketing campaigns.

Transforming Careers Across the Region

Born and raised in Dubai, Nada was always passionate about entrepreneurship, but it remained a distant dream. However, she couldn’t ignore her entrepreneurial spirit for long. In July 2008, she made a bold move to join forces with her business partner to democratize entrepreneurship and make it accessible to all skilled employees. This led to the inception of The Startup Factory UAE, a comprehensive agency that serves as a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs, providing them with complete support to plan, start, and grow their dream businesses and design the lives they aspire to lead.

Through its range of professional services, mentorship programs, and supportive community, The Startup Factory bridges the gap between corporate professionals and the exciting world of entrepreneurship. Under Nada’s leadership, the organization has fostered a culture of innovation, collaboration, and growth, empowering countless aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and build their ventures.

The more Nada got coached by experienced entrepreneurs, the more she realized that a lack of support was a major factor contributing to the high failure rate of startups within the first five years.

This realization fuelled Nada’s passion for entrepreneurship even further, and she took it upon herself to assist students, professionals, mothers, and even retired individuals in transforming their unfulfilling careers into purposeful journeys they could be proud of.

“Over the years, I have noticed that this mindset shift isn’t restricted to ‘employees becoming entrepreneurs’ because many people have what it takes to be successful entrepreneurs but lack the financial literacy and tools to take the leap. That’s why, this year, we have dedicated significant resources towards creating defined programs and mentorship packages for this purpose,”- Nada said proudly.

Tackling Challenges

Nada strongly believes that the current entrepreneurial landscape is entirely saturated with excessive market noise mainly generated by individuals and entities who lack the necessary expertise to consult and educate entrepreneurs effectively. This noise often comes from so-called ‘marketing gurus’ and ‘marketing agencies’ who make massive promises but fail to deliver on their claims or provide no substantial value at all. Sadly, this phenomenon has created a sense of distrust and disillusionment among aspiring entrepreneurs, widening the gap between people and their confidence in their abilities to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship.

Prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion

A Pakistani/Egyptian by heritage, Nada had the privilege of growing up in the vibrant and diverse city of Dubai. She profoundly values and embraces diversity, considering it an integral part of her identity. She deeply recognizes the strength and richness that diversity brings to professional and personal experiences.

In a fortunate turn of events, Nada decided to transition The Startup Factory to a remote work model two months prior to the global COVID-19 lockdown. This foresight proved immensely beneficial for the organization during the challenging period of lockdowns and travel restrictions. As the world shifted towards remote work and remote opportunities became more prevalent, The Startup Factory was able to tap into a talent pool beyond geographical boundaries.

As a result, The Startup Factory now boasts team members in six different countries. The hiring criteria for the company are solely based on the individual’s personality and skill sets rather than their physical location. This approach allows The Startup Factory to assemble a diverse team of professionals who bring unique perspectives, talents, and experiences to the table.

Mission and Vision

Under Nada’s leadership, The Startup Factory’s vision extends beyond business success. She firmly believes that entrepreneurship can bring about meaningful change and enable people to design their dream lives, set their own boundaries and create a lasting legacy through their ventures.

The Startup Factory aims to make entrepreneurship and financial freedom accessible and effectively support every skilled individual.

The Startup Factory’s mission is to empower individuals with the needed knowledge, resources, and support to unlock their entrepreneurial potential. They foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence while promoting social impact and sustainability. By democratizing entrepreneurship and providing comprehensive education, networking, and mentorship opportunities, The Startup Factory strives to create a thriving ecosystem where aspiring entrepreneurs can build successful businesses that drive innovation, create positive change, and shape a better future.

Future Roadmap

Looking ahead, Nada Qureshi and her team at The Startup Factory are committed to making entrepreneurship accessible to all aspiring individuals. By creating affordable and standardized courses and programs, they aim to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Through Nada’s vision and leadership, The Startup Factory is transforming lives, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating a positive impact in the business world.

Ritjana Ceveli: Empowering Talent Across the World

Meet Ritjana Caveli, an accomplished CEO and Co-founder of ERC International – an Executive Search Consultancy dedicated to providing exceptional Human Resource Services, including Recruitment, HR, Diversity & Inclusion, and Nationalisation. With 16 years of experience in Emerging Markets, Equity, and Education, Ritjana has made significant contributions to the industry and has a strong track record of executing investments and restructuring businesses across the GCC and Global Emerging Markets.

Having worked for top investment funds such as Aberdeen Asset Management, Masdar, and Dubai Investment Group, Ritjana’s corporate experience has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. She has also been a keynote speaker at various forums in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bahrain, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, where she has shared her insights and experience.

She also works closely with the nationalization programs in the GCC, particularly Emiratisation, where she has been instrumental in empowering the local workforce to bring positive change to their countries.

Ritjana holds a degree from the prestigious London School of Economics and has lived in different parts of the world, which has given her a unique perspective and a deep appreciation for culture and history. Her biggest passion when she’s not working is traveling and exploring new cultures.

