it’s a great pleasure and honor to be part of this platform and it’s it’s
part of this platform and it’s it’s
part of this platform and it’s it’s really overwhelming to see so many
really overwhelming to see so many
really overwhelming to see so many ladies around because I’m used to being
ladies around because I’m used to being
ladies around because I’m used to being the only lady speaker or let alone
the only lady speaker or let alone
the only lady speaker or let alone the only lady participant I’ll start by
the only lady participant I’ll start by
the only lady participant I’ll start by what bill already said I’m a consultant
what bill already said I’m a consultant
what bill already said I’m a consultant at a government organization by day and
at a government organization by day and
at a government organization by day and by night I’m a wife of a very supportive
by night I’m a wife of a very supportive
by night I’m a wife of a very supportive and loving husband who’s sitting right
and loving husband who’s sitting right
and loving husband who’s sitting right on the back and a mother of four
on the back and a mother of four
on the back and a mother of four children and a grandmother of a grand
children and a grandmother of a grand
children and a grandmother of a grand daughter all of which have been always
daughter all of which have been always
daughter all of which have been always inspiring to me I will share with you
inspiring to me I will share with you
inspiring to me I will share with you today perspectives of my professional
today perspectives of my professional
today perspectives of my professional and personal achievements with the hopes
and personal achievements with the hopes
and personal achievements with the hopes of inspiring you and leaving a positive
of inspiring you and leaving a positive
of inspiring you and leaving a positive footprint and I will start by quoting
footprint and I will start by quoting
footprint and I will start by quoting what is our leader His Majesty has said
what is our leader His Majesty has said
what is our leader His Majesty has said back in the early 90s very wisely said
back in the early 90s very wisely said
back in the early 90s very wisely said very simply said but this is what has
very simply said but this is what has
very simply said but this is what has shaped me how I feel and how I do with
shaped me how I feel and how I do with
shaped me how I feel and how I do with my work and with my life to execute
my work and with my life to execute
my work and with my life to execute women from playing meaningful roles in
women from playing meaningful roles in
women from playing meaningful roles in the life of their country amounted
the life of their country amounted
the life of their country amounted innocence to excluding half the
innocence to excluding half the
innocence to excluding half the country’s potential you can see there is
country’s potential you can see there is
country’s potential you can see there is a great determination of change and this
a great determination of change and this
a great determination of change and this has always inspired me the way I will do
has always inspired me the way I will do
has always inspired me the way I will do with my life my talk will be in
with my life my talk will be in
with my life my talk will be in spreading him in four milestones for
spreading him in four milestones for
spreading him in four milestones for turning over points that has helped
turning over points that has helped
turning over points that has helped shape me who I am today
shape me who I am today
shape me who I am today 19 18 1997 2013 2016 I’m sure you’ll
19 18 1997 2013 2016 I’m sure you’ll
19 18 1997 2013 2016 I’m sure you’ll agree we all go through stages and
agree we all go through stages and
agree we all go through stages and moments that shape us throughout our
moments that shape us throughout our
moments that shape us throughout our life and to me there these are the four
life and to me there these are the four
life and to me there these are the four stages that has shaped me 1990 before I
stages that has shaped me 1990 before I
stages that has shaped me 1990 before I get into the Year 1980 I was in Iraq and
get into the Year 1980 I was in Iraq and
get into the Year 1980 I was in Iraq and you may you may ask why in Iraq this is
you may you may ask why in Iraq this is
you may you may ask why in Iraq this is because my father has used to have
because my father has used to have
because my father has used to have asthma very sick but then you’re talking
asthma very sick but then you’re talking
asthma very sick but then you’re talking of early 50s and 60s where there’s no
of early 50s and 60s where there’s no
of early 50s and 60s where there’s no medical resources and this made things
medical resources and this made things
medical resources and this made things very difficult for him so he had to
very difficult for him so he had to
very difficult for him so he had to really create in a country where there
really create in a country where there
really create in a country where there is better facilities and also that
is better facilities and also that
is better facilities and also that shared
shared
shared language and caramel culture so he moved
language and caramel culture so he moved
language and caramel culture so he moved to Iraq made met my Woodman and my
to Iraq made met my Woodman and my
to Iraq made met my Woodman and my mother sorry who is within always
mother sorry who is within always
mother sorry who is within always inspiration to me and my sisters she was
inspiration to me and my sisters she was
inspiration to me and my sisters she was always pushing us to educate ourselves
always pushing us to educate ourselves
always pushing us to educate ourselves to be self dependent and sufficient and
to be self dependent and sufficient and
to be self dependent and sufficient and of course these ideals couldn’t have
of course these ideals couldn’t have
of course these ideals couldn’t have been more important especially if you
been more important especially if you
been more important especially if you know that my father passed away on an
know that my father passed away on an
know that my father passed away on an early age and she was all alone
early age and she was all alone
early age and she was all alone unemployed charming relatively young
unemployed charming relatively young
