Saudi women in leadership roles

[al-Hasani]

Left: Najlaa Abbas, right: “My Saudia Kitchen” campaign is a hit with mall goers. — Courtesy photos

Amal Al-Sibai
Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Holding managerial positions may have been unfamiliar for Saudi women earlier, but it is very common now as they are managing businesses and major departments in top companies and, against all obstacles, they are doing it well.

Acquiring a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English and an MBA from the Open University of Malaysia and an Executive MBA from the University of Pennsylvania may look impressive on a resume but that does not necessarily guarantee top positions in a company.

It is with hard work, persistence, excellent communication skills, and delivering her responsibilities on time that Najlaa Abbas proved to those who may have initially questioned a Saudi woman’s capabilities about being productive and adept at the job.

Surprisingly, she started working in Yemen where she honed and sharpened her skills, enabling her to climb higher in her career in Saudi Arabia.

Living and working there made her a stronger person.

Sharing her secrets to success, Abbas told the Saudi Gazette that ambitious women who want to get ahead academically and professionally need to constantly build their skills, read, keep up to date in their field of expertise, take the initiative, and welcome challenges as opportunities to excel.

“Expert knowledge and a university degree are no longer enough in this competitive age. Research studies have found that emotional intelligence and exceptional communication skills are in fact the most determining factors when it comes to evaluating and promoting employees.

“Making the right connections within your company and with existing and potential customers, knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to say it is essential.

“If you can back your facts and knowledge with good social skills, it will make you a more credible and lucrative team member in any company,” said Abbas.

In a professional career spanning over 11 years, Abbas has worked with the United States Agency for International Development in Yemen and in the retail industry with PumpBiz. Inc. in Chicago.

Currently, Abbas is a marketing manager at SADAFCO, a deeply rooted company known for its high quality products and solid reputation in the Kingdom for over 35 years. Four years into her position, she has become a valuable asset to the company.

With her novel ideas, Abbas has launched several innovative campaigns and research projects in the company.

She instigated a new direction for the development of enhanced nutritional products targeted to specifically meet the increased needs for nutrients in young children and the elderly.

“We enlisted the help of certified nutritionists and conducted thorough research to determine the common nutritional deficiencies among the elderly and children in the Kingdom.

“Our new Saudia Junior Growing Up Milk is enriched with additional calcium, iron, magnesium, and also essential fatty acids and amino acids that promote growth, which is what makes it different from the other milk products available on the market.

“Our goal is to offer tasty products that are also healthy and to supplement the essential nutrients that may be missing from the diets of children today.

“We developed a nectar juice, which has no preservatives, is sweetened with fructose (natural fruit sugar) rather than the processed white table sugar, and is also fortified with fiber, minerals, and vitamins,” said Abbas.

The most recent campaign “My Saudia Kitchen,” which installed booths including a reception area and living room and a kitchen where tasty food was served, in shopping malls here proved to be a hit.

The passionate manager said: “We want to make cooking easier, more enjoyable, and less time consuming for Saudi women who are often juggling multiple roles in their lives” working woman, mother, friend, and community volunteer.

“We believe that meals prepared in the home are lower in fat, healthier, cleaner, and more cost effective so we want to bring food preparation back in home rather than the restaurant.”

In three simple steps a young mom can create scrumptious meals in the kitchen for her family and still have time for herself to read, relax, or exercise.

In most Arab homes, it is primarily the mother’s duty to do the grocery shopping and cooking and baking, so it would be wonderful if she had some time left over to spend with her children and doing the things she enjoys.

Plan: With a bit of organization, planning the family’s meals for the entire week and writing a shopping list makes it easier to buy needed supplies once at the beginning of the week and saves time from repeated trips to the supermarket.

Cook: Most of us think of Saudia as only a milk brand, but it turns out that Saudia produces ice cream, juice, tomato paste, ketchup, butter, cream, evaporated milk, and more.

At the booths in participating malls and also on “My Saudia Kitchen’s” website, women are provided with plenty of tasty, interesting recipes for meals and desserts that are quick to prepare. Celebrity chefs specializing in international cuisine prepare sample meals for visitors to try at a live cooking show during the campaign.

Impress: The appearance and attractiveness of dishes must not be overlooked because as the Arabic saying goes, the eye eats too.

The magazine which is distributed to customers for free provides tips in decoration and food presentation to impress guests.

An Arab woman holds her role as a hospitable host very dear to heart. Look out for the coming campaigns in your city to learn and surprise your family’s taste buds with some new recipes.

Gifts for visitors include women’s magazine, ice cream for the kids, and a hot cup of tea with milk for adults.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20131008182968

Very encouraging news. Muslim women are often better citizens than Muslim men and have as many talents and can and SHOULD participate in the society in a positive and INCLUDING way JUST as Islam teaches and Islamic society has shown. Aside from COMMON SENSE.

I am very happy for such news.