bazaar February 2022 issue by bazaar magazine

February 2022 | Issue #265

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We are all recovering from a challenging situation all over the world. It is true that circumstances may differ from one another; however, what unites us now is stronger than ever. We are passionate about the way you live your life, what are your needs and dreams, what are your challenges and worries. And Whatever we do, we do it for you. This year, we remain by your side to make your everyday life better. We have made an exceptional effort to reduce prices on many of your IKEA favourites. So, everyone can enjoy lower prices with the same IKEA quality. Because IKEA is for everyone, now, more than ever!

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Int February 2022 | Issue #265

www.bazaar.town 1

About the Cover: February means seeing the national flag beautifully displayed outside everyone’s homes, gracing our highways, and the Kuwaiti skyline transformed in the evenings in shades of red, green, black and white. It is the most wonderful time of the year, and the vibes are warm and fuzzy. This is exactly what we felt when we saw thouqer and creative artist Ahmad Al-Ghanim’s gorgeous artwork titled ‘Dancing Girls’. Featuring three beautiful souls donning traditional attire and dancing with glee, we wanted to share the same vibes with you. Ahmad Al-Ghanim is constantly juxtaposing the modern with the traditional via his wonderful work as co-founder of Thouq. You can order the print off of Thouq.com or make sure this issue stays in your personal collection! We personally feel extremely privileged to be able to share with you our February cover by this talented artist and visionary.

The bazaar team... February is always an exciting time here in Kuwait, at bazaar studios, and especially at bazaar magazine with so much finally going on again, as we slowly but surely get back to life, back to reality and out of the depressing covidsphere rut most of the world has been stuck in for two years now. Lots of exciting new advertisers, lots of cool people to interview, and lots of cool new places to review make getting up in the morning and donning that damn mask almost worthwhile!

Boss

It always begins with the people who inspire us, drive us forward and help see change all around us. We’re extremely proud of motocross champion, Red Bull Athlete and now Dakar Rally conqueror, Mohammed Jaffar! It feels just like yesterday when we spoke to Mohammed this time last year about his first encounter with the rough terrains of Saudi Arabia, and his second try this time around was most certainly grueling, but more importantly, it was a huge success! We’re also excited to introduce you to Stephanie Tan and her eco-friendly jute bag brand My Jute. We understand that climate change is no joke, and we always appreciate the people who decide to make changes accessible to everyone. Speaking of people who are helping us change, for Truth or Dare we also met up with Sahira Ladha, the mompreneur behind babyroo, an heirloom baby brand that only sources from ethical and sustainable manufacturers from around the world.

Ihab Youssef

There’s more about sustainability in this issue with MUJI. They’re rethinking the way cotton is used in the fashion industry. By planting two organic cotton seeds for every t-shirt they make, they’re making cotton more sustainable. Which is great because we love our fashion fixes. And this season we’re being treated to something bold and bright from H&M. The Spring Summer 2022 collection is an ode to the best of what the 80s had to offer and we’ve fallen hook, line and sinker. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, and National and Liberation Day holidays to follow soon after, exciting dining destinations are on our mind. From the finest romantic experiences at Four Seasons Hotel at Burj Alshaya to the reopening of Kuwait’s most beloved Pepper Steakhouse at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, you’ll be spoiled for choices! A bazaar issue without some fun food adventures would be a crime and we’re definitely not crossing that legal line. We tried Novo Pizza and have rekindled our love for the doughy delight. If you’re planning on avoiding the crowds and staying in for the super long weekend, you should definitely try out Novo Pizza! Happy National Day, Liberation Day and Valentine’s Day! Ahmed El-Adly

Ahmed El-Adly

Editor

Alia Al Duaij

Operations Manager

Content Manager

Yasmine El Charif

CMY

Mixed Media Solutions

Jennifer Cádiz

Design Shadi Mofeed

Staff Writer/Online Media Mariam Raslan Yasmin Gamal

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Cover By Ahmad Al-Ghanim members of: @AhmadAlghanimkwt @Thouq

Contributing Writers Craig Loomis

Syndicates & Sources Fast Company LA Times MCT International Newsweek

Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging

w w w. b p a w w. c o m The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

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INDEX FEBRUARY 2022 26

MY JUTE

THE MOMPRENEUR BEHIND BABYROO

We had no idea that Jute was such a sustainable material until we spoke to co-found of My Jute, Stephanie Tan. Her company is helping people say no to plastic by providing them with a more ecofriendly alternative that is practical and looks great!

H&M STUDIO’S SS22 COLLECTION

It’s time to have some fun with H&M Studio’s latest Studio collection. The message for spring is loud and clear: mood-enhancing fashion is back. We know that fun is on the way from the explosion of color, with fearless and fabulous prints and details that draw on the outré fashion of the 1980s and 1990s.

Sahira Ladha wanted to provide her young son with better toys than what was already available locally so she founded babyroo. An ethical and sustainable value-driven baby toy brand that focuses on toys and tools that are good for baby, the environment and the communities that make them.

LET LOVE BLOSSOM AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT

Have you made plans for this Valentine’s day yet? This year, Kuwait’s most exclusive address is the destination for couples who have just fallen in love or want to rekindle their relationship. Exquisite dining options, refined staycations and luxury spa packages are available. Who needs cupid when you have the Four Seasons?

MORE AFFORDABILITY AT IKEA

The Swedish furniture giant has always been known for their affordable and accessible prices. And now they’re going the extra mile by pushing prices even lower to make sure that all of us can live in homes and spaces that make us happy.

PEPPER STEAKHOUSE IS BACK!

The weather in winter makes us crave steak even more than we normally do. So, we’re very excited that Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa have reopened their award-winning steakhouse Pepper. Here’s our full menu review for you to enjoy. Juicy, tender and delicious steak, here we come!

110

MUJI MAKES MORE SUSTAINABLE COTTON

Whatever your personal style or aesthetic, one thing is for sure, you probably own at least one cotton t-shirt. Japanese lifestyle brand MUJI has found a way to make them more sustainable by planting two organic cotton seeds for every t-shirt made to change the cotton farming industry.

120 NOVO PIZZA FOR THE WIN

Novo Pizza just made pizza night great again! We tried the new-commer to the Kuwaiti food scene and were delighted with their exciting offerings from appetizers to classic pizzas and speciality pizzas to the unique signature pizzas.

PEPPER STEAKHOUSE IS BACK! P. 88 14

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Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

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Malls

4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-tique cosmetics British Embassy US Embassy Brush Salon CAP Galler y Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra TONI & GUY- Al Corniche TONI & GUY- Cliffs Kuwait Airpor t Business Class Lounges Finesse Nail Lounge Media Elephant Shuwaikh Market Sultan Galler y THE One The Chairman's Club

Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger Boulevard Starbucks Costa Coffee The Promenade Caribou Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall Marina Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi Starbucks Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

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EXPERIENCE ROMANTIC GETAWAY FOR JUST THE TWO OF YOU THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

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what's trending February 2022

What: @zainabart915 Info: Freelance artist. Editor’s Note: Add some bold colors to your space

What: @kluekuwait Info: An event planner with a twist Editor’s Note: Solve a mystery with your friends, what could be more fun?

#2 What: @abuyakubd Info: Graphic designer with a focus on Arabic type Editor’s Note: perfect for inspo

What: @ superfoodskw Info: 100% cold pressed blends Editor’s Note: drink your greens; so easy

What: @high_top.kw Info: Gadget gift ideas Editor’s Note: We love the LED bracelet

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MOHAMMED JAFFAR RETURNS HOME AFTER EXCELLENT DAKAR 2022 Jaffar Achieves his Goals on his Second Attempt at the Dakar Rally By bazaar staff

International motocross athlete Mohammed Jaffar has recently concluded his second attempt in as many years at the illustrious Dakar Rally. This year, he achieved his primary goal of completing the grueling race, which is no small feat by any means. We’ve been following Jaffar since his first attempt last year. Unfortunately, he was Unfortunately, Jaffar was injured in an accident while competing and had to be air lifted out of the competition. Luckily he bounced back and started training again as soon as he could. “I was very happy to have another chance at Dakar.” Said the award-winning Kuwaiti rider after the race. He proudly crossed the finish line, in what was the culmination of nearly a year of preparation for him and his hardworking rally team. Upon his return to Kuwait, he made it clear that the annual rally, once again held this year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was still at the top of his mind. “I already miss the Dakar life,” said Mohammed Jaffar, enthusiastically. The Dakar Rally took place over the first half of January 2022, and Jaffar and his team focused all their efforts on bringing the champion motocross athlete to the finish line. Mohammed Jaffar and his entire crew worked extremely hard over the previous months to bring this goal to fruition. And with the success this year, it seems their revised strategy worked in their favor. Jaffar had this to say on the long hours on the course, and the short nights of interrupted sleep. “It’s about how you adapt to constant and extreme stress and keeping my body and bike healthy for the upcoming day.” Jaffar said. The excitement leading up to the start of the Dakar Rally was palpable, but Jaffar stayed true to the agreed strategy until the very end. He proceeded with confidence and caution from stage to stage, bearing in mind that the rally is famed for presenting last minute trail surprises and multiple hazardous terrains. This means that racers must react on the spot and in the moment, as they have no way of knowing what might lurk just ahead of their vision. “It’s a long race that’s extremely tough on both the rider and the motorbike,” he said. “The Dakar Rally never gets easier.” Jaffar points to his previous attempt last year as an extremely valuable learning experience 20

for him. He noted last year that his plethora of motocross experience across the GCC still included some blindspots. The terrain in Saudi Arabia was different from what he had expected, which he was also able to account for this time around. “There is a high chance of faults when you consider all the types of terrain and changing weather in the many stages.” Said Mohammed Jaffar. “But I was both mentally and physically ready for it this year.”

Jaffar has said that he also hopes to return to the historic Dakar Rally next year. Mohammed Jaffar is a motocross athlete who lives and trains in Kuwait City, Kuwait. He is the founder of the Kuwait-based motorcycle academy, Moto School.

Stay up to date with Mohammed Jaffar by following @mo_jaffar_official on Instagram. For more information, please visit redbull.com and follow @RedBullKuwait on Instagram and Twitter.

All the proof you need

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Part of

TAKE TO THE SKIES WITH ABK AND EMIRATES Save up to 10% on Emirates flights with Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait credit cards! By bazaar staff

We love two things equally, spending our hard-earned cash and traveling. Now, ABK VISA and MasterCard credit card holders can do both and save up to 10% when booking an Emirates flight from Kuwait to all the airline’s destinations except Jeddah and Medina. The cards also offer other amazing benefits for travelers via the Emirates Skywards Miles Program. We’ve missed out on a lot of travel in the past two years because of the pandemic and we’re more than ready to make up for it. Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait is making it easier for us to enjoy our globe trotting with their latest partnership the Emirates Airline. The special offer includes ABK VISA Infinite, Signature and ABK MasterCard Titanium credit cards. All you have to do is head to emirates.com/kw to book your tickets and use the code KWABK22 at checkout and your discount will be automatically applied. Being an ABK customer means that you are well taken care of in Kuwait and abroad, because they understand that there’s more to travel than just the flight. ABK VISA and MasterCard credit card holders are also eligible for many benefits and services that make traveling hassle free. The ABK-Emirates partnership has been an extremely successful one since its launch in 2002 and has provided ABK clients with a multitude of benefits. Co-branded travel cards are a major bank offering and deliver positives for all the stakeholders involved. ABK Emirates card holders earn Skywards Miles every time they spend money that can be redeemed for a range of useful benefits. ABK Emirates cards don’t just offer the opportunity of earning free or discounted flights, or seat upgrades. ABK-Emirates cardholders can redeem their earned Skywards Miles @ mall, for example, where they can be redeemed against a wide range of products from prestigious brands. Additionally, ABK VISA Emirates credit cards also offer travel insurance, airport lounge access, free unlimited PCR home service, free Meet & Assist service, lounge slot booking at the Pearl Lounge, free baggage delivery and free family COVID-19 insurance. Card holders also benefit from discounts through the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection and Visa Fine Dining program. 22

ABK and Emirates chose to differentiate their partnership by making sure that there was no ceiling on how many points holders of ABKEmirates cards can accrue and points can be redeemed for rewards within seven days of being earned. They constantly offer customers promotions to earn extra miles and get discounts. Additionally, no other co-branded card available in Kuwait allows passengers to fly to such an expansive list of destinations. In the last two decades, the ABK-Emirates relationship has proven itself multiple times over and has won a number of awards for the co-

branded cards. The high level of annual customer card spend is tangible proof that card holders love and value it too. Use the code KWABK22 when booking your flight on emirates.com/kw. The offer is valid online for bookings made from 6th February 2022 until 6th April 2022, and for travel dates from 6th February 2022 until 15th June 2022. For more information about ABK, please visit eahli.com or contact an ABK customer service agent via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ at 1899899 and follow the bank’s socials @Abk_Kuwait for their latest updates.