unemployed charming relatively young looking after seven children wherein she
looking after seven children wherein she
looking after seven children wherein she has to educate she has to bath she has
has to educate she has to bath she has
has to educate she has to bath she has to look after and it was a during the
to look after and it was a during the
to look after and it was a during the first Gulf War as at its worst firstly
first Gulf War as at its worst firstly
first Gulf War as at its worst firstly unfortunately we lost our mother fuel a
unfortunately we lost our mother fuel a
unfortunately we lost our mother fuel a few years later but her perseverance her
few years later but her perseverance her
few years later but her perseverance her strength continue to echo through us so
strength continue to echo through us so
strength continue to echo through us so back to 1980 I decided to study
back to 1980 I decided to study
back to 1980 I decided to study petroleum and minerals engineering and
petroleum and minerals engineering and
petroleum and minerals engineering and this you might be puzzled why petroleum
this you might be puzzled why petroleum
this you might be puzzled why petroleum engineering especially if you know that
engineering especially if you know that
engineering especially if you know that math was my weakest subject and I used
math was my weakest subject and I used
math was my weakest subject and I used to tell my family my sisters I would
to tell my family my sisters I would
to tell my family my sisters I would never go near a career where it has the
never go near a career where it has the
never go near a career where it has the slightest relation to math and look at
slightest relation to math and look at
slightest relation to math and look at me I study engineering which is another
me I study engineering which is another
me I study engineering which is another word for math we all agree but because
word for math we all agree but because
word for math we all agree but because it was my motto I always challenge
it was my motto I always challenge
it was my motto I always challenge myself so I studied petroleum
myself so I studied petroleum
myself so I studied petroleum engineering why because I thought this
engineering why because I thought this
engineering why because I thought this was very little what I can do to the
was very little what I can do to the
was very little what I can do to the country too as a payback because it’s
country too as a payback because it’s
country too as a payback because it’s that has willingly sponsored my studies
that has willingly sponsored my studies
that has willingly sponsored my studies and so this is the little thing I can do
and so this is the little thing I can do
and so this is the little thing I can do and also because it was and it still is
and also because it was and it still is
and also because it was and it still is economic economically dependent on oil
economic economically dependent on oil
economic economically dependent on oil and the highest contributor to our GDP
and the highest contributor to our GDP
and the highest contributor to our GDP ok so back to take my certificate 1980
ok so back to take my certificate 1980
ok so back to take my certificate 1980 and I was the first lady petroleum
and I was the first lady petroleum
and I was the first lady petroleum engineer in Oman
actually I was among the very few
actually I was among the very few University graduates back then in 1980
University graduates back then in 1980
University graduates back then in 1980 so I take my certificate I check my
so I take my certificate I check my
so I take my certificate I check my papers to the concerned Ministry and I
papers to the concerned Ministry and I
papers to the concerned Ministry and I need to be the person in charge of
need to be the person in charge of
need to be the person in charge of employees affairs
employees affairs
employees affairs looking for a job and he takes my papers
looking for a job and he takes my papers
looking for a job and he takes my papers without even looking at them placing
without even looking at them placing
without even looking at them placing them in the drawer and he says you can
them in the drawer and he says you can
them in the drawer and he says you can start right away I wish things were that
start right away I wish things were that
start right away I wish things were that easy right now okay so I go to this
easy right now okay so I go to this
easy right now okay so I go to this ministry and then they sent me for a
ministry and then they sent me for a
ministry and then they sent me for a petroleum company for training and that
petroleum company for training and that
petroleum company for training and that this petroleum company was predominantly
this petroleum company was predominantly
this petroleum company was predominantly males predominantly expats and I
males predominantly expats and I
males predominantly expats and I remember the looks they were giving me
remember the looks they were giving me
remember the looks they were giving me what is she doing here and the language
what is she doing here and the language
what is she doing here and the language of communication was English and you can
of communication was English and you can
of communication was English and you can see them here all men and the the men
see them here all men and the the men
see them here all men and the the men language of communication was English
language of communication was English
language of communication was English and this was a great problem for me but
and this was a great problem for me but
and this was a great problem for me but I didn’t shy away I insisted on learning
I didn’t shy away I insisted on learning
I didn’t shy away I insisted on learning the languages speaking the language and
the languages speaking the language and
the languages speaking the language and making so many embarrassing mistakes
making so many embarrassing mistakes
making so many embarrassing mistakes believe me but I insisted because after
believe me but I insisted because after
believe me but I insisted because after all practice makes it perfect and this
all practice makes it perfect and this
all practice makes it perfect and this went on until the night the year 1986
went on until the night the year 1986
went on until the night the year 1986 where I felt I was pursuing a career
