Friday, Dec 10, 2010
Gulf News
Highlights unusual career choices of six Emirati women who doubled as guest speakers at show
Dubai Six Emirati women talked about their unusual career choices during TEDx Dubai Women, an international event organised in Dubai by Zayed University students.
Amnah Abdullah Abul Houl, a Walt Disney-trained animator and architect at Imagineering, talked about the importance of pursuing one’s dream. Amnah, who has designed elements of theme park rides, said that her dream came true when she was contacted by Disney for an internship.
Mariam Darwish, the first woman Emirati car mechanic spoke about how she broke the gender stereotypes’ mould by taking on a career deemed highly unsuitable for women.
Mariam said that when her parents found out that she was working as a mechanic; they didn’t talk to her for six months.
However, based on the confidence people have in her work and how they ask for her by name makes her feel her choice of career was worth all the trouble.
Before Huda Kattan embarked on a journey to find happiness and fulfilment, she was an employee at a finance company.
She soon quit and travelled to Hollywood to train as a make-up artist, a job she later took on full-time.
At present, she works with high-profile professionals and runs her own highly-popular beauty blog.
Basma Al Fahim is the founder and managing director of Eventra, an event management company.
Support of family
She said that she had a passion for planning since she was a child and would always volunteer to organise family events, including picnics and birthdays.
Turning this passion into a career was Basma’s dream, which she managed to fulfil with the help and support of her family.
Tarifa Ujaifi, who recently launched “Go Glocal” — Inspiring People consultancy, aims to encourage individuals to think globally and act locally by using the LEGO Serious Play Methodology.
Last to speak was producer Butheina Kazim, whose independent documentary film Letters to Palestine was short-listed for the newly established Al Muhr Emirati Film Award — a Dubai International Film Festival award — which will be given for the first time this year.
The film features love and solidarity messages sent to Palestinians by people in the UAE.
By Dina Aboul Hosn ?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