SCAN THE CODE

WORD GAMES

5 Wordle alternatives to tide you over until midnight rolls around By Doug Aamoth

So, Wordle is having a moment, huh? If you haven’t played the daily word game, you must. You get six tries to guess a five-letter word. Each guess tells you if you have a letter in the right place, a correct letter in the wrong place, or a wrong letter. Each guess is supposed to get you closer, except for the time the word was “knoll” and everyone on the internet lost their collective minds. But I digress. The worst part about Wordle (which is itself perfection) is that you can only play it once a day! How are we all supposed to fill the other 23 hours and 55 minutes?! Here are some fun Wordle-like options to scratch that itch. Wordle Archive Once you’re hooked on Wordle, your first stop should be the Wordle Archive, which is not maintained by Wordle’s creator, Josh Wardle, but by another kind soul, Devang Thankkar. It’s Wordle, except you can keep playing it. You’ll get yesterday’s puzzle each time you load it up, but the only way to fly is the Random button, which plops you smack-dab in the middle of a long-ago Wordle. Lewdle It’s once daily, like Wordle, except only naughty words. And let me tell you: Thinking of only naughty words instead of all words is actually a bit more challenging. But that’s Lewdle for you. It’s an unabashed Wordle clone that, to its credit, goes out of its way to let you know about and direct you to the actual Wordle site. It also helpfully (?) turns your winning word into a Google-able link just in case you want to learn more about it. Lingo OK, hear me out. Online Lingo may look, feel, and play like a Flash game from the ’90s, but it’s got it where it counts. Imagine Wordle, except . . . possible words can be five or six letters, you’re given the first letter for free (plus another random one if you play the six-letter version), you only get five guesses, you’re allowed to guess nonsensical words—and when you guess incorrectly, the corresponding keys aren’t grayed out on the keyboard. Oh, and you can play as many times as you want. Apparently, it used to be a game show!

Archive. You’re not interested in Lewdle. Lingo is too confusing. Can I interest you in Word Master? This is a Wordle clone through and through— except with a magnificent “Play Again” button that loads up new puzzles, beckoning you each time you solve one to try your hand at another. It’s also got three difficulty levels—easy, normal, and hard—to Wordle’s normal and hard modes. Easy lets you guess any combination of letters, even if it doesn’t make sense; normal forces you to guess valid words; and hard forces your next guess to use only hints from previous guesses.

Word Master So, you’ve aced Wordle. You’ve memorized Wordle

Free Daily Crosswords Let your hair down and print—yes, print—a

crossword puzzle out on paper, which you’ll then need to do by hand using something known as a pen or pencil. One of my favorite sites of all time (and I’m not that old) is Free Daily Crosswords, which is pretty much just like it sounds: an archive of daily, free, printable crossword puzzles. The puzzles themselves are Goldilocks-like— not too hard, not too easy—and they open up as standard, nicely formatted PDF files. If you’re dead set against printing out stuff like this, here’s a trick: You can use an Apple Pencil-compatible iPad to open a puzzle up in Safari, share it to the Books app, then turn on the notes function to fill in the squares with your stylus.

OUTDOOR

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JUTE TRUMPS PLASTIC

REDUCING PLASTIC USE, ONE MY JUTE AT A TIME By bazaar staff

We’re constantly on the lookout for easy ways to say no to plastic. A quick trip to the supermarket often means we go home with at least a dozen plastic bags that we can’t recycle and don’t want to have to store so we can reuse them. Fortunately, we can now find many alternatives that are practical, affordable, and stylish. The only trick is to make sure that you always carry one so you can just say no thanks to the person trying to bag your purchases. Porsche hosts one of the region’s largest car culture gatherings and attracts thousands of visit

My Jute Co. (formerly known as HAARU Products and Packaging HP&P) is registered brand of Kuwait Singapore Technologies For Genereal Trading a Kuwaiti Singaporean joint venture company, set up in part as a one-stop jute product company to offer eco packaging ideas and solutions to corporate businesses. The company specializes in customizing and developing products made from natural and biodegradable materials only. Their core fiber Jute is a long, soft, shiny natural plant fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads and are commonly used for making rope, curtains, and sacking. It is the second most important vegetable fiber after cotton, not only for wide cultivation, but also for its uses. Jute fiber is 100% biodegradable and recyclable. Additionally, jute is less flammable, produce less smoke, generates fewer toxic gases than synthetic polymers. Because it is very durable it has a longlife expectancy too. But most importantly, it has a high carbon dioxide assimilation rate (about 3 times more than trees). Jute plants clean the air by taking in large quantities of carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of greenhouse effect. Making a Jute tote a much more environmentally friendly option when compared to other reusable alternatives like nylon and cotton. We spoke to co-founder Stephanie Tan to find out more about the brand. My Jute Co is a registered brand of a KuwaitiSingaporean joint venture company, can you please explain more about this interesting combination? Is there a story behind it? Yes, it is an interesting joint venture. The whole idea of using jute fabric as a material replacement for products started back in Singapore. Back then our focus was mainly Business to Business dealings and when we moved to Kuwait in 2014 we initially set up a representative office for two years through KDIPA, after which we established a Kuwaiti company which is typically the 51% (Kuwaiti) - 49% (Singaporean) arrangement. 26

Is your market mainly in Kuwait? What do customers in Kuwait care about the most and want in their products? Yes, we launched our first retail products in Kuwait and currently it is only in Kuwait. Our customers in Kuwait care about the quality of the products and they love the ideas of personalization on their bags. Having said that we are planning to launch in Doha, Qatar by the end of Jan. 2022. The shift to green products has been slow, but is gaining momentum, what is your take on this? And what do you predict for the future? Yes, I agree with your sentiment. Just to share with you, in fact when we initially launched our ideas and products in Kuwait our targeted audience were mainly expatriates living in Kuwait. Presently our clientele are 95% locals and 5% expats. It was interesting to observe this shift which we didn’t expect. And in fact locals in Kuwait do care about the environment and support the green initiatives, it’s just that they have limited choices. Your production is in India, why did you choose it? How do you ensure that all of your products are ethically made and sourced? All our products are made of Jute fabric and Jute/ cotton mixed fabric. As the Jute plants are native of India hence the reason, we only source our fabric from India. Jute to this day is harvested in a very

old and organic method and to date all our products are handprinted. We do not use any machinery for printing our bags. You have an interesting lineup of products, are they designed in-house? What inspires you to add a new product? Yes! We are glad you find our product line interesting. The whole concept and idea was to introduce an everyday carry bag to the people. It came from a personal frustration. When we need to scramble around the house to look for a suitable carry bag for the excess like documents, laptop, lunch box, an extra pair of shoes to work or outings. The agony came when the paper or plastic bags ripped. There are many carry bags options in the market. We have the very pretty expensive branded carry bag which you need to be extra careful when you used it OR the very basic ones which is for casual outings such as the supermarket or to the beach. We found the gap between the expensive and basic bags. So, we created a carry bag which is nice enough to carry for work, practical and functional. To differentiate ourselves, all our bags are made from mainly biodegradable fabric. You can also put your preferred messages or names on it, basically make it your very own personal bag. Our team will make the design and send you a preview for selection before we set it for print.

And our pricing is very reasonable where you can have more than one bag depending on the individual’s style. We want to create something that is simple, practical, and functional and add value to our customers day to day lives. A bag for everything, everywhere and to hold anything. Which is your best-selling product? Our best selling product is the Ecokees “Petite” and “Wide” sizes in natural color. Which product is your favorite? This is a difficult one - I like all the bags. But If I have to choose one, I would say the bag most suited to my everyday busy schedule would be the file clutch, easy to handle and has a good amount of space. I used it every day for work, travel and to anywhere. I also uses the Ecokees Petite size everyday for my documents. Which product are you most proud of as a brand? The “Petite” size Ecokees bags with personalization on the bag. The Ecokees in the size ‘Petite’, it is light weight and looks good for a brunch date. You can find My Jute Co products in Debenhams Kuwait or by ordering directly from their Instagram account @myjuteco or via the website: www.ecokees.com 27

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

3 small changes you can make to improve your workday By Trey Ditto

It’s the start of another year, and with the changing of the calendar comes the inevitable urge to improve yourself and incorporate better, healthier habits. Rather than trying to make sweeping changes that may be hard to maintain, small adjustments are easy to incorporate and can immediately show results. This is what Stanford University behavior scientist BJ Fogg calls “tiny habits.” Here’s how he explained it to NPR: I’m a big fan of keeping things small because they are easier to accomplish, and the more you accomplish, the more confident you get. Here are three small daily changes I recommend to my own employees. Start your day with positivity Take a minute to list out three things you are grateful for—that could be as simple as a great night’s sleep or the latte you had. You can do this while you drink said latte or when you first get to your desk. “Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships,” according to several studies cited by Harvard Medical School. So, it’s important to wake up and reset your compass before you start your day, and definitely before you get to work. Plan your day, but don’t overbook yourself Knowing what you’re doing during the workday can go a long way to helping you actually get stuff done. We’ve known for a while that to-do lists can be a powerful tool, but why? Researchers from Florida State University found, “Committing to a specific plan for a goal may therefore not only facilitate attainment of the goal but may also free cognitive resources for other pursuits.” I like to list out three things I want to accomplish each day then schedule time in my calendar to make sure I have the time to focus and actually do that work. But to-do lists can do more than just setting your work tasks for the day—they can also be used to plan breaks. Along with identifying three things you want to accomplish today, in between each on your calendar, list three different ways you can take a break from work. Research shows that even a five-minute break taken at the right time has big benefits. If you’ve already planned what you want to do during that time, you can just dive right in and enjoy that break. Make time for curiosity It’s so easy to get caught up in day-to-day, hour-to-hour work. So, you have to find time to be

curious. In PR, curiosity helps us learn about our clients and their industries, ultimately leading to creative solutions. That’s why I always encourage my employees to take time to explore and go deeper. According to research, students who are curious have been found to perform better in school, and curious people tend to come up with more creative solutions in the workplace. Additionally, University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher Evan Polman wrote, “Our research shows that piquing people’s curiosity can

influence their choices by steering them away from tempting desires, like unhealthy foods or taking the elevator, and toward less tempting, but healthier options, such as buying more fresh produce or taking the stairs.” So make a conscious effort to explore, research, and think.

Photo by Hoang Le on Unsplash.

FSKuwait

FROM PLAID TO PRADA BACKPACKS

The ’90s fashion that’s making its museum debut By Elizabeth Segran

Nineties fashion is back in a big way. Last year, Harry Styles wore a Clueless-inspired outfit for the Grammys. Y2K looks are all the rage with Gen Z fashionistas. And iconic ’90s bags like the nylon Prada backpack and the Dior saddle bag are selling like hotcakes on resale sites like Rebag. Why are we so fascinated by these trends now, three decades later? And given how eclectic ’90s style was—ranging from Nirvana-inspired flannel to Calvin Klein-style minimalism—how do we even define the aesthetics of the era? A new exhibition at New York’s Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), “Reinvention and Restlessness: Fashion in the Nineties,” delves into these questions. On some level, the ’90s revival is easy to explain, says curator Colleen Hill. Fashion tends to revisit trends in 20- to 30-year cycles, as fashion designers and editors look back at styles from their youth. Hill argues, though, that there are more profound reasons ’90s style is resonating: Many are nostalgic for the optimism of that era, and thrifting is easier than ever. When the future was bright In contrast to years of pandemic, political polarization, and racial reckoning, the ’90s feel optimistic. “The spirit of the ’90s was one of possibility, and that’s something that underscores the exhibition,” Hill says. “We were coming into a new century and also a millennium. People still look back at that time as one that was really exciting.” These days, our love affair with technology has waned. But in the ’90s, the internet was still in its infancy and there was an energy and curiosity about the future. Y2K fashion, which emerged toward the end of the decade, was deliberately futuristic, defined by shiny fabrics, sleek leather, metallic tops, rhinestone embellishments, and mesh. Gen Z is particularly intrigued by these Y2K looks, with the hashtag #Y2KFashion generating hundreds of thousands of posts on TikTok and Depop, the resale site hugely popular with teens. These looks might conjure hope that we can still reshape the internet into the exciting, inspiring place we once imagined it could be. Meanwhile, thrifting has come back with a vengeance, in part thanks to companies like ThredUp and Depop that digitized secondhand shopping. It makes makes sense that we’re inspired by the ’90s as we put together thrifted looks, especially since these websites are full of vintage pieces from that era. Pop culture revolution I was a teenager in the ’90s and, even so, I find it hard to put my finger on what defines the aesthetics of the era. According to Hill, it was the diverse array of options that makes ’90s fashion so fun 30

and accessible. “There was so much pluralism in fashion during the ’90s,” says Hill. “I would argue more so than any previous decade. There was this idea that fashion was for everyone in a way that we hadn’t seen before.” Movies from the era, like Clueless and Ten Things I Hate About You, offer a generous look at teen fashion at the time. There are designer looks and “it” bags, like the nylon Prada collection. There are streamlined minimalistic looks—from jeans and cropped T-shirts to slinky silk dresses— inspired by Calvin Klein and Helmut Lang. And then there’s grunge. Both films feature the flannel shirts and plaid miniskirts popularized by bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. “These bands were from the Pacific Northwest, so it made sense that they were wearing lots of layers,” Hill says. “They often shopped at thrift stores out of necessity, but this is a look that was perceived as cool.” Grunge made it easier for everyone, regardless of budget, to participate in fashion during a time of worldwide recession. The exhibition shows how the emergence of the internet enabled films, TV, music, and other aspects of pop culture to influence fashion like never before; for the first time, people could congregate online to

discuss fashion and find clothes. Pop culture in the ’90s sometimes shaped fashion as much as it reflected it. Hill says when the Clueless costume directors visited Los Angeles high schools to explore trends, they were dismayed by all the grunge. “They designed the Clueless wardrobe as a sort of dream wardrobe,” says Hill. “It wasn’t meant to represent what students at this age wore, but then of course it became a style that students wanted to emulate.” Shows like Sex and the City were also massively influential. Today, it’s rare for a single show to kickstart a trend, since social media and streaming services overflow with so much content. Young people are nostalgic for the time when one iconic show or film could set the tone, Hill says. And thanks to streaming services, many teens and 20-somethings are able to explore now-classic shows and movies from that time. “Fashion Institute of Technology students are very familiar with Clueless,” Hill says. “They’ve absolutely watched it and some have recreated looks directly from the film.”