where I felt I was pursuing a career
where I felt I was pursuing a career that didn’t make me happy being the
that didn’t make me happy being the
that didn’t make me happy being the first lady engineer has come up with
first lady engineer has come up with
first lady engineer has come up with many challenges professionally and
many challenges professionally and
many challenges professionally and personally and I couldn’t pursue
personally and I couldn’t pursue
personally and I couldn’t pursue something that didn’t make me happy so I
something that didn’t make me happy so I
something that didn’t make me happy so I resigned and this was when I realized my
resigned and this was when I realized my
resigned and this was when I realized my first milestone dealing with change life
first milestone dealing with change life
first milestone dealing with change life doesn’t go the way you plan it and I
doesn’t go the way you plan it and I
doesn’t go the way you plan it and I remember my mother used to tell us if
remember my mother used to tell us if
remember my mother used to tell us if you face a curveball in your life you
you face a curveball in your life you
you face a curveball in your life you must be always flexible embrace change
must be always flexible embrace change
must be always flexible embrace change and be optimistic so I chose another
and be optimistic so I chose another
and be optimistic so I chose another path a path of motherhood for the next
path a path of motherhood for the next
path a path of motherhood for the next 11
11
11 years about much admire and appreciate
years about much admire and appreciate
years about much admire and appreciate so I became a I took this path for I
so I became a I took this path for I
so I became a I took this path for I said the next 11 years but then my
said the next 11 years but then my
said the next 11 years but then my passion my thrill for self-development
passion my thrill for self-development
passion my thrill for self-development never stopped don’t get me wrong
never stopped don’t get me wrong
never stopped don’t get me wrong motherhood is a full-time job it’s quite
motherhood is a full-time job it’s quite
motherhood is a full-time job it’s quite rewarding but I always missed the the
rewarding but I always missed the the
rewarding but I always missed the the thrill of being part of the professional
thrill of being part of the professional
thrill of being part of the professional life that’s why I kept on doing studies
life that’s why I kept on doing studies
life that’s why I kept on doing studies helping women my husband with partner
helping women my husband with partner
helping women my husband with partner with his work in part-time job until the
with his work in part-time job until the
with his work in part-time job until the year 1997 this is when my youngest was
year 1997 this is when my youngest was
year 1997 this is when my youngest was sitting right there please your
sitting right there please your
sitting right there please your restaurant this is when she reached the
restaurant this is when she reached the
restaurant this is when she reached the age of five and this is when I felt it
age of five and this is when I felt it
age of five and this is when I felt it is the right time to go back to a
is the right time to go back to a
is the right time to go back to a full-time job so I was looking enough to
full-time job so I was looking enough to
full-time job so I was looking enough to be employed by the same government
be employed by the same government
be employed by the same government organization that I still worked for and
organization that I still worked for and
organization that I still worked for and I joined on their starting year so we
I joined on their starting year so we
I joined on their starting year so we literally grow up together but then
literally grow up together but then
literally grow up together but then being away from the professional life
being away from the professional life
being away from the professional life again I had to restructure my thinking I
again I had to restructure my thinking I
again I had to restructure my thinking I had to adopt to the technology shift
had to adopt to the technology shift
had to adopt to the technology shift back then which is nothing like now took
back then which is nothing like now took
back then which is nothing like now took over my job survival so I went to the
over my job survival so I went to the
over my job survival so I went to the organization and believe me when I was
organization and believe me when I was
organization and believe me when I was requested for the first time to address
requested for the first time to address
requested for the first time to address an international delegation I was
an international delegation I was
an international delegation I was shivering like this I I didn’t have any
shivering like this I I didn’t have any
shivering like this I I didn’t have any public speaking skills and lots and lots
public speaking skills and lots and lots
public speaking skills and lots and lots of insecurities but then I did it and I
of insecurities but then I did it and I
of insecurities but then I did it and I still do it I’ve engaged myself in so
still do it I’ve engaged myself in so
still do it I’ve engaged myself in so many workshops training courses seminars
many workshops training courses seminars
many workshops training courses seminars that will add on to my skill set and but
that will add on to my skill set and but
that will add on to my skill set and but then again in 2001 I felt this is not
then again in 2001 I felt this is not
then again in 2001 I felt this is not enough I need to challenge myself with
enough I need to challenge myself with
enough I need to challenge myself with something more and capacity building is
something more and capacity building is
something more and capacity building is a requirement especially when you’re
a requirement especially when you’re
a requirement especially when you’re Roman Olin so I decided to do Masters in
Roman Olin so I decided to do Masters in
Roman Olin so I decided to do Masters in Business Administration very different
Business Administration very different
Business Administration very different from what I studied in university and
from what I studied in university and
from what I studied in university and feels like modules like organizational
