the wealth of my nation is not from the oil or from the buildings that reach the
oil or from the buildings that reach the
oil or from the buildings that reach the sky or how much land we have it is from
sky or how much land we have it is from
sky or how much land we have it is from my people this was a quote by the late
my people this was a quote by the late
my people this was a quote by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Salman and him he was
Sheikh Zayed bin Salman and him he was
Sheikh Zayed bin Salman and him he was one of the most inspirational people
one of the most inspirational people
one of the most inspirational people that this country has ever seen
that this country has ever seen
that this country has ever seen and in fact the world but he inspired
and in fact the world but he inspired
and in fact the world but he inspired someone that is so dear to me and that
someone that is so dear to me and that
someone that is so dear to me and that was my late grand grandfather I’ve met
was my late grand grandfather I’ve met
was my late grand grandfather I’ve met soap on an enema and Fred he’s always
soap on an enema and Fred he’s always
soap on an enema and Fred he’s always telling me I’m era you have to be a
telling me I’m era you have to be a
telling me I’m era you have to be a voice and not an echo so I hope today
voice and not an echo so I hope today
voice and not an echo so I hope today you will enjoy with me as I take you
you will enjoy with me as I take you
you will enjoy with me as I take you through my journey where I learned how
through my journey where I learned how
through my journey where I learned how to be a voice and not an echo I spent a
to be a voice and not an echo I spent a
to be a voice and not an echo I spent a large part of my life in the United
large part of my life in the United
large part of my life in the United States but my heart and my soul was in
States but my heart and my soul was in
States but my heart and my soul was in Marathi and it still is still today I
Marathi and it still is still today I
Marathi and it still is still today I had so much respect for my culture and
had so much respect for my culture and
had so much respect for my culture and my people that I couldn’t wait to come
my people that I couldn’t wait to come
my people that I couldn’t wait to come back and start working in this amazing
back and start working in this amazing
back and start working in this amazing nation I graduated with a master’s in
nation I graduated with a master’s in
nation I graduated with a master’s in criminology and I returned with
criminology and I returned with
criminology and I returned with enthusiasm and curiosity but I never
enthusiasm and curiosity but I never
enthusiasm and curiosity but I never realized how different I was until I
realized how different I was until I
realized how different I was until I actually started working in the UAE I
actually started working in the UAE I
actually started working in the UAE I worked in a government agency in the
worked in a government agency in the
worked in a government agency in the early 2000s and we were discussing
early 2000s and we were discussing
early 2000s and we were discussing various chemical compositions of
various chemical compositions of
various chemical compositions of substances and one of my colleagues
substances and one of my colleagues
substances and one of my colleagues whether unaware or he just didn’t know
whether unaware or he just didn’t know
whether unaware or he just didn’t know the answer had written the wrong
the answer had written the wrong
the answer had written the wrong chemical composition on the screen so I
chemical composition on the screen so I
chemical composition on the screen so I looked at him and I raised my hand
looked at him and I raised my hand
looked at him and I raised my hand really quietly and I said sir you’ve put
really quietly and I said sir you’ve put
really quietly and I said sir you’ve put the wrong chemical composition could you
the wrong chemical composition could you
the wrong chemical composition could you please change it or if you want I’ll get
please change it or if you want I’ll get
please change it or if you want I’ll get up and I’ll change it his response to me
up and I’ll change it his response to me
up and I’ll change it his response to me and my other female colleague shocked us
and my other female colleague shocked us
and my other female colleague shocked us he told me that women only speak when
he told me that women only speak when
he told me that women only speak when they’re spoken to so if anybody knows my
they’re spoken to so if anybody knows my
they’re spoken to so if anybody knows my my behavior my my mannerisms I was like
my behavior my my mannerisms I was like
my behavior my my mannerisms I was like what did you just say to me
but I also understood what he meant
but I also understood what he meant because he came from a different
because he came from a different
because he came from a different ideology he told me
ideology he told me
ideology he told me Romero you’re going to burn more bridges
Romero you’re going to burn more bridges
Romero you’re going to burn more bridges than you create with this Western
than you create with this Western
than you create with this Western mentality of yours and your academic
mentality of yours and your academic
mentality of yours and your academic superiority and I felt hurt and
superiority and I felt hurt and
superiority and I felt hurt and embarrassed because that’s not what I
embarrassed because that’s not what I
embarrassed because that’s not what I wanted I wasn’t there to embarrass him I
wanted I wasn’t there to embarrass him I
wanted I wasn’t there to embarrass him I was there to explain and I was there to
was there to explain and I was there to
was there to explain and I was there to showcase my ability as a person I
showcase my ability as a person I
showcase my ability as a person I understand now why a lot of people
understand now why a lot of people
understand now why a lot of people around the world
around the world
around the world leave the jobs they love or things that
leave the jobs they love or things that