Photo by Isi Parente on Unsplash.

PLAY NICE OR BE KIND

Research explains the big difference between kind and nice. One has a bigger impact on success By Mahfuz Ahmed

If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s the immense power of kindness. In the corporate arena, kind leadership has become more than just a “style.” Instead, it is an essential ingredient to creating an environment that nurtures innovation. Signature Consultants, in partnership with national research and data firm Dynata, recently conducted a study of kind leadership. From this we created a Humankindex to underscore just how important kindness is to spurring innovation throughout an organization. Kind vs. nice leadership and the correlation to innovation While the meanings may seem to some to be interchangeable, there are key differences between being kind and being nice. Kind leadership is defined by our research as creating a culture of taking concrete action to help others, addressing a person’s need, regardless of tone, and giving permission for real success and failure. Niceness, by contrast, typically centers on pleasing others and being polite so as not to offend. In this context, flagging a struggling employee and telling them they are not meeting expectations in their role may be seen as not very nice. Yet it is considered kind in the sense that it helps them improve. This distinction makes it clearer to understand how leading with kindness can foster greater innovation and a stronger competitive advantage. The Humankindex is based on two key components: Kindness Quotient: The degree to which a company practices a culture of kindness leadership, as well as the extent to which individuals feel and recognize it. Innovation Capability: How well the organization’s culture and leadership support and promote an innovative work environment, as well as the extent to which this is perceived by employees. In the first annual release of the research, the data shows a direct causal relationship between the height of a company’s kindness quotient score and the degree to which it is able to foster an environment of innovation. In fact, an organization is five times more likely to be considered innovative if it is also considered kind. The Humankindex for all companies is 58 (based on a total index value of 100 points), comprised of a 31.5 kindness quotient and 26.5 innovation capability. In our study, workers were asked to identify the leadership style that best leads to a more innovative work environment. Respondents ranked “leads with kindness” first among other leadership styles, including leading with authority, empathy, courageousness, and risk-taking. Further, respondents who said their current company’s leadership style was one that “puts kindness before anything else” were most likely to agree that this leadership style has led to more of a competitive advantage in the marketplace. And 32

when kindness is considered a core value of the organization, employees are 3.5 times more likely to share a sense of purpose between their job and the company’s larger goals. Particularly amid the pandemic era, kindness at work and in the larger society is driving significant impacts on individuals’ overall mental health. But have company leaders embraced a move toward more kind leadership as a result? According to our study findings, nearly one-third (30%) of workers say their company’s leadership has embraced kindness as a value less so since the COVID-19 pandemic began. More concerning is that 76% of workers say their company’s leadership has embraced the value of “profits before people” at levels that are the same or more since the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, organizations who put kindness ahead of profits have employees who are 120% more likely to feel a sense of meaning and purpose in their current job, and 89% more likely to have a strong desire to think of new and innovative ideas. The value in meaningful work Another key trend that has emerged over the pandemic era is the rising quest for meaning in

work, which supersedes pay increases for many workers, particularly those in the IT industry and those who are earlier in their careers. Particularly for millennial workers, who along with Gen Z now comprise nearly half of the workforce (46%), meaning is an essential element in a daily work environment. Six out of 10 workers, especially in the millennial and Gen Z age groups, say they would rather have a management team that helped them find meaning in their work than receive a 5% pay increase. That sentiment increases among IT professionals, with 81% in agreement. Kindness is the key ingredient Now, perhaps more than ever, leaders will need to embrace or return to powerful core values such as kindness to drive a successful path forward. Our research has illustrated a strong business case for adopting kind leadership, not only because it is the right thing to do but because it leads to competitive advantage. A desire for kindness exists right now. Will you offer it?

Photo by Dee @ Copper and Wild on Unsplash.

REJECTED

A TikTok star turned a rejection letter from Juilliard into a poignant lesson about gatekeeper power By Elise Hannum

TikToker Axel Webber has a few suggestions about how to deal with rejection. They include wallowing, moving on, making yourself a good meal (of apple sauce), and crying alone.

The viral star kept his millions of followers updated throughout his audition for—and ultimate refusal from—the Juilliard School, and now they get to see the aftermath. His fans are not taking the denial quietly, though, with many flooding the school’s Instagram posts with thousands of comments, like “LET AXEL INNN” and “Where’s axel’s acceptance mail?” Rejection sucks. Everyone feels its sting at some point—in their personal life, at work and, yes, in college admissions. Webber’s rejection (and the backlash to it) shows how internet popularity doesn’t always translate into real-world success. It also may not need to. Webber’s rise began when he posted videos about his tiny New York apartment, amassing 33.9 million views. His account now boasts 2.6 million followers and counting, keeping up with his life in the city, including his Juilliard audition. College-admissions theater is not new to 34

social media. A simple search of “admissions reactions” on YouTube yields many, many videos of hopeful students opening their decisions on camera. Most of these students don’t enjoy the same level of internet fame as Webber, but their experiences on the whole highlight just how arbitrary the college admissions process can seem. According to U.S. News, Juilliard has a 7% admissions rate. Statistically, rejection isn’t exactly a surprise. But it also doesn’t signal the end of his acting career. It may be just the opposite. Although he may not have gotten into the prestigious performing arts school, Webber has since signed on with modeling agency the Society, and he’s getting messages of support from such celebrities as Charlie Puth. Success, then, may not mean an education or a degree from a fancy school. Instead, it can be a matter of posting the right thing at the right time and having a

certain something that keeps people watching and puts content at the top of the For You page. Elite institutions, meanwhile, have done little to instill trust in the so-called meritocracy the past few years, with high-profile news stories like accusations of collusion to limit financial aid and the Varsity Blues scandal. Every year, thousands of students are rejected from colleges or denied scholarships with little explanation. The increasingly social nature of those responses, though, may continue to pull universities’ practices into the spotlight and call their legitimacy into question. The old saying goes that when one door closes, another one opens. In the age of social media, there are a lot of different doors to choose from—especially if you’re fortunate enough to have 2.6 million friends to help you open them. Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash.

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truth or dare

LOVE BABYROO

How Sahira Ladha is bringing sustainable and ethically made heritage toys to Kuwait’s babies and mamas By bazaar staff

Sahira Ladha is a Saudi-born, Kuwait-raised, Pakistani mama to crazy little munky Omar and fur baby Sushi the cat. As a child, she dreamt of being many things; a fashion designer, a chef, an automotive designer, a lawyer (Ally McBeal style), a private investigator. She studied law at university because her career’s advisor recommended it when she told her that she wanted to be an investigator. Ironically, she ended up working in marketing, and right now she’s the momprenuer behind babyroo, an ethical and sustainable value-driven baby toy brand. It was a huge leap, especially for a new parent. “Star ting a business is a lot of hard work as a new parent, but my passion for bringing together products that are better for families, especially the little bubbas, is a driving force. I cannot wait until I can unveil all our plans for the brand. There is so much more to come,” she explains. Sahira told us that the name babyroo comes from kangaroos, how they keep their little babies close to nur ture them past bir th. “As parents, we want to do the same – hold our little ones close and make sure that we are doing the absolute best for our babies. That was the whole concept behind babyroo. Another name that I loved was “ooh yea baby” – a little play on words,” Sahira said. Babyroo offers a collection of products, ranging from toys, interior design pieces, to mealtime essentials and more. They want to offer parents in Kuwait better choices for their babies and children without having to pay huge mark ups; they strive to keep prices as close to their international counterpar ts as much as they can. We’ve been seeing an uptick in mama-owned business in Kuwait, and so far they have all been driven by strong values that protect our babies and the planet. Sahira mirrors our sentiment and said, “ Mama-owned businesses are the best, because there is so much hear t and soul that you miss in commercial businesses. I have met so many amazing mamas with their own brands recently, and it is so inspiring because love and care is always at the hear t of the business, especially when the businesses are focused on the little ones.” Babyroo is a family enterprise. Sahira has found suppor t from her brother Sohail, who helped massively with the financials and business plan, while her husband Nimran helps with the design and tech, finally her son Omar was the inspiration and tests all the toys and products. She added that the rest of the family shares super cool ideas too.

Sahira has found a lot of suppor t from an unexpected source too. “The mompreneur community is awesome! My advice would be to have a clear plan in place, do a lot of the work upfront, you never know what your day is going to be like as a mother. And once you do star t the business, reach out to other mamas in the community for suppor t; all of the mompreneurs are super helpful,” she told us. Babyroo has clear values concerned with sustainability and ethical production, and Sahira insists on working with brands that have the same values as her, and most of the time, they are family-owned small businesses. “We vet ever ything, the inks they use, where the products are produced, if they are made in factories, whether they are cer tified, and if handmade, who is producing them, the wood they use. Most of the time, I am communicating with mothers and parents that only produce small batches, to preser ve the integrity of what they do. For us, it’s not just about the quick buck; our values drive us. We want to preser ve the world for our littles and teach them the right values,” Sahira explained. The toys themselves are adorable. They appeal to adults as much as they do to the little ones. “We love so many of the toys we carr y, I absolutely adore the MinMin Copenhagen brand. It has such a cool aesthetic and is great for open-ended play. My favorite are the abstract blocks from this brand. We have seen a lot of orders for the Babai lacing toys, these are so great for hand eye coordination and great for keeping little hands busy. We also have a lot of games that parents have given us great feedback about, they are per fect for engaging the whole family,” Sahira gushes about her favorites. But she would love to eventually manufacture her own line of toys, because they would be able to ensure that they are ethical, sustainable and of the highest quality. Sahira tells us that “… all of the toys we have are heritage quality, they can be passed down through generations. And we have a lovely selection of lifestyle products that we are constantly adding to. We have some exciting new products arriving soon.” To celebrate Kuwait’s National Day and Omar’s bir thday, babyroo is offering a sitewide discount, we might just order a whole bunch ourselves because ever ything is so adorable.

truth or dare

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word? Persistent. How would you describe your mother in one word? Kind. What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? If my husband would let me work long hours. There are so many things wrong with this I don’t even know where to begin! What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? I’m a planner by nature, I like to plan my spontaneity. What is your theme song? It wasn’t me – Shaggy (it usually is me) / Free – Emeli Sande (although I do plenty of yoga). What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? “kaifi” or “wasta”. Where would you like to live? New York – minus the weather.

[...Continued]

What is your dream retirement location? Lisbon. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? “We are all in the gutters but some of us are looking at the stars” Oscar Wilde. Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life? Ooh an owl! Calm and wise – helps balance the crazy! Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it? Home cooked meals and my immediate family around. If you could change your name, to what would you change it? Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.

Who is your favorite historical figure? There’s quite a few but I love Katherine Hepburn, and how she suppor ted women’s and stood strong for her beliefs, and of course what Abraham Lincoln did for slaver y cannot be ignored. What in the world do you least desire? Conflict. What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place? Definitely compassion and empathy. Why do you think most people who do, like you? Hmmmm, I would say my loyalty…? Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…” cuddles from Sushi (the cat) and Omar (the baby) while sipping on a matcha latte

How would you describe your handshake, in one word? Oh gosh – haven’t shaken hands in so long. I would like to say confident. What is the toughest part of your character? My insatiable desire to be right always (although I’ve been failing recently).

Follow @lovebabyroo for some cuteness overload and to stay up to date with their news and for some great tips and inspo or shop online by visiting www.babyroo.co.