Establishing the Company

Ritjana established ERC in 2016 with a small team in Dubai. At first, ERC started as an Emiratization boutique search firm, which later got involved in Saudization and from their Ritjana helped it diversify its services in recruitment and executive search services servicing clients in Asia, the Middle East, and East Europe with an angle of D&I and focus in bridging the gap and creating more opportunities for minorities and women.

As the CEO and Co-founder of the company, Ritjana now aspires to have teams across Asia, Europe, and Africa, enabling ERC to stay close to its clients. This international presence will enhance ERC’s ability to serve its existing clients, spanning 17 different geographies, and infuse an international flavor into its operations. By strategically positioning teams across different continents, Ritjana aims to strengthen ERC’s customer relationships, understand local nuances, and provide tailored solutions that align with its client’s specific needs and cultural contexts. This expansion plan reflects Ritjana’s commitment to delivering exceptional service while fostering meaningful connections with clients worldwide.

“When we started off, just like with every new business, the challenge was building a strong rapport with clients and earning their trust. However, for us as a team, we saw challenges as opportunities and were able to overcome them together united as a team. Setting up this business as someone who didn’t come from the background wasn’t an easy ride. However, as an entrepreneur, you learn that there is no Plan B; you have to keep on pushing and delivering upon your commitments.”– remembers Ritjana.

Bringing Change

ERC International sets itself apart from other recruitment companies through its distinctive End-to-End Account Management approach. The company strongly emphasizes developing an in-depth understanding of market sectors, taking it a step further by integrating diversity into its services. ERC fully acknowledges the significance of diversity across nationality, gender, minority representation, and sexual orientation. By embracing and celebrating diversity, ERC crafts customized talent solutions for organizations and corporations operating in diverse borders and markets. This inclusive approach enables ERC to access exceptional talent from around the globe and offers equal opportunities to top talents, irrespective of their geographical location.

Synchronizing with Recent Developments

Ritjana places great importance on staying competitive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment. She and her team participate in webinars, conferences, and strategy meetings to better understand their clients’ talent strategies. They then take this information back to their drawing board to determine if any internal operational or delivery processes need to be changed or adjusted to deliver better outcomes for ERC’s clients. To aid in their efforts, Ritjana and her team use AI-driven tools in sourcing and research, along with various techniques to expedite their research skills, as part of ERC’s brand promise of delivering within 48 hours.

Standing Out

ERC International stands out in the market for several key reasons. Firstly, the company is known for its resilience and resourcefulness, always finding innovative solutions. Secondly, it prioritizes transparency in client relationships, fostering trust and open communication. Another distinguishing factor is ERC’s commitment to fast service delivery, addressing the common stigma associated with recruitment companies. ERC has built a strong reputation for fulfilling commitments promptly.

Ritjana believes one of ERC’s key strengths lies in its multicultural team across five countries. This diverse composition provides the company with a unique advantage. It grants the company much-needed access to a wide range of talent pools and deep cultural understanding, enabling it to offer comprehensive solutions to clients that go beyond recruitment. The ultimate goal for ERC International is to establish long-term partnerships with their clients, acting as trusted business advisors rather than simply a talent placement agency. This holistic approach involves going above and beyond to provide value-added services and strategic support to clients, driving their success.

By embodying resilience, transparency, and swift service delivery, combined with a multicultural team and a commitment to comprehensive client solutions, ERC International has carved its place in the market as a trusted partner and valuable resource for businesses seeking exceptional talent and strategic guidance.

“In the last 3 years, we have been closely involved and supporting the ever-growing startup ecosystem in the Middle East by supporting their teams to grow with tech talents, programmers, data scientists, CTOs, etc. We are proud to partner with some of our clients and see their growth become our growth,”- Ritjana.

On Women Entrepreneurs

Ritjana is deeply passionate about advocating for women in entrepreneurial roles. She firmly believes that the increasing representation of women as entrepreneurs has significantly impacted business and economic growth within the country. Women-owned businesses have a vital role in society, not only by generating employment opportunities but also by driving demographic shifts and serving as a source of inspiration for future generations of female founders. Ritjana recognizes the UAE’s remarkable progress in promoting women’s entrepreneurship, showcasing the breakthroughs made by women in overcoming barriers and achieving success. As a woman, she takes immense pride in witnessing the strides women have taken on their entrepreneurial journeys. However, she also acknowledges that there is still work to achieve complete equality and empowerment.

Misbah SP: The Woman at the Marketing Helm of Uno Re, Enabling the Global Adoption of Web3 as an Industry

Such is the spirit of the woman CMO who inspires us in 2023. Misbah SP is a remarkable business leader, wearing numerous hats at the marketing helm of Uno Re. She is a problem-solver at her core and is driven by the infinite possibilities of achievement and exploration.

An Insight into Misbah’s Professional Journey: Misbah was very interested in science right after high school, and she particularly wanted to study genetic mental diseases and their therapies. She then decided to major in biotechnology. But soon she realized she was better suited for something perhaps a little more fast-moving, with a more rigorous effort to result in flow, than the tedious pace and nature of the study.

Around that time, Web3 and crypto went from being a by-passing hobby to a full-fledged profession. The field was still in its infancy in 2019—and even more so in the MENA area. Because there weren’t many opportunities, Misbbah took advantage of the resources that were available to gain new skills. After some trial and error in Web3-based operations management, employee management, content creation, and more, the magnificent woman had found her niche: Web3 marketing.

