THE EPITOME OF LEADERSHIP

There are several essential values that embody a true leader; among these clear communication, and the ability to influence and inspire, be authentic and adapt are vital. This month, Farah Baig, speaks to a truly inspirational woman who not only possesses these qualities, but perfects them –Eman Deabil. The proud Bahraini, who was born, raised and educated in the Kingdom, is currently leading the Transformation Management Office (TMO) at one of the biggest banks in Bahrain.

Forover 15 years, Eman Deabil’s life has been in two parallels: one focused on learning and the other on building a career. The goal-oriented Bahraini hence has several qualifications and prestigious career highlights to her name. Ms. Deabil is a Chartered Manager by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a doctorate candidate researching the impact of ESG Adoption and a published author with three published collaborative books and one still in the making.

She has also spoken at local and international forums, been an awards winner in project management and a judge at PMO awards global competitions. “On the career front, I’ve changed my job six times, worked with more than 15 bosses, met hundreds of people at all levels, and had the opportunity to experience different professions,” says Ms. Deabil.

On the learning front, she currently holds three Masters Degrees and over ten professional certifications in different fields. “I’m proud to be the first Bahraini lady who obtained the Portfolio Management Professional (PMI-PfMP) – the most prestigious certificate in project management. This is in addition to being the first Bahraini to obtain the Strategy Implementation Professional (SIP) from the Strategy Implementation Institute,” she says.

Given that Eman changed jobs many times, one of the most significant changes she had to deal with was related to the personalities of people. “Every boss has a different leadership style, every team has different characteristics, every member of the team requires a different way of management,” she says. “Accommodating all these types of personalities was one of the challenges that I overcome by building my emotional and political intelligence over the years.”

“Being a female leading a team of males or even females was another challenge; unlike my male colleagues, I had to prove that I deserve this position all the time by excelling in what I do, and demonstrating the value I add,” she adds.

Through her contributions, recently published in Woman This Month, Ms. Deabil has reflected on women’s representation in the boardroom.

“Although the percentage of women representation in Bahrain listed companies is 5.9 percent (2022), I think our kingdom has come a long way in empowering and enabling women at different fronts,” she says.

“Today, what we’re looking at is not quantity (represented by higher percentages) but rather, quality. To have a real impact, we need strong, active, knowledgeable and experienced women at board level to drive change and contribute positively and effectively to decision making,” she adds.

As for young women pursuing leadership roles, Eman encourages them to work on several factors including building a strong value system, developing a personal brand and expanding their network. “You must also learn as you go as learnability is a great characteristic of future leaders. In addition, you should build your experience; work in something you like and excel in it. It’s never too late to find your passion,” she says.

As for balancing personal and professional responsibilities, Eman says: “I think it all starts by defining your goals in life, and setting the right priorities to them, assessing those goals as you go in life, and keep practicing this prioritisation exercise. Many women have already proven that they are able to juggle many balls at the same time, switch hats and practice multiple roles.”

The high-quality lifestyle baby brand Milk It Baby was founded in Hong Kong in 2020, by Bahrain-based fashion and lifestyle influencer Roshini Daswani, in partnership with her husband, brother and sisterin-law. What was the belief behind Milk It Baby? That playtime should be adventurous and educational, without compromising on parents’ personal style, luxury, environmental-consciousness and aesthetics.

Inspired by cultures from around the world, Milk It Baby’s travel- and culture-based designs are perfect to invoke a love of colour, art and adventure - benefitting children’s early-stage development.

The brand stands out among other babycentric brands as its products are truly unique designed specifically for new millennial mamas allowing them to experience motherhood in line with its brand phrase 'playtime just got trendy'.

All Milk It Baby’s products have grown popular as they are extremely versatile, useful and serve a functional necessity for babies and infants - from beautiful print illustrations on reversible play mats for safe play and early learning development, aestheticallypleasing teethers for soothing relief, aesthetic silicone bib, spill-proof suction bowl, bamboo tableware for eco-friendly and sustainable cutlery that nurture strong values early. With incredibly aesthetic designs, Milk It Baby products make for great photo opportunities, encouraging all parents to enjoy and capture precious memories.

Milk It Baby believes the world through the eyes of an infant is a fantasy waiting to be explored and as a result its products emphasise real life and everyday visuals to promote strong recollection when they are out and about. In fact, when one of Milk

It Baby’s founders delivered her first born during the pandemic and was unable to find educational and aesthetic baby products, the idea of a beautiful city tour play mat which would allow her child to go on an adventure from the comforts of her home was born. The play mats allow children to learn about landmarks, food and culture from cities like Hong Kong, London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and more. A different and exciting design is currently in the works – it is something fans and customers have been eager to see for quite some time.

Milk It Baby prioritises safety first making it a prime choice for the well-being of parents. It prides itself in being exceptional in both design, function and 100 percent baby-safe. Constantly re-inventing products through fun and innovative ways ensures its products are not just beautiful but also low maintenance and stress-free. All its products are vigorously tested and are CE and EN71 compliant to meet local and international safety standards. Furthermore, Milk It Baby products are made from the highest quality, eco-friendly and sustainable materials.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Roshini Daswani shares her advice for first-time mothers: “Be kind to yourself! Motherhood can be overwhelming with a never ending list of things your baby needs.

Remember the only thing your baby really needs is YOU. When you are happy, your baby feeds off of that energy. Your experience of motherhood stems from that emotional connection with your baby. Everything else will fall into place and you will find the routine and balance that works best for your child and you.”

With new products in development expanding on its existing categories and a couple of exciting new launches that will be very relevant and useful for new parents, make sure to keep a close watch on @milkitbabyofficial on Instagram and www.milkitbaby.shop.

Milk It Baby products are available to shop online with international shipping at www. milkitbaby.shop as well as in Bahrain at Baby Essentials in Seef Mall and online at Kewalrams.com (Instagram: @kewalrams.bh).