BILLIONAIRES DOING THE RIGHT THING

Luiza Helena Trajano should be your role model for corporate activism By Bill Taylor

Super-rich entrepreneurs love to explore brash endeavors outside the mainstream of their business—say, the high-profile space race between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, or Larry Ellison’s obsession with the America’s Cup. But it remains genuinely rare, and worthy of attention, when a billionaire entrepreneur takes a hard look at the society around their business and commits to brash endeavors to challenge inequality, racism, and the crisis fueled by COVID-19. That’s precisely what’s happening in Brazil, where Luiza Helena Trajano, the longtime leader of one of the country’s most celebrated companies, is generating headlines for her outsized commitments to social justice and public health. Trajano is the high-profile face of a giant electronics-and-appliance retailer named Magazine Luiza (in Portuguese, a “magazine” is a small store that sells a wide range of merchandise). Trajano’s company has become a legendary growth story whose 1,400 stores transformed retailing in Brazil, made her a billionaire, and turned a 70-year-old, 4-foot-nineinch woman into a homespun business celebrity. The New York Times recently wrote about Trajano’s decision to limit her company’s popular management-training program for college graduates to Black applicants only. Brazil’s rightwing president, Jair Bolsonaro, angrily attacked Trajano, but she defended her position as the most direct way for the organization to confront the psychological and emotional legacy of slavery in Brazil, which, she says, still divides the country “into a society of colonizers and the colonized.” It’s hard to sustain a great company in a deeply troubled society That doesn’t mean CEOs and entrepreneurs have to act like part-time politicians, or that every business innovator also has to be a social activist. But it does mean that a truly robust definition of corporate success has to incorporate a company’s impact on society—and identify the effects of inaction on its own long-term prospects. It seems pretty empty to talk about building a healthy corporate culture in a world where so many people struggle with discrimination, lack of healthcare, and a climate that keeps getting hotter and more volatile. Last November, in one of his many attacks against Trajano, President Bolsonaro denounced her as a “socialist”—which is rather comical given her status as a legendary entrepreneur. But Trajano refused to separate her business achievements from her civic agenda. “I think social inequality must be confronted,” she replied to the President’s criticism. “If that’s being a socialist, then I’m a socialist.” The logic of business innovation can shape the drive for social change There is no inherent conflict between a leader’s role as business executive and as a 40

social activist. In fact, activism is at its best when there is a direct connection with competitive strategy. One cannot understand Trajano’s social commitments without an understanding of her business model. Over the years, her company has become big, powerful—and rich—by meeting the needs of Brazil’s poorest shoppers. Unlike its major competitors, Magazine Luiza did not set out to build huge stores for well-to-do customers in major cities, the most sought-after market in a country famous for its skewed income distribution. Rather, it focused on low-income customers in small cities and rural areas. Magazine Luiza devised a set of innovative business practices to let them buy goods that were previously beyond their reach. No Brazilian company was as creative and assertive at looking at the “bottom of the pyramid” as the foundation of its business—which created a powerful foundation for the company’s social activism. “For a poor Brazilian family to buy a refrigerator, for a woman who works every day to buy her first washing machine, this is not merely a purchase,” CEO Frederico Trajano told me. “It changes and improves the quality of life.” Leadership for social change isn’t that different from business leadership Both work best when they’re infused with a spirit of top-down humility and grassroots participation. There’s a reason that billionaires like Bezos, Branson, and Ellison shine the spotlight on themselves when they engage in extracurricular pursuits: Their look-at-me style of leadership is also how they built their companies. That’s not the case with Luiza Helena Trajano. Magazine Luiza is famously bottom up and

open book. Every two years, for example, it holds the Encontrão (“Big Meeting”), where its most important initiatives get formed, critiqued, and improved upon—by thousands of employees at every level of the organization. “This kind of grassroots dialogue allows for creation of richer strategies,” Marco Pellegatti, a management consultant who has worked closely with Magazine Luiza, told me. “It leverages the diversity of the workforce. It also makes for faster execution, since everyone feels like they have a stake in the strategy.” That same logic applies to Trajano’s civic activism. The social agenda of Mulheres do Brasil extends far beyond Trajano’s personal agenda. Although her recent public visibility has sparked all kinds of chatter that she might get involved in Brazil’s presidential election, perhaps as Lula’s running mate, she has ruled out that look-at-me option. Years ago, when I was reviewing Magazine Luiza’s head-spinning growth with now-CEO Frederico Tajano, he reflected on the company’s unorthodox business strategies and concluded, “Innovation takes you to places you never expected to go.” Much the same can be said for his mother, in her new incarnation as one of Brazil’s boldest corporate activists. As businesses everywhere struggle with the demand to create economic value and embrace progressive social values, executives and entrepreneurs might want to keep their eyes on the places Luiza Helena Trajano is going. Photo by william f. santos on Unsplash.

BE A #GOALDIGGER

5 ways to set winning goals–and stick to them By Kori Covrigaru

The New Year is an opportune time for leaders to establish company and employee goals for 2022. But while many of us are jazzed in January to set goals for the year, this excitement can quickly fade come February as the day-to-day work grind sets in. Goal setting is an essential part of work, and as leaders, it is important to carve out time with your employees to set goals and put systems in place to measure progress throughout the year. Our company started setting and measuring goals five years ago and it has completely changed our business. Last year, it helped us increase our revenue by 63% percent, but more importantly, it increased our employee engagement, satisfaction and retention. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we were able to retain 88% of our staff in 2021, especially at a time when many companies faced a mass exodus of employees. Here is what has worked for us, and some considerations for effective goal-setting in the workplace. Establish Company Goals First Before you can set employee goals, you must first establish company goals for the year. Everybody at the company must be rowing in the same direction to achieve success. To do this, meet early in the year to determine what the number one goal is for the company. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a revenue or profit goal. Think about what’s the most impactful change your company can make outside of the daily whirlwind that will have the most benefit to your customers, and one that will trickle down to your team members internally. Good questions to ask—what’s one differentiator that we need to fix because it’s not working well or one that is such a big improvement that it will have an incredible impact on everyone? Once your company goals are established, it’s important that every department has a feeder toward the overall goal. From there, you can start to develop individual employee goals. Every employee and department goal must align and feed into the overall company goal. Make Individual Goal Setting Collaborative Individual goal setting should be a collaborative process to engage employees, but always keep the ultimate annual company goal in mind. Create a collaborative goal-setting environment by hosting off-site planning meetings where employees have the opportunity to think big. We are big fans of whiteboards and add both company and employee ideas to the board. From there, we focus on what is truly measurable. Many goals seem appealing and exciting, but if they are not measurable, then they won’t work. Narrow the measurable goals down to what would support the annual company goal best, and then determine the final goal for the department or employee. 42

Managers should meet with employees on a regular basis, whether weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, to review goals. Some goals might be unattainable, and some might be achieved quickly but it’s important to know what’s working and what’s not working so that you can create a path of success for everyone. Overcommunicate As CEO, I used to think that company goals should only be discussed with the leadership team. That was a misstep. Once I started communicating goals to the entire company and engaging employees in the process, the business was even more successful. It’s important for leaders to communicate, and air on the side of over communicating company goals and everyone’s role in achieving the goals on a regular basis. Live reporting to all staff on the status of reaching those goals is key, and leaders should always be agile and ready to make changes if necessary. Measure Progress Track workplace goals like a hawk. If you can’t measure it, you can’t maintain it. For us, we have found success by implementing a structured plan which includes measuring weekly and monthly scorecards at the employee, department and company level. We also review goals quarterly and annually. During the goal tracking process, meet frequently with your employees, and ask questions such as—do you feel like you’re successful? Do you feel like what we are asking for is realistic?

Do you feel like you are being managed properly? Leaders should collect genuine feedback to confirm the goals are attainable and be supportive in helping teammates achieve them. Oftentimes, you will see a push from the top down at companies to make things happen. But it’s more important to get feedback from the bottom up to ensure you are providing support, tools and resources to your team members to help them hit their goals. Recognize Achievements Leaders should recognize employees as goals are achieved and reward them. Talent is the most important component to a company and recognizing your talent and helping them move up in their career should be a focal point. We reward financially as goals are achieved because in a competitive labor market, we want to eliminate the money factor. We incentivize and also give bonuses as employees meet certain metrics. We also give weekly shoutouts to staff, and recently started using Wishlist, a simple employee rewards and recognition software, which has been a big hit. The biggest takeaway for leaders–the most effective goals should motivate your team without discouraging them from trying. If you establish clear goals, create an environment where inclusive and ongoing communication is welcome, frequently measure progress and reward achievements along the way, you will engage and empower your employees to succeed. Photo by Alexa Williams on Unsplash.

+965 66307956

NIKE DID IT

How Nike turned its brand into a $35 billion cognitive ‘shortcut’ By Jeff Rosenblum

A brand is not an esoteric concept. It is a tangible asset that can be worth billions of dollars. So, what exactly is a brand? Is it a symbol? A story? An economic model? In a world with more than 500,000 brands competing for attention, where humans are exposed to 5,000 brand messages per day, where the human brain consumes 11 million bits of information every second, a brand is a shortcut that helps people process and understand the meaning behind logos. That cognitive shortcut is a business’s most important asset. It can be worth billions of dollars. How those brands are valued has gone through revolutionary change in recent years. The story of Nike, a brand now worth $35 billion, highlights the difference between the old way of branding, and how it has changed. It reveals that brands are no longer built based on how they are portrayed. Now, brands are built based on how they behave. Early on, Nike was not a flashy brand. It created a functional product that was used only by expert runners. Then in 1987, Nike invited the ad agency Wieden+Kennedy to pitch it on a new campaign. The night before the big pitch, Dan Wieden came up with Nike’s legendary tagline. He grabbed a stiff drink and turned on his TV to relax. On the news was the execution of Gary Gilmore, who had been convicted of killing two people in Utah. Gilmore’s last words before facing the firing squad were “Let’s Do It.” The line broke through the stress and ignited something in Dan’s mind. He shifted a couple of words and decided on an 11th-hour pivot to “Just Do It.” Since then, Nike has turned Just Do It into a multibillion-dollar asset. But that road has not been without its rocks. In fact, Nike almost lost it all in a moment that highlights how transparency has changed the game from the old image-based world of branding to the new world of behaviorbased branding. In 1997, Nike commissioned a confidential investigation by Ernst & Young that found atrocious conditions in the overseas factories that supplied its sneakers. The report was leaked to The New York Times and then made headlines everywhere. Nike didn’t own the factories. The company outsourced all of its manufacturing to vendors around the world. But consumers didn’t care and held the brand responsible. As a result, the company’s stock price tanked, and Nike lost 50% of its market cap virtually overnight. Nike’s products are just rubber, cloth, and stitching. The Swoosh, “Just Do It” slogan, and superstar endorsements create cognitive shortcuts to the company’s values and its promise of integrity and quality. Suddenly, those 44

shortcuts were telling a different story. Who wants to be associated with a brand that hurts women and children? But here’s the part of this story that I love: Nike changed. The company completely overhauled its supply chain. In 2005, Nike embraced transparency and released a global database of more than 700 factories. This wasn’t required by law; it was a proactive step that signaled a dramatic shift from the brand’s previously opaque supply chain. Nike decided to take a leadership position in ethical outsourcing in the industry. Soon, Timberland, Puma, Adidas, and Reebok followed the brand’s lead, ultimately shining a light on their supply chains and the treatment of their global workforce. Environmental impact statements soon followed. Nike’s brand and financial value recovered and then grew exponentially, proving that you can’t use PR or advertising to get past a brand crisis—you actually have to change your behavior. Nike also proved that successful branding in the age of transparency isn’t simply about strong ethical behavior; it’s about marketing with a point of view. In 2018, the brand ran ads supporting Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who was the first professional sports player to protest racism by taking a knee during the national anthem before games—and consequently found himself without a job, shut

out of the league. Those ads, which featured the stirring tagline “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything” stirred up as much controversy as Kaepernick himself. Nike lost about $3.5 billion in market cap in the immediate backlash from its Kaepernick endorsement. Media pundits declared that the brand would suffer severe long-term damage. But its core audience—younger, more diverse, more progressive—quickly rewarded Nike for demonstrating bravery and supporting racial equality. Within weeks, Nike’s stock had more than rebounded. The risk paid off because brands don’t need to please everyone. They need to be true to their values and core audience. Consumers today see right through attempts at obfuscation, duplicity, and superficial messaging. Brands must find the nexus of what they stand for and what their audiences really care about. Nike’s market cap is now twice as high as when the Kaepernick ad came out and seven times higher than when the brand started to clean up its supply chain. Brand behavior and marketing with a point of view break through the enemy of incrementalism and drive exponential results.

Photo by Josh Redd on Unsplash.

HASSAN'S LIMITED EDITION 250 SETS

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LET LOVE BLOSSOM AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA This Valentine’s Day, prepare to fall in love and luxury By bazaar staff

If you are looking for the perfect destination for a romantic night on the town this Valentin’es Day, look no further than the city’s most exclusive address. The Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait At Burj Alshaya is spreading romance this February with a range of expertly designed experiences and gifting opportunities to help guests fall in love for the first time, or all over again.

