My parents come from a humble background but they made sure that my siblings and I got everything that they didn’t have as kids. Watching them struggle with the bare minimum but win every battle made me respect money, so I knew my interest would be towards finance.
My family supported me in pursuing ACCA even when they didn’t have enough funds. They also helped me fight the social stigma related to being a woman from a small town and get higher education, studying in the hope of finding a job instead of marrying someone by the age of 20.
When I got a job at BDO, I worked tirelessly to prove to everyone that I was here to stay. I worked as an auditor for five years and loved bouncing from one client to another, and no day felt the same. However, I always knew that audit is a zoomed-out version of the financials while accounts is the zoomed-in version. While both are important, my desire to get more involved in the daily activities of business and truly understand the operations made me change my field. I now work at foodtech startup Calo Inc, which is an exciting place to be.
Moving to the corporate world was the biggest step out of my comfort zone. Everything is material and every dime needs to be reconciled, which I learnt the hard way. Nothing was out of scope anymore and I was answerable to the management for every action; there was no room for mistakes. Audit was difficult, too, but to let go of things you believed for many years and see the world through a new pair of lenses was not easy.
Giving Bahrain’s youth compulsory understanding of basic finance would take them to new heights
The biggest challenge for businesses in Bahrain is their sustainability. People have great concepts, drive and willpower but they lack the financial understanding to keep their businesses running, with many failing because of a lack of vision and anticipation of future problems. Without investment and financial planning, a business can end up like a flower that never bloomed.
The youngsters of Bahrain are the country’s biggest asset. They are highly motivated individuals with brilliant ideas, so giving them compulsory understanding of basic finance would take them to new heights. If I had law-making powers, I would have free education for all. A good education is priceless because it develops personality and self-confidence, and this should not be taken away from any child.
Financial independence and the freedom to make your own failures is not a birthright for women in my part of the world
The thing I enjoy most about my role is the company’s culture. We believe that every person who joins the company changes the vibe of the workspace, so it’s not enough to be a technical fit, you must also fit the culture. My colleagues are such dynamic, friendly people and bring a positive atmosphere. That makes work so much fun.
Coming from a background where women generally are not allowed to work, I think my biggest achievement is breaking down that barrier. My parents wanted their daughters to have a different life and, with support from my loving husband, I’ve been able to achieve that. Financial independence and the freedom to make your own failures is not a birthright for women in my part of the world. To take that and own it feels awesome!
If I weren’t an accountant, I would have probably been a fashion designer. I was never very good at it but my love for fashion still endures.
In my spare time I love walking in the park, watching the sunset while listening to songs. Sometimes I feel like I am the protagonist from a movie singing my own triumphant song.