leave the jobs they love or things that they are good at as a criminologist
they are good at as a criminologist
they are good at as a criminologist there wasn’t a lot of Amati
there wasn’t a lot of Amati
there wasn’t a lot of Amati criminologists in the early 2000s but I
criminologists in the early 2000s but I
criminologists in the early 2000s but I couldn’t stay in this job I still felt I
couldn’t stay in this job I still felt I
couldn’t stay in this job I still felt I had a lot to learn and I still thought I
had a lot to learn and I still thought I
had a lot to learn and I still thought I could add value so I joined another
could add value so I joined another
could add value so I joined another company it was called Dubai Development
company it was called Dubai Development
company it was called Dubai Development and Investment Authority today it’s
and Investment Authority today it’s
and Investment Authority today it’s called by holding it was located in
called by holding it was located in
called by holding it was located in Emirates Towers on the 31st floor now
Emirates Towers on the 31st floor now
Emirates Towers on the 31st floor now Emirates Towers is home to a lot of
Emirates Towers is home to a lot of
Emirates Towers is home to a lot of government agencies it’s also home to a
government agencies it’s also home to a
government agencies it’s also home to a lot of foreign companies it’s a it was a
lot of foreign companies it’s a it was a
lot of foreign companies it’s a it was a great bustling area in the early 2000 it
great bustling area in the early 2000 it
great bustling area in the early 2000 it still is still today but in the early
still is still today but in the early
still is still today but in the early 2000s that’s when that place was
2000s that’s when that place was
2000s that’s when that place was happening and I was on the 31st floor I
happening and I was on the 31st floor I
happening and I was on the 31st floor I have I had a boss who I respect
have I had a boss who I respect
have I had a boss who I respect immensely till today but he used to tell
immensely till today but he used to tell
immensely till today but he used to tell me every single morning are made are the
me every single morning are made are the
me every single morning are made are the only reason you are here is because
only reason you are here is because
only reason you are here is because you’re in Marathi I know but I used to
you’re in Marathi I know but I used to
you’re in Marathi I know but I used to you know I was young so when he used to
you know I was young so when he used to
you know I was young so when he used to tell me that it used to I used to take
tell me that it used to I used to take
tell me that it used to I used to take it to heart today I have more confidence
it to heart today I have more confidence
it to heart today I have more confidence but at that time I was really upset and
but at that time I was really upset and
but at that time I was really upset and I thought this is this is mean so one
I thought this is this is mean so one
I thought this is this is mean so one day I started crying
day I started crying
day I started crying and I was sitting at my dad
and I was sitting at my dad
and I was sitting at my dad and I started crying now before I finish
and I started crying now before I finish
and I started crying now before I finish my story there’s a twist to it as I was
my story there’s a twist to it as I was
my story there’s a twist to it as I was crying a voice asked me in Arabic why
crying a voice asked me in Arabic why
crying a voice asked me in Arabic why are you crying my child Emirates Towers
are you crying my child Emirates Towers
are you crying my child Emirates Towers was home to a lot of government entities
was home to a lot of government entities
was home to a lot of government entities and a lot of foreign corporations it was
and a lot of foreign corporations it was
and a lot of foreign corporations it was also the home and office of chef
also the home and office of chef
also the home and office of chef Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum so when I
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum so when I
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum so when I looked up my first reaction was of shock
looked up my first reaction was of shock
looked up my first reaction was of shock and embarrassment as you ladies in the
and embarrassment as you ladies in the
and embarrassment as you ladies in the audience will know what happens when you
audience will know what happens when you
audience will know what happens when you cry and you wear mascara my whole face
cry and you wear mascara my whole face
cry and you wear mascara my whole face was covered in black and I thought this
was covered in black and I thought this
was covered in black and I thought this is the first time I’m meeting the ruler
is the first time I’m meeting the ruler
is the first time I’m meeting the ruler of my nation and this is the look that
of my nation and this is the look that
of my nation and this is the look that he’s going to look at so I worked up the
he’s going to look at so I worked up the
he’s going to look at so I worked up the courage after wanting to jump off the
courage after wanting to jump off the
courage after wanting to jump off the 31st floor and I
31st floor and I
31st floor and I I told him my story his answer to me is
I told him my story his answer to me is
I told him my story his answer to me is something that stayed with me and has
something that stayed with me and has
something that stayed with me and has stayed with me till today when I told
stayed with me till today when I told
stayed with me till today when I told him that every day they tell me I’m a
him that every day they tell me I’m a
him that every day they tell me I’m a Marathi and that’s the only reason I
Marathi and that’s the only reason I
Marathi and that’s the only reason I have my job he told me well it’s true
have my job he told me well it’s true
have my job he told me well it’s true you are here today because your Emirati
you are here today because your Emirati
you are here today because your Emirati where else in the world can a person get