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is providing couples with the perfect setting this year, with a host of stunning dining experiences from the Hotel’s celebrated restaurants, creating an atmosphere perfect for loved ones to share together. And with gifting options guaranteed to impress, such as exquisite floral arrangements from in-house florist Alissar, or indulgent treatments at the Hotel’s celebrated spa, guests will discover that Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait is the one true venue for love this year. Executive Chef Thierry Papillier, a Four Seasons veteran with expertise in delivering impeccable romantic experiences for guests all over the world, has designed dining events across the Hotel that promise to excite and create special memories for couples this year. “As a chef, I see myself as serving memories, not food,” smiles Thierry. “This Valentine’s Day every guest will leave with special memories from the occasion” he explains, showing his passion to deliver the most elevated of experiences for all. “The menus are authentic and distinctive across every restaurant of the hotel,” explains Chef Thierry, pointing to the abundance of packages on offer at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait this Valentine’s Day. Sintoho Experience the magic of love at the Hotel’s modern Asian restaurant with an authentic ambience. Already a favorite dining destination amongst Kuwait City’s foodie scene, there is no doubt that this specially prepared Valentine’s Day menu will delight and astonish couples. With three packages to choose

from, all including a five-course set menu, virtual entertainment and complimentary Valentine’s Day giveaways for couples, the scene is well and truly set for romance at Sintoho. Choose to start your night at either 6:00 pm or 9:15 pm with packages starting from KD 100 per person or go for the more special window seat package that is available at KD 150 per person. Al Bandar Private Cabana A limited number of private dining Cabana experiences are available this Valentine’s Day at Al Bandar’s spectacular poolside venue. Offering an unforgettable occasion delivered in the most romantic of settings, courtesy of a personalized butler service, a lavish five-course menu, premium decorations and a takeaway gift box of 30 red roses from luxury florist Alissar Flowers, this package option is guaranteed to create special memories for couples under the city lights. Choose to start your magical night at either 6:00 pm or 9:30 pm for KD 250 per person. Al Bandar Lounge Al Bandar’s popular lounge will be home to a more convivial atmosphere, with house music providing entertainment and a live BBQ station providing the centerpiece to a dining experience that begins with a tapas tower, followed by a surf and turf combo and dessert meant to be shared, just like the love between you. Guests are welcomed on a first come, first seated basis at KD 40 per person. Limited VIP

Lounge seating also available on a first come, first served basis is offered at KD 100 per person. Dai Forni Stunning views from the 21st floor, fine Italian dining and the unique sophisticated style of Dai Forni set the perfect scene for love. Nothing is as romantic as a night under the stars paired with an elegant fivecourse set menu and a backdrop of quintessentially virtual entertainment to provide an evening that will excite, surprise and leave lasting romantic memories. You can choose to start your dinner at either 6:00 pm or 9:15 pm. Packages start from KD 100 per person. You can also choose a special window seat package which starts at KD 150 per person. Elements The Hotel’s popular 4th floor restaurant will be transformed into an elegant affair this Valentine’s Day, with a delightful buffet dinner in a relaxed setting, fuelled by virtual entertainment. Packages start from KD 50 per person and you can book your reservation starting at 6:00 PM. Exquisite Gifting Opportunities With a stunning array of hand-made chocolates and floral arrangements on offer, one need look no further than Al Soor Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait. In partnership with luxury florist Alissar Flowers, the hotel’s chocolatier has teamed up with the expert inhouse florists from Alissar to create a range of gifting options that will impress. [Continued...]

Romance Staycation During the month of February, create new memories and relax with your loved one in true Four Seasons style with the Romance Package at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. Specially selected romantic amenities will be set up in the room with a special cake and a bottle of Zahara. The package also extends 15% savings for treatments at The Spa and 15% off at Sintoho restaurant. Rates start from KD 154 per night, on a roomonly basis excluding 15% service charge and the promotional discount at Sintoho restaurant will not be applicable on February 14th Spa Treatments The much-adorned destination day spa for the local Kuwaiti community, with its range of innovative, result-driven treatments, offers endless options for those gifting for loved ones this Valentine’s Day. Treat yourself and visit Provence without leaving the city, with the “Aroma of Love” romantic aromatherapy experience inspired by the beautiful Valensole Plateau lavender fields. The two-hour journey, priced at KD 95, begins with an aromatic healing foot bath followed by an organic infused salt body scrub completed by a relaxing massage with lavender oil, leaving you completely rejuvenated from head to toe. The “Oriental Essence” treatment, inspired by traditional therapies from the Far East provides a deeply relaxing 75-minute journey for KD 65, combining warm compresses, Thai stretching techniques followed by a nourishing massage with a blend of oils that releases muscle tension and energizing the body. Prior booking is required so make your reservation by calling 2200 6050.

For reservations and information about Valentine’s Day at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya visit fourseasons.com/kuwait, call: 2200 6065 or email: festive.kuwait@fourseasons.com. Follow the hotel’s latest on Instagram @FSKuwait. 48

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COMING SOON...

FASHION. BEAUTY. HOME. DELIVERED AT YOUR DOOR

IRIS APFEL X H&M

In celebration of 100 years of life and style inspiration By bazaar staff

When H&M announced their global collaboration with true fashion icon last year – the inspirational Iris Apfel, we were ecstatic. Iris is a self-made businessperson, interior decorator, fashion designer and style icon, famous for her stand-out style, fierce individuality, bold fashion choices and creative designs. She represents the notion that style and inspiration can come from anywhere and anyone, regardless of the price. She’s also exactly who we want to be when we grow up.

And during New York Fashion Week 2021, H&M celebrated and hosted Iris’s 100th birthday honoring the beloved fashion muse who has been serving up style inspiration for fashion enthusiasts around the world for decades. “I think H&M is fabulous and are absolute pioneers in their field – which I love! I love doing high style at affordable prices, which H&M has mastered!,” said Iris Apfel. H&M was drawn to work with Iris because of her eccentric style and influence with the fashion community. For 100 years, Iris has inspired people to create, celebrate and embrace their own personal style and continues to be a pioneer in the fashion industry. Her colorful outfits and bold accessories have been a point of fascination for decades - she embodies what it means to be 50

a true, fearless style icon. Inspired by Iris’ eye-catching style and unique flair, the Iris Apfel x H&M collection will include a stunning assortment designed for everyone. The collection includes clothing and accessories – all created embracing Iris’ bold sense of style and independence in mind. Key pieces in the collection include colorful coordinating sets, floral suits, tiered ruffle dresses and bright printed dresses, featuring a mix of textures, interesting cuts and patterns. A jewelry and accessory line has also been designed to complement the wardrobe. Taking inspiration from Iris’s layered look and love of chunky statement pieces, the accessories pull from many themes including plants, animals, and treasures from another world.

All materials used in the collection are recycled, or more sustainably sourced and each garment and accessory has been made with circularity in mind. “Iris epitomizes personal style – a style that is both beautifully flamboyant and eclectic as well as being totally ageless. She shows what fashion is all about – a means to express yourself, who you are or want to be and having fun at the same time – a true inspirer!” Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor, H&M Womenswear.

The Iris Apfel x H&M collection pays homage to her unique style and is to launch in select H&M stores in Kuwait and on kw.hm.com in early 2022.

SUSHU. ALWAYS FROM THE HEART.

22091190 www.lovesushu.com Part of Novo Foods Company

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

3 ways to create a good first impression at your new job By Art Markman

There is a lot of value in having a good first few weeks at a new job. For one, it’s hard for other people to really evaluate how you’re doing when you first start. It takes a while for new projects to get to a point where they yield results. But, there is evidence that when you have a favorable impression of someone, you evaluate their actions more favorably than when you have an unfavorable impression. This is called “the halo effect.”

To construct your halo, there are a few things you can do to get your work off to a running star t: It starts before you start You should be preparing for your first day on the job even before you get there. If you’re new to a company, you should be reading up on it. Ask your new boss for some information if they don’t provide it. Find out as much as you can about what your responsibilities are going to be. You aren’t going to be ready to get actual work done before you star t, because you won’t know exactly what you’re being asked to do. But, the aim is to familiarize yourself with terms you might encounter at work and to have a set of questions you’d like to get answered as you get star ted. Once you begin the new job, information is going to come at you fast and furious, so the better prepared you are in advance, the easier it will be for you to handle the flood. This preparation will give you an oppor tunity to look confident on your first day. It will also enable you to ask better questions. On top of that, you’re likely to remember more of what 52

you’re told. All of those will give that first impression that you’re really on top of things. Listen as much as you play When you first arrive at a new job, there is a temptation to make a big splash right away. The pressure to have an impact can be particularly strong for people who are coming into a leadership role, but it is true for almost any role. As a result, you’ll probably feel compelled to contribute early and often in meetings as a way of making your presence felt. This is where a piece of advice given to jazz musicians comes in handy. Jazz musicians frequently have to play with new groups. And when you sit in with a new group, you should listen more than you play. The reason is that you cannot hope to fit yourself with the style of music being played by the other musicians if you don’t hear what they are doing. Similarly, when you first get to an organization, really listen to people. What are their concerns? How do they talk about the work they are doing? What do they articulate as their priorities. The more you understand about what everyone else thinks is important, the better you will be at devoting your efforts to key tasks.

Be of service In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That attitude of finding ways to serve is true for any organization you are a part of. No matter what role you take on, your initial focus should be on how you can help the people around you to achieve their goals. People remember others who have helped them in the past. In addition, most people want to repay the members of their community who have done favors for them. Starting your time with a new team by helping others reinforces a favorable first impression and also generates a sense of support from people you can rely on when you need help in the future. This service mindset is particularly valuable for people taking on supervisory roles. People who are leading others for the first time are often concerned about coming across as a strong leader. They may want to give orders to others in order to demonstrate that they can command a team. A leader who finds ways to help their team achieve their goals, however, can develop loyalty from the people who report to them, which pays significant dividends down the line. Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash.

MULTIPLE METAVERSES

Microsoft’s metaverse vision is becoming clear—and makes sense By Mark Sullivan

With the announcement of its $69 billion deal to buy gaming giant Activision Blizzard, Microsoft suddenly has a lot to say about the metaverse. And investors seem to be taking it seriously. “This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console, and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse,” the company said in the deal announcement on January 18. At least in the near term, the Activision buy is mostly about Microsoft’s gaming business. The deal, if approved by regulators, would include some huge gaming franchises, such as Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush, all of which could be added to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service in 2023. The merger would make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world, behind Sony and China’s Tencent. On Tuesday, Microsoft held its first earnings call since the Activision news. The company reported strong quarterly results that surprised analysts and sent Microsoft’s stock soaring past $300 per share in trading Wednesday. Naturally, analysts had some questions for CEO Satya Nadella about the implications of the Activision deal and about this whole metaverse thing. A real working definition of the metaverse is still very much in flux, but Nadella gave some color on how he and Microsoft are thinking about it. “Just like the first wave of the internet allowed everybody to build a website, I think the next wave of the internet will be a more open world where people can build their own metaverse worlds, whether they’re organizations or game developers or anyone else.” Instead of describing how Microsoft might use Activision’s people and technology assets to build an immersive virtual gaming space, he described how he expects the metaverse concept to begin seeping into Microsoft’s various products and businesses. “The way we see this is as an opportunity in a classic Microsoft sense both at the platform infrastructure level and in the application level,” Nadella began. “Teams is going to have Mesh meetings, so these immersive meetings which will start on 2D screens whether it’s PCs or phones, and then lead up to immersive experiences where you’ll wear your AR or VR goggles.” (Mesh is Microsoft’s mixed-reality collaboration software, where people are represented as 3D avatars.) Microsoft has said that Mesh for Teams will begin rolling out “in preview” to businesses and developers in the first half of 2022. Nadella says games might undergo a similar evolution from 2D to 3D experiences. “Already people are investing in their avatars, people are 54

building on Minecraft worlds, so very naturally you can see us extend gaming as the metaverse evolves.” He gave an example Microsoft’s Forza racing simulation game, in which people are actively investing in building their avatars. In an interview with Bloomberg in November Nadella said that three of the company’s existing gaming franchises—Halo, Minecraft, and Flight Simulator—have already evolved into metaverses. He gave no time frame for when other Microsoft games might extend to the metaverse. Even though Meta/Facebook is trying to convince the world that social networking is the most natural on-ramp to the metaverse, it could just as easily be gaming instead. With games like Fortnite and Roblox, we’ve seen how easily gaming experiences can flow into purely social ones when people stop playing the game and just hang out. If the metaverse bends that way, Microsoft would be in a strong position. Even before the Activision Blizzard acquisition is a done deal, it has a bunch of top gaming studios under its roof and some of the most popular games. And the hardware we use for the metaverse isn’t going to be 2D experiences on smartphones and PCs (ironically, surging PC sales were the main driver of Microsoft’s big quarter). That’s like listening to TV on the radio. It’s going to be some form of mixed-reality eyewear. Here, Microsoft got a head start. It committed to its HoloLens mixedreality headset years ago (the first HoloLens was released in 2016), and it has a lot of experience

with the hard problem of developing a mixed-reality device that people will feel comfortable wearing for long periods of time. Nadella talked about Microsoft’s experience “on the optics, and the silicon side, and all the way to the cloud in terms of some of the foundational services driven by all the HoloLens use cases that are in the enterprise.” In other words, Microsoft’s games offering combined with its experience with the technical realities of spatial computing could put it in a stronger position than Sony or Tencent. Even Meta hasn’t released a mixed-reality hardware product, though it’s spent plenty of time talking about its plans. The metaverse will very likely be a place where we work, too—and Microsoft is unique in being a major force in both gaming and productivity. A 3D virtual business meeting within Microsoft Teams might feel far less strange than one within Meta’s Horizon Workrooms, especially if some of the resources and data you might need for that meeting already reside in Microsoft apps. Nadella sounds convinced that the metaverse, or spatial computing, or whatever you want to call it, is indeed the next big thing in personal computing. I suspect the metaverse will arrive far more slowly than some would have us believe—in part because of the hardware problems mentioned above—but when the time comes I can think of worse companies than Microsoft to help build it. Photo by Mohammad Rezaie on Unsplash.