The market itself is uncharted, to put it simply; there isn’t much precedent on what might work and what might not, and the conventional tried-and-true guidelines are ineffective when you’re marketing a market that was only created five or six years ago! But that was precisely what had attracted her to it in the first place. The absence of established rules mixed with the industry’s lightning-fast growth made for an intoxicating combination, and her innate drive to bring order and plan to things worked remarkably well inside this framework.

Being a pedant by nature, Misbah wanted to contribute to the space in a way that added value and structure, and the absence of trust and security in the area was a major problem (one that persists to this day, in fact). So when Misbbah was given the chance to work with Uno Re, a Web3 security and insurance protocol, she seized the opportunity without delay.

“My drive to excel myself and my protocol came from pure need; the industry cannot grow without confidence within it, and confidence does not come to industries that are monetarily dangerous. And so, Uno Re (and myself!) have since been on the path to improving DeFi security and crypto fund safety ever since”, quoted Misbah.

Uno Re – At a Glance

Uno Re is the protocol that the DeFi space and its users and builders need right now. It is devoted to offering holistic security through a variety of specially designed tools and services.

DeFi and Web3 are vulnerable to attack since they are new industries and have less established security protocols and rules in place. They are also likely an easier target due to their inherent uncompromisable decentralization.

If Web3 is ever to be globally adopted, this is the biggest and first hurdle that Misbah and her team need to get over. After all, would you put your money on the chain if there was no guarantee of its safety?

Uno Re is achieving this; the protocol was designed to address the problems of trust and security in on-chain markets, enabling the industry to develop and innovate in ways never before possible. Their goal is to facilitate Web3’s widespread market and industrial acceptance so that it becomes as commonplace as the stock market or the iPhone. Misbah is thrilled to be helping with this effort since she thinks that widespread adoption cannot be achieved without security.

Just over two years have passed since the protocol went live, and during that period, numerous security and insurance solutions have been introduced, turning the tide against attackers and malpractices.

“We’ve offered over $4 million in total coverage, underwritten over 99 protocols, and our most recent product, UNO WatchDog (a comprehensive security audit and insurance tool), has produced over $100K in income since its beta introduction in Q2023)“, the leading lady apprised.

Revolutionary Transformations by Misbah

“My objective is to make security and insurance fascinating—a part of the industry that’s perhaps not as happening as gaming, trading, or NFTs—but one that is unquestionably essential to their success,”, asserted the magnificent woman.

Misbah has always put the community first in her work at Uno Re, both in terms of service and involvement. This is one of her key values. She strives to change her point of view from huge to small by adopting that of a DeFi customer and community member.

So overall, the change she is bringing to the brand is reinforcing the perception that the end-user is a builder too, just in a slightly mote-roundabout way, and builders and marketers that realise that, she believes, will succeed in their endeavours more than most.

Overcoming the Hiccups on the Way

The industry comes with its cons, as does any industry; the primary one that Misbah has dealt with in her experience has always been complacency.

She is aware that this may come as a surprise because the DeFi and Web3 spaces were designed to return power to those who engage in them, but she has discovered that users of the spaces frequently become complacent in the knowledge that so-and-so founder claimed that their funds, their NFTs, or their stables were secure until it is regrettably too late.

Uno Re’s mission is to change this perception, to introduce and reinforce an even greater degree of self-sustenance and responsibility within the space, and to take control not just of their funds but also of their safety.

Diversity and Inclusion at Uno Re

According to Misbah, “The Web3 space is naturally diverse in terms of cast, colour, gender, and creed, but this does not absolve us of the duty to further this diversity inside our projects.”

Uno Re is built, managed, and operated by individuals from all walks of life, all over the world, and belonging to all genders. Being a woman of colour in a position of power, she is constantly aware of the fact that it’s up to them to maintain this inclusion and to reinforce it at all levels of the organisation.

Keeping Up with Recent Development and Evolution

Uno Re is a basic service, but it’s important to remember that fundamental services must be tailored to fit each new innovation they aim to support. In an industry that evolves nearly daily, so much Uno Re. Their highest level of customization in response to these evolutions and the constant stream of new products and services in Web3 is what sets them apart.

“I’d even go so far as to say that one prominent trait we have—you come to us with a product, a technique, or simply an idea—is responsible for a significant portion of our success. I assure you that we can safeguard it if it involves a smart contract of any kind“, revealed the visionary leader.

The Expansion Binge and Road Ahead

When questioned about the plans for the future, Misbah responded, “I myself am very excited about Uno’s future, thanks to two primary aspects. The first is our most recent security audit and insurance tool, UNO WatchDog, and the enormous potential that it has. We’ve gotten a peek of this potential realised since our test launch roughly 2-3 months ago, and it signals strongly that if we go public with the product, the sky’s the limit!”

“Secondly, Uno Re is currently working to become the first Web3-regulated crypto-native; this opens up a world of opportunities for us as a company, not the least of which is facilitating the injection of Web2 capital into Web3 and being able to service a much larger customer base globally,” she continued.