where else in the world can a person get
where else in the world can a person get a job because of their nationality they
a job because of their nationality they
a job because of their nationality they have to go through so many processes but
have to go through so many processes but
have to go through so many processes but remember this you are here today because
remember this you are here today because
remember this you are here today because of you not your passport not who brought
of you not your passport not who brought
of you not your passport not who brought you here because of you tomorrow your
you here because of you tomorrow your
you here because of you tomorrow your expertise and how hard you work and how
expertise and how hard you work and how
expertise and how hard you work and how hard you’d say dedicated one day you
hard you’d say dedicated one day you
hard you’d say dedicated one day you will run a department and you will do
will run a department and you will do
will run a department and you will do that because you deserve it that really
that because you deserve it that really
that because you deserve it that really stood with me in 2010 I was sitting with
stood with me in 2010 I was sitting with
stood with me in 2010 I was sitting with a bunch of my nationals
a bunch of my nationals
a bunch of my nationals we were getting training from a very it
we were getting training from a very it
we were getting training from a very it was a very prestigious foreign company
was a very prestigious foreign company
was a very prestigious foreign company but I noticed that my my nationals or
but I noticed that my my nationals or
but I noticed that my my nationals or not engaging and I wasn’t sure why so I
not engaging and I wasn’t sure why so I
not engaging and I wasn’t sure why so I asked one of them and I said why are you
asked one of them and I said why are you
asked one of them and I said why are you not engaging with the trainer and they
not engaging with the trainer and they
not engaging with the trainer and they said when I may know we don’t feel a
said when I may know we don’t feel a
said when I may know we don’t feel a connection to this trainer we don’t feel
connection to this trainer we don’t feel
connection to this trainer we don’t feel comfortable listening to him or he
comfortable listening to him or he
comfortable listening to him or he doesn’t understand the Emirati culture
doesn’t understand the Emirati culture
doesn’t understand the Emirati culture and one of them joked it might have been
and one of them joked it might have been
and one of them joked it might have been better if you stood up there Ameri and
better if you stood up there Ameri and
better if you stood up there Ameri and you gave the training that made me think
you gave the training that made me think
you gave the training that made me think and I said I have to do more for my
and I said I have to do more for my
and I said I have to do more for my nation as I remember Jim Hamid’s words
nation as I remember Jim Hamid’s words
nation as I remember Jim Hamid’s words and I said if I’m going to add value if
and I said if I’m going to add value if
and I said if I’m going to add value if I’m going to bridge the gap between
I’m going to bridge the gap between
I’m going to bridge the gap between different cultures between men and women
different cultures between men and women
different cultures between men and women between young and old I have to come up
between young and old I have to come up
between young and old I have to come up with a solution I have to bridge that
with a solution I have to bridge that
with a solution I have to bridge that gap where we don’t judge each other and
gap where we don’t judge each other and
gap where we don’t judge each other and we work together to build this nation so
we work together to build this nation so
we work together to build this nation so I set up a company called a LF
I set up a company called a LF
I set up a company called a LF administration where we train and
administration where we train and
administration where we train and develop URI nationals but what set us
develop URI nationals but what set us
develop URI nationals but what set us apart was a funny story when I went to
apart was a funny story when I went to
apart was a funny story when I went to actually apply for my license and I went
actually apply for my license and I went
actually apply for my license and I went to chef Emmett’s establishment for young
to chef Emmett’s establishment for young
to chef Emmett’s establishment for young business leaders and I knocked on the
business leaders and I knocked on the
business leaders and I knocked on the door and I said you know I have an idea
door and I said you know I have an idea
door and I said you know I have an idea and I want to open a training company
and I want to open a training company
and I want to open a training company and the relationship manager told me
and the relationship manager told me
and the relationship manager told me well I don’t know if this is such an
well I don’t know if this is such an
well I don’t know if this is such an exciting idea so you know when you buy a
exciting idea so you know when you buy a
exciting idea so you know when you buy a toy and you think like okay this toy is
toy and you think like okay this toy is
toy and you think like okay this toy is broken can I return it so I went up to
broken can I return it so I went up to
broken can I return it so I went up to the receptionist and I was like can I
the receptionist and I was like can I
the receptionist and I was like can I return my relationship manager I want
return my relationship manager I want
return my relationship manager I want someone else and they were like no
someone else and they were like no
someone else and they were like no you’re stuck with this one so I said
you’re stuck with this one so I said
you’re stuck with this one so I said okay so it’s feeling very upset and I
okay so it’s feeling very upset and I
okay so it’s feeling very upset and I went to my father and I said I don’t
went to my father and I said I don’t