EMOTIONALLY SMART

5 ways emotional intelligence can help budding entrepreneurs By Harvey Deutschendorf

Many people joining the Great Resignation express a recent re-examination of their life and career priorities as an impetus for leaving their job. We also know from the increase in applications for business licenses, that a lot of those leaving are looking to become entrepreneurs. Even before COVID-19, there were signs that small businesses and the gig economy were gathering steam. You certainly don’t have to look far to be inundated with stories of people who gave up their secure paychecks to strike out on their own and quickly made a fortune. However, the reality of entrepreneurship is often less glamorous—involving hard work, persistence, and overcoming setbacks and failures. There are not many stories of overnight success. Those who do become successful need to have mental and physical stamina, and the emotional resources that will take them the distance. Here is what is needed emotionally. 1. Self-awareness The basis of all emotional intelligence, selfawareness, is crucial for entrepreneurs. While we often think of ourselves as rational beings, our decisions are often based on our emotions. A high awareness of our feelings helps us to use our emotions effectively to make well-informed decisions, rather than acting strictly from our emotional space. Self-awareness is also crucial to knowing how we show up and come across to others. This is important in developing healthy working relationships with our staff, customers, suppliers, and others in our environment that will have a huge impact on our success. “Understanding oneself is the linchpin of being able to discern reality, engender trust, and inspire people,” says Neal Goldman, an entrepreneur and CEOcoach who recently founded FindCenter, a free online platform for personal, spiritual exploration. “Sometimes, to gain that understanding, you have to step away from the 24/7 grind and spend time working on yourself, finding the thing that grounds you and brings you clarity and purpose.” 2. Impulse control and understanding of delayed gratification When things go wrong, as they often will, we need to have the ability to control reacting solely from our emotions. There is no longer a secure paycheck coming in. Instead, we need to be able to step back and look at the situation from a solutions-based perspective. This often means making immediate sacrifices in terms of time, effort, and finances in order to work toward a future goal.

3. Building supportive relationships So much of our success in creating our own business depends upon how well we’re able to have others trust us, work with us, and help us succeed. Emotionally intelligent people are interested in the lives of others, empathetic, and know how to treat others in their orbit. They understand the need to build trust with those whom they rely upon to make their business successful. This builds up good will that’s crucial in any entrepreneur’s ability to ride out difficult times. 4. Self-confidence, adaptability, and a willingness to go outside our comfort zones There’s rarely a straight line to success in any organization. Continued change and adaptation is the norm. This requires constant awareness of what’s happening in our environment and the ability to withstand constantly pushing our comfort zone. The ability to continue on and try new things is a major attribute that separates those who start their own businesses from those who need the comfort of having a secure job.

5. A strong support base While the myth of the self-made individual persists in American ideology, most successful people know that it takes a strong team to build up a successful business. They’re active in their community, lending a helping hand, volunteering, and giving their time and energy generously. Known as community builders, they’re constantly aware that becoming successful doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it requires the goodwill and support of others in their environment. Entrepreneurship is demanding of resources— both mental and emotional. Those who are able to persevere despite setbacks need to have a supportive home base that includes family and friends who believe in us and support us. Running our own business can be a lonely, frustrating, and demanding road. We need as much support and help as we can get.

Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash.

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TAMANNA.COM CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF BRINGING STYLE AND CONVENIENCE TO KUWAIT

Some things just fit together perfectly and nothing could be a truer example of this than TAMANNA just fitting perfectly into our lives as the ultimate online shopping destination for style savvy shoppers in Kuwait! Over the last twelve months TAMANNA has brought together over three hundred of the most colorful and lively brands specially curated to give their valued customer the optimal chance to enjoy shopping online with convenience while perusing popular pieces for the entire family across categories from fashion to beauty and home furnishing. TAMANNA IS #BORNINKUWAIT Kuwait’s ultimate online fashion, beauty, and lifestyle destination was launched in Kuwait on the 6th of February of 2021. The launch of the platform made online shopping more joyous, as TAMANNA enables convenience, ease and speed for an enjoyable online shopping experience that mirrors 58

the experience you might have at your favorite shopping mall with all of your favorite brands under one virtual roof. Customers can enjoy FREE nextday delivery on orders over KWD 15.000, free returns within 30-days, and a convenient Click and Collect service located at The Avenues. Last year, TAMANNA’s #BornInKuwait campaign simply exploded across the country, everyone was talking about the stunning imagery created and the feeling of togetherness T A M A N N A strongly evoked. #BornInKuwait featured three of Kuwait’s up and coming influencers; professional dancer and restaurant owner Sara Al Homood, internationally acclaimed artist Hamad Al-Humaidhan - Young Picasso, and sought-after stylist Daylal AlHajeri. Dressed and accessorized head-to-toe from their favorite brands from TAMANNA, the freshfaced, popular influencers posed alongside iconic landmarks, presenting a symbolic juxtaposition of heritage and hope for the future. TAMANNA showed us that no matter what your interests, style or needs, they fullfil and deliver your every wish for the latest in seasonal fashion, beauty and lifestyle collections.

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the TAMANNA app

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To ring in their one-year birthday in style, TAMANNA is driving ease and conveninece in our shopping experience with the launch of the TAMANNA app that allows for shopping anytime, anywhere. Available for iOS and Andriod, the TAMANNA app brings customers even closer to their favorite brands. Bursting on to the scene with freshness, customers shopping the app can celebrate with TAMANNA and enjoy 15% off all app purchases. You can browse all your favorite brands, seasonal fashion favorites and new collections that will make revamping your personal style or home quick and easy.

Today, you can can easily shop the latest styles from the world’s most loved brands including but not limited to American Eagle, Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, River Island, The North Face, Dr Vranjes, Bath & Body Works, Muji, River Island, Vavavoom, Harvey Nichols Beauty and Mothercare conveniently online. BETTER TOGETHER WITH TAMANNA What does it take to be able to stock over 19,000 styles, 300 brands, and serve over two million website visitors? A stellar team, tirelessly working together to bring you the effortless TAMANNA experience. Technical wizardry paired with human assistance makes the TAMANNA experience one smooth ride from beginning to end, and it takes over one hundred members of staff across the world (Kuwait, Dubai and Portugal, to be exact) to seamlessly maintain the quality of this e-commerce offering. Over two million site visits mean TAMANNA has spent the last year learning how best to fulfill your needs, focusing on providing you, their valued customer, with the best service, offers and brand collaborations, and they’re only getting started! TAMANNA believes that together with the support of their valued customers and partners, even more tantalizing shopping experiences are expected, and there are definitely more surprises planned for this year. Together, we are one!

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Download the TAMANNA app from the App Store or Google Play for a 15% discount on your app purchases or visit tamanna.com and keep up-to-date by following @shop.tamanna on Instagram. *Limited time offer: Terms & conditions apply. 59

NEW ELEVATED STREETWEAR H&M launches next level Blank Staples By bazaar staff

H&M continues to raise the standard for men’s everyday streetwear, now launching their fourth Blank Staples collection with clean-cut styles in heavyweight cotton fabrics. This elevated drop of oversized and boxy-fit basics features tees, sweatshirts, hoodies, joggers, underwear and socks, where tops and bottoms easely can be worn as sets or separately.

Men everywhere loved the previous collections and wanted even more. The easy-to-wear styles were an instant hit and made getting dressed in the morning a snap. The lines are simple and clean making mixing and matching a breeze. Style afficionados and style newbies alike can dress stylishly. New additions are the windbreakers, the zipped hoodies, the casual shorts, the shoes and the bucket hats. The color palette is clean and modern in faded pastels such as pistachio, sky blue and stone, included is also an edgy off-black. For this exclusive drop H&M is introducing inconversion cotton, which is cotton grown by farmers converting to organic farming. All cotton garment pieces in this collection are made of 100% inconversion cotton, except the grey melange styles that are made of 98% or 99% in-conversion cotton and 2% or 1% viscose. A supreme must-have is the windbreaker, available in two styles – one cropped cut in light grey as well as one oversized fit in pistachio. Both styles are made from 100% recycled polyester and dyed using a more sustainable dyeing method from the award-winning, innovative cleantech company We aRe SpinDye.

The new Blank Staples drop will launch in selected H&M stores in Kuwait and at kw.hm.com February 10th, 2022. 60

SHOW YOURSELF SOME SELF-LOVE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY WITH TRIUMPH THE BEST KIND OF LOVE IS THE KIND YOU GIVE YOURSELF By bazaar staff

Valentine’s may always represent the season of love, but the way we choose to celebrate it has well and truly changed… for the better. Increasingly, we have started to focus more on the relationship we have with ourselves. Self-love can enhance our sense of wellbeing in ways that cannot be measured. For that reason, why not treat yourself to something that makes you innately happy, like the most ‘intimate’ gift of all…the gift of intimates!!

Triumph has always given us the support, comfort and care we need, not just on Valentine’s day but all year round. By using intelligent design, quality and innovative materials, and most of all listening to women like you and I, they have managed to create supportive undergarments that look and feel great. Love is in the Air Whilst we don’t need a specific day to show ourselves or those around us love, Valentine’s is still a time to celebrate love in all its forms. Why not make it a day to celebrate the love you have for all the important people in your life, be 62

it a friend, family member or even a four-legged friend? There’s no doubt that lingerie always makes for a great gift so why not gift an important woman in your life and share the love? Comfortable in Love Like Valentine’s itself, the meaning of what makes us feel sensual has also changed. Its true meaning lies in what makes us FEEL great and comfort has a vital part to play. Hands up who agrees that they look great when they feel great? Step forward, Triumph’s new wireless innovations; lingerie that truly marries comfort with stylish design that enables us to feel truly wonderful. The all-new

Amourette Charm features an innovative non-wired fit with molded galloon lace and secret support, up to F-cup and has been designed to look and fit like a wired bra but provides the freedom and comfort of a non-wired bra. Alternatively, the Electra Spotlight features delicate lace and a romantic look, designed to flatter all body shapes. Show yourself some love this February and treat yourself to true comfort. #TogetherWeTriumph is available in Triumph stores in 360 Kuwait, The Avenues, The Promenade, Al Bairaq, and Marina Mall. For home delivery Whatsapp 182 0012 and follow Triumph Lingerie on Instagram @TriumphLingerie.

RETAIN YOUR BEST

The Great Resignation antidote that costs companies nothing By Brian Elliot and Debbie Lovich

Companies have been grappling with internal transparency for decades. How much visibility should employees be given regarding key developments and decisions impacting them and the business? And how much input should leaders solicit from employees on these issues? After nearly two years of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty—and the ongoing Great Resignation—transparency at work has never been more critical. It’s essential to bring challenges and opportunities to the forefront and to instill trust in the leadership and direction of an organization. Perhaps most importantly, according to Future Forum’s Pulse survey, it’s also key to retaining talent. In companies where leaders are not perceived to be transparent, twice as many employees are likely or very likely to leave. The question of whether employees will be required to return to the office and how often has brought the issue of transparency in the workplace to a head. Executives across industries acknowledge that employees want flexibility, but they also admit that there’s a disconnect between themselves and employees on how to move forward. All told, according to our research, twothirds of companies are not engaging employees in planning around the future of work. And when we have conversations with external executives on this topic, we often hear things like, “Our employees aren’t listening to us” or “They are over-surveyed” or “If we give them an opportunity to voice what they want, we will then have to give it to them” or “We shouldn’t communicate until we have the answers.” All these conclusions are wrong. Transparency can’t be a top-down edict. It must be a two-way street. That means involving employees in the planning process in a meaningful way, even if you don’t have all the answers, and listening deeply to their feedback and ideas. To start, think about conversations that have become unnecessarily exclusive to leaders, and see if you can open them up in some way, like regular Q&A sessions with executives or a dedicated “Ask Me Anything” channel. For example, one CEO we spoke with personally held daily all-staff sessions for the first seven months of the pandemic. Enlist working groups of employees across functions, geographies, and demographics to help solve problems, or experiment with crowdsourcing new ideas. Sometimes (oftentimes), the best ideas don’t come from where you’d expect, and involving employees in this way will increase engagement and, by extension, retention. All well and good, executives may say, but how do you keep things from going off the rails? This shouldn’t be an unstructured and unrestrained free for all. For two-way communication to work, 64

there must be well-paved lanes going in both directions—with guardrails, shoulders, speed limits, and seatbelts. Try out these rules of the road: Set the tone from the top, and clearly communicate expectations around mutually respectful behavior; establish and publicly share your process for triaging challenging conversations; acknowledge open questions and, if you can, commit to a time frame to respond; and default to accountability, so anonymity is the exception rather than the rule. The crossroads we find ourselves at today also present an opportunity for executives to take a good, hard look in the mirror. Many senior executives have spent too much time in a protected communication bubble where messages reach them only after many rounds of presentation revisions and pre-meetings, and messages from them are only shared after rounds of editing. This insulation has caused executives to lose touch with the day-to-day realities of their

people. Additionally, study after study shows that the more power a leader has, the more difficult it is for them to relate to subordinates. Empathy at this level isn’t a born trait—building that muscle requires intentional and sustained work. The good news is that leaders who commit to figuring out the future of work together with their teams will have plenty of opportunity to exercise their empathy, transparency, and listening muscles. Leaders who understand the power of transparency see this as a moment of opportunity. Employees who say their company is transparent report feeling more satisfied, valued, and fairly treated in their jobs. Creating a culture of thoughtful dialogue in both directions will lead to trust, mutual respect, and more committed employees—ultimately helping leaders build stronger companies.