Words of Wisdom by the Inspiring Lady

Find what comes naturally to you, what feels like something you could accomplish with little work, and then devote all of that wasted effort to mastering it. With a clear route to success comes the opportunity to pursue your passions outside of work as well!

Melanie Clark: Delivering Best-in-Class Marketing Services

Melanie Clark is the Chief Marketing Officer of Abstrakt Marketing Group, a business growth company providing lead generation solutions. Melanie started her career as a Social Media Intern in 2011, and quickly rose to the rank of Social Media Manager before moving up to the rank of Senior Director of Marketing in 2012 and Vice President of Marketing in 2018.

Throughout her career, Melanie has consistently demonstrated a proactive attitude to learning all aspects of the business from a marketing perspective. Since the beginnig of her career, Melanie has recognized the importance of having a deep understanding of the work that her team does and the processes they follow. So, she would come to the office hours before official working time, to learn these programs and processes, which helped her better set expectations and lead her team.

“By learning the creative programs from the experts themselves, I gained valuable insight into the creative process and was able to develop a better understanding of what was required to deliver high-quality marketing materials,”- she explains. “This hands-on approach allowed me to develop a more nuanced understanding of the work that my team was doing, and it helped me to establish strong working relationships with my colleagues.”

As the Chief Marketing Officer of Abstrakt Group, Melanie worked extremely hard to establish a marketing team capable of effectively supporting the company’s internal marketing efforts, especially during a period of substantial growth. One of the key aspects of creating and building a successful marketing team is investing in the group’s employees. Melanie and her team have created a culture of continuous learning and development, providing everyone with the needed tools and resources to help them grow and succeed.

“We believe that by investing in our team members, we are not only able to attract top talent but also retain them, which is essential in a competitive industry. Much of this we get better at defining and committing to year after year,”- Melanie says.

About Abstrakt Marketing Group

Abstrakt Marketing Group is a nationally recognized business growth company based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Abstrakt builds sustainable sales pipelines and generates predictable sales opportunities. Founded in 2009, Abstrakt Marketing Group has grown to 550+ team members and 2,000+ clients across all 50 states, Canada, and the U.K. Its products include:

Outbound SDR:
Abstrakt Marketing’s high-performing experts set qualified sales appointments with the best decision-makers in its clients’ target market.
Inbound SDR:
Abstrakt’s digital marketing specialists develop websites and craft engaging web content to help potential buyers easily find its clients’ business online.
Bionic SDR:
Its email marketing team sets high-quality sales meetings with qualified prospects through email strategy.
Creative Sweets:
Abstrakt’s creative branch creates high-quality marketing materials, which enhances sales efforts.
Abstrakt Cloud Solutions:
Its Salesforce-certified consultants help clients optimize Salesforce for business growth.
Talent Solutions:
Abstrakt’s recruitment and staffing experts find and place the best candidates for businesses nationwide.

Establishing an Award Winning Culture

Abstrakt Marketing Group sets itself apart by establishing an award-winning culture. The organization has created best practices prioritizing team member growth, development, and engagement. As an example, the marketing company has implemented Abstrakt Gives Back initiatives that include an annual Give Back Day where all team members spend a day volunteering in their local communities as well as 8 additional hours of PTO that team members can use to volunteer. This program serves as a testament to Abstrakt’s encouragement of team members’ involvement in their respective communities, fostering a sense of purpose and facilitating a positive impact beyond the workplace.

As the CMO of the company, Melanie is fully committed to creating a top workplace, that provides continuous growth for people interested in sales and marketing. The marketing company’s focus on supporting team members’ professional growth and development has been key to its recognition as a Top Workplace. Melanie and her team place a high priority on cultivating a positive culture and fostering team member engagement throughout the organization, which has proven instrumental in attracting and retaining top talent.

“I believe that by fostering a work environment that values personal and professional development, we can continue to create a top workplace that inspires and empowers our team members to achieve their full potential,”- states Melanie. “Overall, I am honored to have had such an exciting and fulfilling career journey that led me to this role. I believe that my work ethic, commitment to learning and innovation, and focus on team member engagement and culture have helped to make Abstrakt Marketing Group a leading organization in the industry.”

Tackling Primary Challenges

Melanie feels the primary challenge within the industry lies in the ability to genuinely represent partners. To address this challenge, Abstrakt’s team has devised an extensive implementation process and established a system of monthly meetings. These meetings serve as a platform for ensuring that partners remain informed about ongoing strategies and results, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. An integral component of these meetings is the comprehensive review of the partner portal, which offers real-time performance data and serves as a centralized platform for providing feedback. Furthermore, the team utilizes Salesforce to record all client communications, mitigating the risk of losing valuable information as team members transition or depart. This approach prevents the loss of progress and eliminates reliance on individual knowledge, ensuring continuity and consistency in partner representation.