went to my father and I said I don’t understand what’s wrong with this person
understand what’s wrong with this person
understand what’s wrong with this person I want to open a training company so my
I want to open a training company so my
I want to open a training company so my father who’s the voice of reason was
father who’s the voice of reason was
father who’s the voice of reason was like well Amero what will set your
like well Amero what will set your
like well Amero what will set your training company apart from all the
training company apart from all the
training company apart from all the other training companies we have in the
other training companies we have in the
other training companies we have in the UAE and I said you have a point so today
UAE and I said you have a point so today
UAE and I said you have a point so today we’ve decided we will only train you in
we’ve decided we will only train you in
we’ve decided we will only train you in nationals
nationals
nationals we will only work with companies that
we will only work with companies that
we will only work with companies that develop you in nationals
develop you in nationals
develop you in nationals because we
because we
because we want them to work together with other
want them to work together with other
want them to work together with other cultures we want other cultures to
cultures we want other cultures to
cultures we want other cultures to understand what is a Marathi culture and
understand what is a Marathi culture and
understand what is a Marathi culture and we want mo hotties to understand what
we want mo hotties to understand what
we want mo hotties to understand what its other cultures so that each together
its other cultures so that each together
its other cultures so that each together can add value and they cannot just be
can add value and they cannot just be
can add value and they cannot just be considered amortization quotas well we
considered amortization quotas well we
considered amortization quotas well we have another angle I got divorced I’m a
have another angle I got divorced I’m a
have another angle I got divorced I’m a single mother I was a single mother of
single mother I was a single mother of
single mother I was a single mother of twins and younger girls to three girls
twins and younger girls to three girls
twins and younger girls to three girls and I was sitting with my grandmother
and I was sitting with my grandmother
and I was sitting with my grandmother and my mom in my aunt
and my mom in my aunt
and my mom in my aunt we’re like the Golden Girls of the UAE
we’re like the Golden Girls of the UAE
we’re like the Golden Girls of the UAE you know together and my mom said I made
you know together and my mom said I made
you know together and my mom said I made a your your story is not finished
a your your story is not finished
a your your story is not finished you have a voice you need to do
you have a voice you need to do
you have a voice you need to do something else you need to help you need
something else you need to help you need
something else you need to help you need to inspire women of the UAE as well so
to inspire women of the UAE as well so
to inspire women of the UAE as well so we opened up a part of our company a
we opened up a part of our company a
we opened up a part of our company a branch a humanitarian angle where we
branch a humanitarian angle where we
branch a humanitarian angle where we helped divorced and widowed women from
helped divorced and widowed women from
helped divorced and widowed women from all over the UAE we empower them to get
all over the UAE we empower them to get
all over the UAE we empower them to get jobs we teach them we get them training
jobs we teach them we get them training
jobs we teach them we get them training skills we allow them to go to the
skills we allow them to go to the
skills we allow them to go to the workforce we we give them computers and
workforce we we give them computers and
workforce we we give them computers and Printers if they want to stay at home in
Printers if they want to stay at home in
Printers if they want to stay at home in to freelance we make sure that they are
to freelance we make sure that they are
to freelance we make sure that they are not victims because we’re not victims we
not victims because we’re not victims we
not victims because we’re not victims we are all working towards one goal and
are all working towards one goal and
are all working towards one goal and that is to be part of this amazing
that is to be part of this amazing
that is to be part of this amazing amazing country that we live in I am so
amazing country that we live in I am so
amazing country that we live in I am so honored and so thankful to be in front
honored and so thankful to be in front
honored and so thankful to be in front of all of you today and I see such an
of all of you today and I see such an
of all of you today and I see such an amazing mix of nationalities and I’m so
amazing mix of nationalities and I’m so
amazing mix of nationalities and I’m so proud that you have called you by your
proud that you have called you by your
proud that you have called you by your home today I might be a leader that is
home today I might be a leader that is
home today I might be a leader that is asking a lot of questions but I’m
asking a lot of questions but I’m
asking a lot of questions but I’m training the next generation to find all
training the next generation to find all
training the next generation to find all the answers
the answers
the answers my name is amerifat opal Emma and Aleya
my name is amerifat opal Emma and Aleya
my name is amerifat opal Emma and Aleya Tremec yeah Damon because of you today
Tremec yeah Damon because of you today
Tremec yeah Damon because of you today I’m a voice and I’m not an echo and I
I’m a voice and I’m not an echo and I
I’m a voice and I’m not an echo and I hope that I make you proud and I hope I
hope that I make you proud and I hope I
hope that I make you proud and I hope I made all of you proud today thank you
made all of you proud today thank you
made all of you proud today thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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