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash.

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BREAKFAST WITH MOTHER, PLUS SON A short story

By Craig Loomis

One of his red sneakers would fit neatly in the palm of my hand. His fist is no bigger than a plum. I can’t help but watch as he stares intently into the small computer screen that she has propped up on the tabletop in front of him. From my vantage point, and if I list ever so slightly to the right, I can see a line of full-clothed animals dancing across the screen. There is a lion, a hippo, something like a bear but furrier; they seem to be friends, this chorus line of cartoon creatures. Still, the little boy with red sneakers has yet to smile, as if this watching of dancing, singing animals is serious business, something like a job; and so it isn’t long before he begins to fidget, wagging his sneakers, his tiny pants suddenly too tight. The mother, who is busy talking on her phone, spies the boy losing 66

interest and quickly--and not being a mother for nothing--leans over to push a button and just like that the screen winks to a picture of toy cars with oogling headlight-eyes and grilly grins racing and chatting. This, for the time being, stops the boy from squirming; in the meantime, one of his shoestrings has magically become untied. Of course, it isn’t long before one red sneaker tumbles to the floor, bouncing once, twice. But never mind because he is busy watching race cars race and talk and even wink their headlights at one another. For the first time he smiles. Finally, when he does look down, he does two things: wiggles his shoeless toes, and sees his shoe on the floor. I can see him giving this some consideration: toes here, shoe there, and now, his considering all done, he begins to moan. The mother, whose telephone talk has never wavered, not once, glances his way and leans over yet again to push another button and a new cartoon begins, with more animals, more friendly

chitchat. For the time being his lost sneaker is no longer important. And so it goes: me sipping coffee, reading the newspaper, watching mother and son have their morning out together. In the end, thinking they must surely leave before me, they don’t, and as I walk by their table, newspaper in hand, he, with eyebrows raised, turns to watch me, as if he knows me and is struggling to remember when and where. Once outside, I chance a glance back through the window and of course nothing has changed, he has not stopped watching me as if I were the guilty one and the very least I could do is stop to pick up his shoe. I cannot help but think that there is something not quite right about this, . . . this, . . . this motherly morning outing with her son but since I don’t know what to call it, I catch the first taxi that honks at me. Photo by daiga ellaby on Unsplash.

IT’S TIME TO PRESS PLAY

collection celebrates fashion’s bright new era H&M Studio’s SS22 By bazaar staff

Want to dress yourself happy? H&M Studio’s message for spring is clear: mood-enhancing fashion is back. Titled “Press Play”, and inspired by musical Gen-Z muses with internet-breaking style and stadium-filling personalities, the SS22 collection is the perfect antidote to a FOMO-filled period when normal life for so many has been on pause. Saturated in potent doses of color, with fearless and fabulous prints and details that draw on the outré fashion of the 1980s and 1990s, as well as high-octane accessories, the collection is a dressing up box fuelled by a daring mix-and-match mentality.

“I think we all feel pent-up desire to wear fun, daring clothes again, and this fearless attitude reminds me of the expressive energy of the 1980s up to the early 2000s. For the SS22 collection, we really wanted to bring power ful, big-personality fashion back into the spotlight. It’s all about expressing yourself with versatile pieces that forge your own look,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M. A “see-and-be-seen” attitude permeates the collection’s key pieces. From avant-garde takes on laced-up denim and one-size-up suiting, to ultra-zingy, lime-green satin co-ords and a leopard-print swimsuit designed to be worn from the beach to the dancefloor, these are looks that

command attention. Equally eye-catching is a studded denim mini skirt and a series of bright ’90s-style mesh tops, the most radical of which is trimmed with cancan ruffles. A little black dress comes with rhinestone trims and black slouchy trousers come with snap-fastenings that unfurl from the ankle to the waist. “The prints for SS22 constitute a fashion feast. The leopard collage print in particular is like a candy bag, with various prints cut up and pasted back together to represent a bold, sharp attitude.” says Moa Bartling, Print Designer for H&M Studio. “For SS22 we were drawn to modern musical muses, the women who are outspoken and unapologetic in terms of their values and their wardrobes, both on- and off-stage. We wanted to create a range of adaptable pieces that could be styled in numerous rule-breaking ways to symbolise joy and optimism,” says Linda Wikell, Concept Designer for H&M Studio. Screen-green snake earrings and chainlink necklaces will elevate ever y outfit, while studded platform clogs vie for the spotlight alongside tomato-red western boots. Wraparound sunglasses and leopard-neon bikinis add a touch of retro futurism to proceedings, while a lace-trimmed bodysuit offers a flexible styling layer to be dressed up or down. In line with H&M´s sustainability commitments, ever y item in the collection is made from more sustainably sourced materials. Recycled polyester and recycled polyamide both feature, alongside recycled wool. In accessories, recycled steel and brass have been used for statement pieces, as well as VEGEA, a smart vegan leather alternative partly made from the by-products of the winemaking process.

The H&M Studio SS22 collection will be available online at kw.hm.com and on the H&M app from February 24.

THE OCEANS ARE HALF FULL

Coral reefs are dying, but there’s a tiny bit of good news about what happens when they’re gone By Talib Visram

In 1998, a mass bleaching event hit reefs in the Seychelles, leading to a devastating loss of 90% of the African island nation’s live coral. While that event wasn’t caused by climate change (rather by El Niño, a recurring climate pattern that causes ocean warming every few years), global heating has increased the frequency of these harmful incidents, which strip coral of the microalgae coating that supplies sea life with a nutritious food source. In turn, the 850 million humans who live close to reefs and rely on those reef fisheries for nutrition and their livelihoods are also put at risk. “It’s a huge food provisioning role that these reefs are playing,” says James Robinson, a research fellow at Lancaster University in the U.K. Almost all the fish that are caught in reefs around the world are consumed domestically by the local population. That’s why a new study, which Robinson coauthored, gives hope: Even reefs that haven’t recovered their original algae states after bleaching seem to provide nutrient-rich food to fish. The Seychelles islands, which contain 1,700 square kilometers of reefs, have been particularly hard hit, making them a good case study for Robinson to determine exactly how climate events can affect the nutritional potential of reefs. And, more generally, to find out how nutrient-rich tropical reef fish are, in a place where it’s the primary source of protein, representing 47% of animal protein intake among residents. Of the country’s bleached reefs, 40% experienced “habitat collapse and macroalgal overgrowth,” where the reef is overrun by seaweed, a relatively common outcome. That new food source favors tropical bottom-feeders, like rabbitfish and parrotfish, which have increased in biomass in the Seychelles, despite the coral collapsing. The team measured specific minerals in the muscles of these fish from the reefs, comparing them with ones from reefs that had recovered their coral. They then compared the mineral content to those of other common proteins, including chicken breast, ribeye, and tilapia. They found the fish were nutritious, consistent with most seafood. But the content of minerals like iron and calcium was higher than in species like tilapia. Most surprising was how nutritious the fish from the unrecovered corals were: Iron and zinc content was higher in fish from those habitats versus the recovered reefs. “We didn’t see that coming,” Robinson says. The researchers believe the reason is, quite simply, that the seaweed is richer in those minerals. “Sargassum seaweeds . . . have high levels of minerals and, when cover is high, may account for similar amounts of primary production as turf algae,” the report reads. And if the fish are now eating nutrient-rich seaweed, humans who eat those fish are also benefiting. “We 70

think this higher contribution of a new energy source provides nutrients in the entire food web,” Robinson says. That finding could be vital in the Seychelles and similar tropical countries, given malnutrition struggles due to deficiencies of iron, zinc, and calcium, which leads to stunted growth and anemia as well as food insecurity. “These results suggest that coral reef small-scale fisheries may play a vital local role in public health,” the study reads. Coral bleaching is still reducing biodiversity, and the biomass of piscivores (fish-eaters) that rely on a more diverse source of prey than the seaweed feeders. “It’s bad from a coral reef biodiversity perspective,” Robinson says. “There’s no doubt about that.” But the nutrient-

packed herbivorous fish that are caught for food have increased in biomass, which is a boon for the local population. Around the world, there are similar trends, Robinson says: The Great Barrier Reef, which experienced the largest mass bleaching event since the Seychelles, has also attracted more herbivores. “Despite loss of coral, you can still produce food,” Robinson concludes, noting that the main takeaway should be the importance of managing reef fisheries in a more sustainable way. “Reefs do play an important role in local food security in the tropics,” he says. “And they can still do so. We just can’t overfish.”

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash.

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SELLING THE POSITION

The surprising way to beat the 1 thing your brain is hardwired to hold you back on By Brian Scordato

This post is about the best lesson I learned in 2021. And to tell you about it, I’ve got to tell you a story. I got married this past fall, and my mind treats the whole thing like a giant Magic Eye poster. Nearly everything is blurry, but a few moments leap out. Those moments involve my closest friends, family, and wife. And one random conversation I had with a stranger. During the cocktail hour, I was introduced to one of my parents’ friends who’d recently retired from banking. She was sharp as hell, witty, and more than a bit intimidating. After chatting for a few minutes I blurted out a question. “What’s the thing you did that had the biggest impact on you being so successful?” She didn’t hesitate. “Selling the position.” Loss aversion My new friend was describing loss aversion. We’re all hardwired to value something we own twice what it’s worth. If a $10 bill falls out of your pocket, you’ll be twice as upset about losing it as you’d be happy if you found a $10 bill on the street. We’ve all heard about this concept. But selling the position is an extraordinary way of combating it. I built a dating app called Find Your Lobster back in 2011. It was similar to Tinder and Hinge, but a bit earlier than both. A lot of the work was good—even great—especially the branding and marketing. People still tell me how funny that lobster was. But when Tinder and Hinge launched, we got steamrolled. They were superior products with better strategies. As the ground shifted under our feet, it was clear to anyone with eyes that our strategy was a long shot. Well, except to me. I was blinded, captured by the spell of the great work we’d done, the good reasons we’d gotten into the space in the first place, and the strategy that had been creative and unique 18 months prior. I trudged along a doomed path for another year. I should’ve sold the position. But how would that even work? I couldn’t just quit Find Your Lobster then start it back up the next day. How to sell the position It’s easy to be jealous of my banker friend and write off the strategy as something you can’t do. Selling the position and buying it back is easy when you literally have a position in a marketplace you can sell and buy in a day. Maybe most important, the metric of what she was trying to do was clear: The team existed to make money. Over the last few months, we’ve worked on re-creating this strategy practically with founders in Tacklebox. We’ve found a dead-simple way to execute it. It starts with two questions, a whiteboard, and (sometimes) a bottle of wine. 1. What do you want? 2. If you had unlimited options available to get that thing, would you actively choose what

you’re currently doing? What we’ve realized is just the exercise of thinking through what you really want to see if you’d choose what you’re doing to get there is enough to break the loss-aversion spell. Here’s how it would’ve looked with Find Your Lobster. If I’d asked myself what I wanted out of Find Your Lobster, I would’ve quickly realized my passion was in building a business, leading a team, and being creative around marketing. Find Your Lobster had been a vehicle for that, but I was passionate about the process, not the customer. I didn’t really care if my customers got dates, which is about as big a red flag as you can have as an entrepreneur. And if I’d done the exercise of “selling” Find Your Lobster while I was building it, I would’ve never bought it back. The first question would’ve

made it clear I needed to do something where I was passionate about the person I was building for. And, ideally, be building lots of things. I eventually got to what I do now, but the exercise would’ve saved 12 months. These questions are hard—thus the wine— but impor tant. And don’t be afraid to use them on a smaller scale and on nonwork things. If you’ve been doing something—anything—for a long time, and it seems like the reason you’re doing it is just that you’ve been doing it, sell the position. See if you’d buy it back. We’ve all got way too much to offer. No need to settle for something we wouldn’t choose.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash.