Changing the Industry for Better

Abstrakt Marketing Group is actively assisting businesses across various industries through the production of The Grow Show podcast. This podcast was specifically designed to share invaluable “secrets to success” with fellow entrepreneurs, sales leaders, and executives. Each episode encompasses three distinct segments that cater to different aspects of business growth. The first segment, “50 for 50,” offers 50 actionable tips aimed at helping businesses achieve a revenue milestone of $50 million. The second segment, “Tales From Sales,” provides valuable advice on effectively managing a sales team and closing sales. Lastly, the segment titled “Mining For Growth Gold” delves into the best practices of lead generation, uncovering strategies that foster substantial business growth.

Chiara Longhi: Leading with Grace, Grit, and Purpose

Chiara Longhi is the Innovation Principal Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and has significant expertise in assisting enterprises in their innovation and transformation journeys. In her role, Chiara helps executive leaders across Asia, the Pacific, and Japan develop and launch innovative solutions that prioritize customer-centricity. Chiara also serves as an Amazon Bar Raiser and has evaluated almost 400 candidates during her time in the company.

Chiara’s passion for technology and international markets led her to live and work across the United States, Asia, and Oceania for the past 12 years. Before joining the AWS Innovation team, she was part of the team that helped launch Amazon in Australia in 2017 and Singapore in 2019. Previous to that, she worked for LinkedIn, based out of Hong Kong, supporting the business’ expansion across Japan and Korea. Chiara began her career in tech at AOL after earning her Economics Bachelor’s degree from Bocconi University, and her Master’s degree from New York University.

Chiara’s passion for innovation has also led her to establish the Moonshot Company, a tailored program that aims to enable people with the knowledge and tools they need to unleash their potential and reach their goals: from helping individuals land their dream job through 1-1 coaching, interviewing tips and resume reviews, to advising professionals and businesses on topics such as emotional intelligence for leadership and success, product strategy and customer-centricity innovation.

Recently we got an opportunity to sit down with Chiara to learn how she and her team are changing the world for the better.

Below are the highlights of the interview.

Q) How do you motivate creativity and innovation while maintaining a healthy work environment?

Chiara) They can absolutely co-exist, and I think they actually fuel each other! The healthier your environment is, the greater your abilities to be creative and innovative will be. The first step is to be intentional about prioritizing your well-being rather than working for and backwards from deadlines. I personally need a good dose of energy and a healthy one of stress as well to operate at my best. Multiple studies have actually shown how the sweet spot for an innovative mindset is that middle energy/middle-stress area: too little stress/ energy has a great chance of making you bored, and overly high stress/energy brings you into that wanky phase..both are not ideal when you are trying to encourage creativity. So my tip is to find what gives you energy (for me is spending time outdoors, exercising, and having quality time with loved ones), establish an ambitious but realistic plan, and then..kick it off! Something very important that I have learned at Amazon is the importance of being stubborn on the vision but flexible on the details. Not everything will work out exactly as you imagined it first, and that is not a bad thing. If you believe in your idea, don’t give up on following your north star, but be flexible in how you will get to it.

Q) What are the major challenges of the industry, in your opinion? How are you tackling those?

Chiara) When it comes to corporate innovation, the most common blocker I have noticed is actually not really linked to resources, funding, or technology limitations- it actually comes from the company culture. A company culture that hires talent but then doesn’t develop it, or doesn’t really enable and incentivize employees to experiment and innovate, will most likely struggle to bring any creativity or innovation out there. And company culture goes well beyond the free lunches, playful offices, or benefits businesses might offer their employees. Company culture starts with the type of talent an organization hires, the investment and commitment they show in developing and nurturing that talent, and the ability to create a safe environment where people are not scared to experiment and maybe fail, but are actually expected to do so.

When it comes to individuals trying to achieve their goals, the two common blockers I have noticed are impostor syndrome and fear of failing, and they both bring people to simply..never giving it a try. I always try to remind people that even if you try and don’t succeed, you are not failing, you are learning. There is a quote from Michael Jordan I love- “sometimes you win, sometimes you learn”. I wish more people could turn this into their personal mantra- I am sure we would have so much more innovation around us!

There are plenty of other challenges, but these are surely the top ones from my point of view based on the insights I gathered in years working directly in this field.

Q) What are your mission and vision? And what would be the best roadmap to achieve that?

Chiara) My mission is to enable as many individuals as possible to unleash their potential and get to what makes them fulfilled, but also provide actual tools and mechanisms for them to do so. I am a huge believer that real enablement occurs when after some time, people don’t need you anymore. It is very important to inspire and motivate others, but you need to provide people with actual tools, so they can proceed in their growing journey once you leave the room. A huge part of my mission involves helping corporations as well, as they are ultimately conglomerates of individuals and such key players in people’s life. We spend 70-80% of our time at work ( if not more)- if more individuals and businesses can master their ability to be creative and innovate while also thriving in doing so, it will genuinely be a better place for all of us.

Q) What milestones and achievements are you most proud of?

