UAE International Women’s Day: Meet the women who are changing the workplace every day – News

From event management companies to restaurants, KT profiles three female business owners who are breaking down barriers and starting tough conversations

As Women’s Day approaches, Khaleej Times profiles some of the women who are breaking down barriers, starting difficult conversations and making a difference for thousands of other women. Today, KT profiles three women who are changing work culture through their businesses.

For Sophie Simpson, her motto is simple – every employee counts. The founder of PR firm Atteline was caught in a dilemma when her trusted assistant, Lovely, had to leave the country when Covid hit after her husband was fired. Lovely is a hard worker and has been with Atteline since its inception in 2016.

That’s when the British decided to walk the talk. She set up a back office in the Philippines so Lovely could continue to work for the company. The office now has eight employees who are an integral part of the agency. Earlier this year, Sophie brought her entire Dubai team of 20 to the Philippines so they could stick together.

“Creating workplaces that invite and retain teams requires a holistic approach that addresses the unique challenges many people, especially women, face in the workplace,” she said. “We have diversity and inclusion policies in place at all stages of the employment cycle. We provide ongoing training and mentoring opportunities, set targets to provide fair assessments, and reinforce a supportive workplace culture.”

Sophie says her ambition is to create a happy and rewarding business environment. “I’m passionate about focusing on making Atteline the best place to work for everyone,” she said. “My team heard me say over and over: ‘Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, have a different perspective, and reward them when they succeed. “

For mechanical engineer Honey Ebra, it’s the lack of a restaurant with soul that led her to co-owner Belgrave Restaurant. “I’ve been to some of the best restaurants in the Middle East, America, Africa and London, but I always felt like something was missing,” she said.

The Iranian-British national was on a hiatus during her more than 10-year career in the oil and gas industry when her younger brother Amin expressed his desire to become a chef. The grandson of a chef from the Persian monarchy, Honey trusted her brother’s instincts. “I trust him,” she said. “I knew he could do it. So, I decided to help him start a business.”

Over the next few years, the brother and sister duo worked hard to create a restaurant that honored their family’s legacy, but more importantly, one that treated its customers like family. “When I interview people at the restaurant, I tell them that Armin and I welcome them as part of our family,” she said. “We lead by example, and we make sure our people know we are one. That’s probably why when you walk into one of our restaurants, you feel welcome.”

Honey is responsible for the operational aspects of Belgrave’s locations in London, Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s Global Village, while Amin is Executive Chef and Founder. According to Honey, despite occasional disagreements, the startups strengthened their sibling bond.

“Amin comes up with the idea, I give it the structure,” says Honey. “We did argue about some things. In fact, when we were little my parents used to call us Tom and Jerry because we were always fighting. But opening up Belgrave really bonded us. I Worried about it ruining our relationship, but he really appreciates what I do for him and I love being able to support him.”

When 19-year-old Niousha Ehsan started an events company in 2009 with just a desk, her passion was an asset. Today LINKVIVA has offices in London and Dubai, employs over 50 people and is listed as one of the top 50 events companies in the world.

However, Niousha admits that running her own business can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding things she’s ever done. “When we started, I had to do everything from start to finish—finance, sales, project management, ideation, conceptualization, delivery, you name it,” she says. “As we grew, it was difficult for me to understand how to manage my team. My business coach challenged me to accept the concept of not knowing everything and being open about it with my team. I learned to do Authentic self – nurturer [with an] Honest personality. “

According to her, the relationship between her and her team changed as a result. “From owner to employee, we became a real team and we saw amazing results,” she said. “Company culture has been my number one priority since then. We made it very clear that it’s okay to have weaknesses. We focus on your strengths and find other people to do the things you’re not good at. By focusing on their advantages, [people] Thrive, be happier, and perform better. “