feels like modules like organizational
feels like modules like organizational learning scenario planning ecommerce and
learning scenario planning ecommerce and
learning scenario planning ecommerce and all taught in British curriculum which
all taught in British curriculum which
all taught in British curriculum which is again not familiar with me and to add
is again not familiar with me and to add
is again not familiar with me and to add on to it I did it during the worst
on to it I did it during the worst
on to it I did it during the worst personal conditions you can think of my
personal conditions you can think of my
personal conditions you can think of my husband wasn’t around I had and I had a
husband wasn’t around I had and I had a
husband wasn’t around I had and I had a finance instability and I had to look
finance instability and I had to look
finance instability and I had to look after my four children in addition to my
after my four children in addition to my
after my four children in addition to my degree and I was lucky enough that my my
degree and I was lucky enough that my my
degree and I was lucky enough that my my organisation offered me a sabbatical
organisation offered me a sabbatical
organisation offered me a sabbatical leave for two years and this is where I
leave for two years and this is where I
leave for two years and this is where I realized oh here you can see me publicly
realized oh here you can see me publicly
realized oh here you can see me publicly attribute by one of the very famous
attribute by one of the very famous
attribute by one of the very famous journalists in Brussels this is how
journalists in Brussels this is how
journalists in Brussels this is how training over and over made me and this
training over and over made me and this
training over and over made me and this is how I’m here in front of your
is how I’m here in front of your
is how I’m here in front of your speaking and my second milestone was
speaking and my second milestone was
speaking and my second milestone was realising my inner strength working out
realising my inner strength working out
realising my inner strength working out of my comfort zone and it’s paid off
of my comfort zone and it’s paid off
of my comfort zone and it’s paid off because I got a distinction for my
because I got a distinction for my
because I got a distinction for my thesis which was about introducing
thesis which was about introducing
thesis which was about introducing linearization into our exporting
linearization into our exporting
linearization into our exporting industries in 2013 this is where I
industries in 2013 this is where I
industries in 2013 this is where I reached my third milestone when my
reached my third milestone when my
reached my third milestone when my second son has graduated from leading
second son has graduated from leading
second son has graduated from leading University in the United States and he
University in the United States and he
University in the United States and he is now working for a reputed company as
is now working for a reputed company as
is now working for a reputed company as an electrical engineer this is where my
an electrical engineer this is where my
an electrical engineer this is where my third milestone is feeling of
third milestone is feeling of
third milestone is feeling of contentment an accomplishment that I
contentment an accomplishment that I
contentment an accomplishment that I have guided them to the best that they
have guided them to the best that they
have guided them to the best that they desire they deserve in life and I felt
desire they deserve in life and I felt
desire they deserve in life and I felt how my mother must have felt about us
how my mother must have felt about us
how my mother must have felt about us and this is him
[Applause]
[Applause] and then takes me to 2016 last but not
and then takes me to 2016 last but not
and then takes me to 2016 last but not least becoming a grandmother of a
least becoming a grandmother of a
least becoming a grandmother of a granddaughter which is a fear many women
granddaughter which is a fear many women
granddaughter which is a fear many women has but believe me embracing my age
has but believe me embracing my age
has but believe me embracing my age embracing my future my achievement
embracing my future my achievement
embracing my future my achievement through her eyes was a great eye opener
through her eyes was a great eye opener
through her eyes was a great eye opener and pleasing at once that’s her
and pleasing at once that’s her
and pleasing at once that’s her so as a takeaway message for you I must
so as a takeaway message for you I must
so as a takeaway message for you I must say that every one of us goes through
say that every one of us goes through
say that every one of us goes through challenges day by day challenge one
challenges day by day challenge one
challenges day by day challenge one after the other but we must always
after the other but we must always
after the other but we must always always learn to grow to rise to
always learn to grow to rise to
always learn to grow to rise to accommodate change and be optimistic and
accommodate change and be optimistic and
accommodate change and be optimistic and I would like to close and conclude by
I would like to close and conclude by
I would like to close and conclude by quoting what by what mr. Karl potion has
quoting what by what mr. Karl potion has
quoting what by what mr. Karl potion has said in one of the TED talks because his
said in one of the TED talks because his
said in one of the TED talks because his expresses excel is exactly what I want
expresses excel is exactly what I want
expresses excel is exactly what I want to achieve by this participation he said
to achieve by this participation he said
to achieve by this participation he said people might forget what you said but
people might forget what you said but
people might forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them
they will never forget how you made them
they will never forget how you made them feel so I hope if my words didn’t
feel so I hope if my words didn’t
feel so I hope if my words didn’t resonate with you the emotion does thank
resonate with you the emotion does thank
resonate with you the emotion does thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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