Chiara) The launch of Amazon.com in Australia has probably been one of the most incredible chapters of my professional experience. I remember when I first was contacted for the role, they couldn’t share many details about it due to its confidential nature. So they flew me to Sydney from Hong Kong to meet with the interview panel, and that is when I signed an NDA and was able to get a better understanding of it all. A couple of weeks later, I was getting ready to move with a one-way ticket to Australia, which was in itself something that had never been in my plans. The first few months on the job were pure adrenaline- it was only a few of us, and we often worked around the clock. That period was so tiring, and yet you could see how much we all were loving it: we were energized, motivated, inspired by each other, and definitely felt we were all in this journey together as a team, all thriving for a much bigger purpose. Being able to then re-live a similar experience couple of years later with the launch of Amazon in Singapore made it even better, as it allowed me to look at that launch with a much more “focused” (and also less stressful) approach.

Q) What would you like to be remembered for by your peers?

Chiara) I hope I will be able to be remembered as somebody that never compromised on their values for the sake of easier or faster success. A courageous leader that was able to show up in the moments that mattered. I hope I will be remembered not just for my achievements but also for the ethic, respect, and humanity I carried throughout their pursuit. And lastly, with themoonshotcompany.co, I hope I’ll be able to broaden my own legacy, having positively influenced the path of thousands of others.

Q) What are you looking to accomplish in the next 5 years from a personal as well as professional point of view?

Chiara) There is some big news coming up on both fronts- I am an extremely superstitious person, so I tend not to speak about anything until I see it live! But you can follow/reach out to me on Linkedin or visit chiaralonghi.com to be up to date!

Dr. Laura M. Giurge : Creating a Positive Impact on People’s Lives

Dr. Laura M. Giurge is an award-winning behavioral and organizational scholar. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor of Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has a Ph.D. in Management from Erasmus University Rotterdam and two cum laude Master’s degrees from the University of Groningen in Economics and Business and Human Resources Management (NL). Before joining the London School of Economics, she worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at Cornell University (USA) and London Business School (U.K). She was also a visiting scholar at Harvard Business School (USA).

Laura’s research has been published in several top academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Human Behaviour, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and The Leadership Quarterly, and it is often featured in the media. She is highly passionate about communicating her research to organizational leaders and the general public and has written about her work in the Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes

Recently, we got a chance to sit down with Dr. Giurge to learn more about her work to address ongoing challenges in the workplace.

Below are the highlights of the interview.

Please tell me your story. Or how did you get your start?

Dr. Giurge: I’m currently an assistant professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). I am also a behavioral scientist and academic advisor for different organizations, including MoreThanNow, and a Research Affiliate at the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford. On the side, I’m a photographer and artist and have already had my own photography exhibit in 2016. I’ve started my multiple careers by pursuing my interests and exploring my curiosity. It hasn’t been easy, and it is still challenging to wear so many hats simultaneously, but each hat brings something unique to my life.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?

Dr. Giurge: Thus far, my greatest accomplishment has been the scholarships I’ve won to study abroad.

Being a key person in this environment is challenging and all-consuming—are you prepared for the challenge? (How would you Control the Situation)

Dr. Giurge: Various experiences taught me some difficult and painful lessons. So, I seek to control the situation by being extremely careful who I work with. To me, people are everything

What does success look like for you?

Dr. Giurge: One of my key measures of success is the number of people I’ve helped achieve their goals, professionally or personally.

What is your “vision” in life, e.g., what drives you to a Successful Journey?

Dr. Giurge: One piece of my vision is to leave Earth a better place by helping those without voice or agency.

What’s the best advice you’ve recently received?

Dr. Giurge: We create our meaning in life, and that is scary and liberating at the same time. Once you know what motivates you, it becomes clearer what you should say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to.

Give us advice that you would share with entrepreneurs just starting.

Dr. Giurge: One of my guiding principles is action because. I know from research that some of the most painful regrets in life are those of inaction rather than action. So, even when the outcome is painful, I’m grateful to have tried something than to have wondered what if.

You should reach Dr. Giurge through her website, e-mail, and LinkedIn for more details

Dr. Nairouz Bader: Empowering Women Leaders to Rise Higher and Reach Further

Dr. Nairouz Bader is the C.E.O. of Envision Partnership, a female executive search and leadership advisory organization that she established in 1997. Envision Partnership is the first executive search firm in the MENA region to be certified by the AESC and WeConnect International, two prestigious organizations that recognized the company’s commitment to excellence and diversity. Since its establishment, the company has expanded to Dubai, serving clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Not only is Dr. Nairouz a successful businesswoman, but she is also a pioneer in her field and is the only Arab woman leader who has served on the global board of AESC and M.C.H. Global, the parent company of Art Basel. Under her leadership, Envision Partnership has also become the only expert in the MENA region certified by the Switzerland Global Enterprise as an Official Expert on International Human Resources.

A pharmacist by profession, Dr. Nairouz holds several post-graduate degrees, including a Master’s in Managerial Leadership from the U.S.A. She has lived most of her life in the U.A.E. but has also spent her time in Europe, Canada, and the U.S.A. Dr. Nairouz is a DEI Diversity & Gender Catalyst and is passionate about gender parity, advocating for female leadership and minority-owned enterprise.

For Dr. Nairouz and her team, walking the talk is not just a buzzword but a way of life. They are incredibly passionate about placing female executives in leadership roles, not just locally but also globally. Through their coaching and development programs, they aim to build a sustainable talent pipeline for future women leaders, empowering them to take charge and shape the future of their organizations. Also, as a founding member of Rotary International in Dubai, Nairouz is committed to positively impacting her community and beyond.

About Envision Partnership

Established in 1997, Envision Partnership is a global executive search and talent management consultancy providing personalized services to help clients find and attract the best executive talent. The organization strongly emphasizes quality, professionalism, and personalization, ensuring that each client receives tailored solutions to meet their unique needs. Envision Partnership’s extensive services include executive search, talent assessment, leadership development, and organizational consulting.

With its global presence and a team of experienced consultants, Envision Partnership has an impressive track record of placing top-level executives across various industries. The

organization’s expertise and commitment to excellence have made it a trusted partner for organizations seeking talent management services.

Under Dr. Nairouz’s leadership, Envision Partnership is entirely committed to driving sustainable change and creating a more inclusive future by promoting female executives in regional and global leadership roles. The Organization’s approach includes coaching and developing talented women and creating a sustainable talent pipeline for future women leaders. Also, by promoting diversity and inclusion, the organization inspires many more women to join the workforce and continue working for a better future.

“At Envision Partnership, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) are crucial components of success. Our innovative approach to leadership and commitment to D.E.I. will shape the future and create a more sustainable and inclusive world,”- explains Dr. Nairouz.

Navigating the Dizzying Environment

Leadership is a challenging and complex task in today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving world. As a seasoned leader, Dr. Nairouz has adopted an approach that revolves around several key principles to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

First and foremost, Dr. Nairouz prioritizes open communication and transparency. She always likes to keep the communication line open and transparent with her team and stakeholders, so they can work together to tackle challenges and capitalize on opportunities that arise from time to time.

Secondly, Dr. Nairouz firmly believes in leading by example. As a leader, she understands that her actions and behavior significantly impact her team and organization. Hence, she strives to embody the values and principles that she wants to see in her organization.

Thirdly, she believes in fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. By encouraging her team to think outside the box and explore new ideas, she ensures that Envision Partnership stays ahead of the curve and adapts to changing environments.

Lastly, she is a firm believer in continuous learning and development. As a leader, Dr. Nairouz recognizes the importance of ongoing personal and professional growth and strives to instill this mindset in her team. Overall, Dr. Nairouz’s approach to leadership centers on communication, leading by example, fostering innovation, and continuous learning and development.

Motivating Innovation and Creativity

As a visionary leader, Dr. Nairouz recognizes the importance of creativity and innovation in driving success, but she also understands the need for a healthy work environment. Therefore, she has implemented several strategies to achieve this perfect balance.

First and foremost, Dr. Nairouz fosters a culture of open communication and collaboration. She encourages her team to share their ideas and provide feedback, creating a safe space where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. This approach allows Envision Partnership to generate new and innovative solutions to complex problems.

Additionally, Dr. Nairouz encourages experimentation and risk-taking. She recognizes that not every idea will be successful, but she believes in learning from failures to drive future success.

To stay competitive in the rapidly changing world, Dr. Nairouz prioritizes training and development opportunities for her team, which helps them build new skills and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices.

Lastly, Dr. Nairouz is committed to ensuring work-life balance and stress management for her team. She understands that a healthy work-life balance is essential for productivity and well-being, and she strives to support her team in every way possible.

“I motivate creativity and innovation while maintaining a healthy work environment by fostering open communication, encouraging experimentation, offering training and development opportunities, and prioritizing work-life balance. By striking this balance, my team feels empowered to take risks and think outside the box while feeling supported and valued in their work,”- she explains.

Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion

Envision Partnership stands out in the industry with its unique focus on promoting gender diversity and inclusion, as well as its dedication to developing sustainable leadership pipelines. Envision’s team has valuable insights into women’s challenges and opportunities in leadership positions, allowing them to provide tailored solutions that genuinely help them succeed.

“Overall, Envision Partnership’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusion, our focus on sustainable leadership pipelines, and unique insights about the challenges and opportunities facing women in leadership positions could all be key selling propositions that set us apart from other companies in the industry,”- says Dr. Nairouz.

Picture of the Future

On a personal level, Dr. Nairouz is determined to prioritize her well-being and continue investing in her personal development. This will involve pursuing new hobbies and interests that challenge her and allow her to learn new skills. Additionally, she recognizes the importance of self-care and nurturing her relationships with loved ones, which will be crucial for her mental and emotional health.

Dr. Nairouz intends to travel extensively and immerse herself in new cultures in line with her passion for exploration and learning. She believes this exposure will broaden her perspective and deepen her understanding of the world, undoubtedly enriching her personal and professional life.

“Professionally, my goals are to drive positive change and create impact through my work. I am committed to expanding the reach and impact of Envision Partnership, a women-focused organization that empowers and supports women to achieve their full potential. Specifically, I hope to develop new programs and services to help clients prioritize sustainability and collaborate with other organizations to achieve collective impact. In addition, I aim to reduce the environmental footprint of Envision Partnership and lead by example in our own business practices,”- Dr. Nairouz concludes.

Elena Schildgen: An Iconic Business Woman, Offering Core Legal Solutions at Meyer-Reumann & Partners

Dream big: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney

When more and more women concentrate on strategic business areas, they motivate other women to shatter the glass ceiling and grow. To ensure that women receive the equal opportunity, career development, and advancement, businesses are attempting to promote and profit from their potential. In the past ten years, there have been a number of incredible female entrepreneurs who are not just transforming their industries but also the globe as a whole. Elena Schildgen, the managing partner of Meyer-Reumann & Partners, is a leader with such biblical qualities.

A highly educated and driven lawyer with over 30 years of experience practising law in the GCC region, the leading lady focuses on Wills & Probate, Family Law, Labor Law, Company Creation and Structuring, as well as managing a successful law firm. Setting her sails in 1995, Elena has played a crucial role in strategically expanding Meyer-Reumann & Partners, ensuring that it is now sized to provide advice on complex corporate legal issues, such as multijurisdictional corporate restructurings like carve-outs and mergers and acquisitions, without sacrificing the level of individualized attention provided by the attorneys working on the cases. She has developed into more than simply a successful businesswoman; she is now a role model for others and a seasoned professional in the field of international law.

Meyer-Reumann & Partners at a Glance

“We are a renowned name in the legal industry for delivering personalized legal assistance!” Elena Schildgen

Meyer-Reumann & Partners is a boutique legal company founded in 1989 that handles the majority of corporate and commercial business law issues. It was created by Mr. Rolf Meyer-Reumann, a maritime law expert who began his career in Saudi Arabia. He spent a few years working there in the 1980s before relocating to Dubai in 1989.

Meyer-Reumann & Partners acts as a legal partner and handles matters on a very individual basis, with the client always having direct access to the lawyer in charge. The firm has a small number of highly skilled and devoted lawyers who respond to the very particular needs of the client.

Clients mainly approach them if they wish to establish a legal entity, and following this, they assist them with all day-to-day legal issues such as the drafting and revision of contracts, handling employment matters, registering IP, and making sure they fulfil all the local compliance regulations. Also, they support private individuals in a variety of family, real estate, inheritance, drafting, and registration related problem.

Elena and her team’s primary focus is to ensure that clients leave their offices smiling, and this is how they measure success. In the future, they intend to diversify their clientele by adding markets like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.

Elena’s Begining: Towards a Victorious Endvour

Elena first arrived in Dubai in May 1990. She had initially applied for a position as a law trainee with Mr. Rolf Meyer-Reumann, the firm’s founder, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She received a response from Dubai, where he had moved the office in the interim in September 1989.

Elena applied for the internship because she had a strong interest in international private law, a subject she had always prioritized in her legal training and education because it presents a challenge in determining which law would apply when different nationalities are involved, assets are held in different countries, etc. Elena also applied for the internship because she wanted to learn more about how to become a lawyer. She was assigned a task to complete that involved an international family and inheritance as early as the first week.

From the beginning, Mr. MR and Elena got along well. He even left the office in Elena’s care while she was on an internship in 1990, and when he came back, he offered her the position to come work for him as a lawyer. A few years later, he proposed a partnership to the aspiring lady. Over the years, Mr. MR mentored Elena and also grew to be a close friend. The support that she has received from him at all times later on, including being able to combine business and family, has been amazing and invaluable.

Elena has recently taken on the role of Managing Partner, continuing to manage her own caseload while focusing on Wills & Probate. She also works to strengthen the firm’s footprint throughout the GCC region so that the team is capable of supporting local courts with their Shariah law specialists.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Company

Meyer-Reumann & Partners present a team of 11 legal professionals, where they have 6 different nationalities and 6 women; of the 7 lawyers working for M&P, there are 5 women. The firm can serve customers of all nationalities and religious backgrounds thanks to this. The firm also specializes in inheritance and family law cases where women and children need extra protection and assistance.

Jewels in the Crown

While moving along her path, the magnificent woman has helped several successful firms get started, de-registered an agency in the UAE, which was a difficult process, and won favorable outcomes for her clients in an ICC arbitration.

“I had a terrific team, and everyone was really helpful in guiding the workplace through this trying time. We got closer as a family rather than just as coworkers at the office. We worked hard on our web marketing strategy and visibility, and we established ourselves in the market”, Elena quoted.

Elena’s Take on Woman Leadership in the Male-Dominated Industry

I was able to rise in my legal career far more rapidly as a woman than I would have in Europe since I was given early responsibility for my own clients and cases.

I have always cherished Dubai’s diversity, the worldwide nature of the clientele, my involvement in a wide range of legal issues, and my interactions with people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds.

I was already a member of a group of friends when I first moved to Dubai. We were all lawyers from various nations, including Germany, Lebanon, Russia, South Africa, and Denmark. During that time, women already held in-house legal positions with national and local law companies, as well as owning their own firms. Once more, I think that Dubai’s major advantage is the fact that it offers opportunities in all spheres and industries.

Working as a lawyer, especially in Dubai, presents a challenge but also the chance to participate in what I called a “work in progress.” You are constantly involved in new legislation being introduced, new plans, new developments, and new goals, which gives you the sense that you are advancing the legal system and the community.