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SKIP THE NICETIES

3 reasons to stop being nice at work By Kelly D. Parker

At the age of six, between playing hopscotch, riding bikes, and drawing pictures, I learned an important lesson about how teams work based on the story of The Three Little Pigs, where an industrious farm animal and his two brothers built houses made of various materials. Each dwelling looked sturdy from the outside, but only one offered adequate protection when danger arrived. The lesson? When you build, use something strong enough to shield you from danger. Is your team built to last? When managers build teams, they typically utilize nice. They hire nice people and encourage nice interactions, cordial pleasantries, and polite exchanges. Since the house looks pretty good from the outside, they’re baffled by how quickly a couple of huffs and puffs from stress, conflict, and adversity blow the whole thing down, leaving poor retention rates and an unengaged workforce in its wake. As counterintuitive as it may seem, nice just isn’t enough. In light of trends in the current landscape such as the Great Resignation and a troubling labor shortage, it’s time to reimagine our approach to work and the environments we create. To accomplish this feat, we’ll need Nice’s wiser, more mature older sibling: Kindness. Research conducted by the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX) found that teams in a respectful, kind environment express 36% more satisfaction with their jobs and are 44% more committed to their organizations. But aren’t nice and kind the same thing? Not quite. Though similar, kindness is the clear front runner, with the power to motivate teams, boost productivity and foster a culture that attracts and retains top talent. Here are three reasons to ditch nice in exchange for kind. Niceness breeds uncertainty Imagine you’re relaxing outside with your favorite cold drink on a hot, summer day. Your glass is filled with a tasty concoction, perfectly accented with a handful of refreshingly cold ice cubes. You walk away only to return and discover those precious ice cubes of yours have quickly melted in the heat, turning your drink into a watered-down mess. Such is the existence of the average nice person. Their polite disposition quickly fades when the heat rises. If they encounter someone who isn’t as courteous as they are, they aren’t acknowledged for their nice gestures or they’re simply under stress, they melt. In turn, other team members often feel burdened by the chore of navigating their shifts in temperament. In contrast, kind people aren’t swayed by external 74

factors. They stand firm in their internal conviction to be respectful, even if the favor isn’t returned. Because of their consistency, they earn trust and gain influence with ease, regardless of their job title. Nice people want to be liked While nice and kind people may display similar behaviors, their motivation is quite different. For nice people, other people’s opinions are paramount. They take great care to manage their reputation, especially in front of people they deem important. Their actions and behaviors are performative. Kind people also want to be thought well of, however, that’s not what drives them. They are primarily motivated by what they can give, even if there’s no immediate payoff. They see through the eyes of empathy and can connect to others’ needs. Their focus on genuine goodwill with no strings attached helps team members feel safe and valued. Niceness slows progress Hesitant to rock the boat, nice people may avoid conflict and shy away from raising dissenting opinions. Their strong desire to be liked almost always wins the day, meaning they might let a team member touch the proverbial hot stove without speaking up in order to avoid an uncomfortable conversation. In these cases, their passivity slows progress as the team experiences costly setbacks from bad decisions that could have been avoided.

Kind people have the courage to respectfully speak the truth, even if they won’t be considered nice for doing so. Their boldness promotes problem-solving, drives innovation, and increases productivity. Create a culture of kindness What can you do right now to create a culture of kindness in your workplace? Start with something the majority of The Three Little Pigs forgot to do: Test what you’ve built to see if it can stand up to the elements. Conduct an assessment to find out where you fall on the nice/kind spectrum. Here’s how it works: Ask three colleagues if they would describe you as nice or kind, as described in this article. Their answers will heighten your self-awareness and shed light on blind spots you may need to address. While this type of self-reflection is beneficial for everyone, it’s especially critical for people managers. Teams expect managers to foster a healthy atmosphere by leading by example. Moreover, they look to their managers to protect the culture by holding others accountable. Regardless of your role, the most control you have over your work environment is how you show up in it. When we assess our own motives and behavior and make the necessary adjustments, we have the power to create and cultivate kind spaces where everyone can thrive. Photo by STEPHEN POORE on Unsplash.

THE DOCTOR IS ONLINE

Telehealth needs to stay. Here’s how we can make the most of it By Bradley Tusk

There weren’t many silver linings to the pandemic, but the rise of telehealth was one of them. Patients across the country learned firsthand that they could often get the medical care they needed without having to go in person to a doctor’s office and risk being exposed to a bunch of sick people in the waiting room. Health systems were able to reduce hospital overcrowding and reach patients in remote settings experiencing provider shortages. At the onset of Covid, lawmakers and regulators from both parties and all levels of government saw the need to make telehealth far more accessible, and acted quickly and decisively to make it possible for doctors to treat across state lines and to expand insurance coverage for digital visits. But after Covid showed signs of receding, states began limiting patient access to telehealth again. Twenty-five states have already terminated the emergency declarations introduced during Covid to waive licensing requirements for doctors treating out of state patients. Making it harder for patients to see their doctors, and for doctors to see their patients, isn’t good for either of them. The technology exists to bring people together regardless of where they live or work. In what logical world would we take that away? My venture capital fund, Tusk Venture Partners, is heavily invested in the digital health space, helping fund and accelerate companies like Ro, Wheel, Alma, Boulder Care, Radish Health, Get Labs, and others. We invested in the sector because we believe that when there’s demand for a product or service—in this case, patients being able to see doctors, as needed— and there’s no additional material cost or harm in doing so, market demand ultimately wins out over regulatory intransigence. Yes, medical boards want to retain the ability to discipline doctors who violate their codes of conduct when treating patients in their state. And arguably, doctors in more expensive states like New York and California could have a hard time competing with doctors in lower cost-of-living states. But our problem is not an oversupply of medical professionals. It’s actually the opposite. We need more doctors to treat more patients. The simplest answer to the problem is to expand medical licensing. Doctors would receive a medical license in their state of residency, but as with a drivers license, it would apply everywhere. The Veterans Administration already does this with its doctors. And nurses already have the option for a multistate license, with 38 states participating in a national network to help make nursing services more accessible. Every patient who started seeing out-of-state doctors during the pandemic should be allowed to continue to do so. Denying access at this point is not only cruel, but it doesn’t lead to the best healthcare outcomes. The pandemic should have been just the kicking off point for digital health. There is a big opportunity to decentralize the healthcare system: to reduce our reliance on hospitals that require massive capital and have

massive operating expenditures, address provider shortages and expand access to specialists, and allow patients to see the healthcare system as a convenient, customer-focused sector. That’s why regulators need to go further. We need a framework that recognizes that patients should not be limited to provider options within state lines and be allowed to leverage the opportunities telehealth presents: let doctors connect to patients needing care, regardless of their physical location. If a doctor is licensed and has a clean disciplinary record, they should be able to treat patients anywhere, all of the time. If a complaint is filed against a doctor, and a medical board validates the complaint, then the doctor should lose out-of-state privileges, in addition to having to deal with the medical board in their own state. But to deny care to millions of people just to protect against rare edge cases in which a doctor could misbehave is bureaucratic logic at its apex.

The 25 states that have rolled back access to out-of-state doctors should restore the practice immediately. In fact, federal grants to state Medicaid programs could even be conditioned on providing maximum opportunity for patients to get the care they need, just like how federal highway funds are distributed on the condition that states maintain a legal drinking age of 21. Covid was a genuinely awful experience. We don’t even have an inkling yet of all of the costs, all of the harm, all of the setbacks caused by living in quarantine, kids attending remote school, the economy being shutdown, and everything else. But the emergence of digital health was a rare bright spot in a sea of despair and frustration. We should try to make the most of that.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.

IKEA FOR EVERYONE! ®

Your space is now made more affordable as IKEA helps you create a better home with even lower prices on your favorite IKEA products By bazaar staff

The Swedish furniture giant IKEA, has been listening and is stepping in to make sure that their customers can still enjoy their spaces by making things more affordable. They know that their customers have been living through the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020 and while the health crisis has been draining, the economic reality has also hit us all. Consumer spending has slowed down because people are feeling uncertain towards the future.

MALM Bed Frame KD 75 (Previously KD 91)

IKEA views affordability for customers more relevant and necessary than ever before. Year after year, they always work on lowering the prices. These new prices are normally launched at the start of the year with the launch of the New IKEA Catalogue. This year, nothing has been normal. We have all been through a lot of challenges that have reshaped the world and our lives. More people have even more limited budgets today. That’s why, this year more than ever, IKEA remained by your side. IKEA has lowered prices even more than what you’ll find in the

new IKEA Catalogue, to offer you your favorite IKEA solutions for less than ever before. IKEA is not a newcomer to the concept of making their products accessible for everyone. In fact we’ve always been confident that a visit to IKEA means the best bang for our buck and the best news is that they are constantly working on ways to reduce prices. It’s already built into their system. The signature flat pack boxes and home assembly offering have always helped keep prices down without compromising on quality or customer

experience. In the last two years some struggled with working from home, others wished they could work, some struggled with the kids at home, others wished they had the kids with them, some struggled not being able to travel, others wished they hadn’t travelled. Whatever is the personal situation of each of us, we have one thing in common: This pandemic has changed us forever, and has probably changed the world forever. Now things seem to start going back to normal.

HAUGA Desk KD 29 (Previously KD 33)

LYDERSHOLM Woven Rug KD 39 (Previously KD 62)

Or, is this really normal? is this the back to normal we expected? Do we want to go back to what it was before 2020? Most of us are wondering… Can I go back to normal? Do I want to go back to normal? We are probably struggling with answering this question, … back to waking up at a crazy hour in the morning to get the kids ready for school, back to rushing around Kuwait to do everything we need to do, back to sitting in traffic for hours dealing with the stress of being late to pick up the kids… Back to rushing to have everything ready for when the family gets back home for dinner…Is this really the normal we want? This year, IKEA promises to be by our side to make our normal everyday life better. So they have made an exceptional effort to bring us the lowest prices ever on more than 500 IKEA favorites. Now you can enjoy lower prices with the same IKEA Quality. Here are some of our favorite products that are now available at Even Lower Prices! MALM Bed Frame Double your storage space with this sleek bed frame that looks tasteful in any room. The simple and classic design easily fits with any decor and the extra drawers means that you can reduce clutter in your room so you can focus on rest and relaxation in the bedroom. HAUGA Desk Working or studying from home doesn’t mean you need a bulky or unsightly desk. This streamlined desk can fit in even the smallest of rooms. And despite its small footprint, it comes with drawers where you can store your stationery and cables when you’re not using them.

KRAGSTA Nest of Tables KD 27 (Previously KD 33)

SÖDERHAMN Sofa KD 125 (Previously KD 155)

SKAFTET Floor Lamp Base KD 7.950 (Previously KD 9.950) LYDERSHOLM Woven Rug One of the easiest ways to change the look of a room is by changing the rug. The LYDERSHOLM adds beautiful texture and can be used outdoors and indoors. It is durable and easy to clean and adds a rustic flair to your space. KRAGSTA Nest of Tables Side tables are a great place to set down your morning mug of coffee or show off your favorite souvenir from your last trip. The KRAGSTA is available in two colors and they don’t take up space but can be used as a laptop table too. SKAFTET Floor Lamp Base Lighting adds ambience and character to any 80

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ROTSUND Mirror KD 21 (Previously KD 25)

room. We love the SKAFTET because of its stylish, modern design. You can add a personal touch to with a lamp shade or decorative light bulb. SÖDERHAMN Sofa The deep seats, moveable back cushions and suspension fabric make the SÖDERHAMN very comfortable. You can create your own combination with multiple units that fits your room perfectly. Then sit back and relax. ROTSUND Mirror Mirrors add space and light to an area with minimal effort. The ROTSUND has a round frame around the bottom that forms a shelf where you can put your makeup, mobile phone or wallet. So

it adds some extra functionality to your room too. VISTHUS Wardrobe This narrow wardrobe can fit into the tightest of spots, but has a lot of storage space inside. The adjustable feet make it possible to compensate for any irregularities in the floor. There are two shelves and a drawer on the bottom so you can store all of your things and keep your room clutter-free. For affordable living solutions visit the stores at IKEA 360, IKEA The Avenues and IKEA in the Assima Mall or shop online at www.IKEA.com.kw. For more information, please call 184 0408 or follow @IKEAKuwait on Instagram.

THE FUTURE OF WORK

Employee expectations have changed By Dom Price

We surveyed more than 6,000 workers around the world to find out how they’re feeling and what they expect from the future of work. Having done the same research a year earlier, this year’s findings offer valuable insight into how attitudes have changed and what’s driving the shift. Flexibility is a top priority If you’ve read even a few of the stories related to the Great Resignation, you’ve probably picked up on a key theme: the disconnect between what employees want and what employers are providing. The bottom line is that flexibility is essential if you want to hang on to your best people and continue attracting top talent. Over three-quarters of our respondents (78%) told us they want to keep the flexible working arrangements and have the option to work remotely. This echoes research Atlassian conducted in partnership with PwC earlier this year, which found that over 40% of knowledge workers in the U.S. are willing to switch employers if it means they’ll have the option to work from home. Some companies have caught on to this trend and are using it to their advantage. They’re offering some degree of flexibility to employees from Day 1. Not flexibility that’s restricted to certain levels of seniority or tenure, nor at your manager’s discretion; just the option to work from the office or from home, or some combination of both. As Arvind Krishna, the CEO of IBM recently mused, “Why should I, as an employer, care as long as you can get the work done and you’re highly productive? I should not try to be overly dictatorial about that.” Hire employees who share your values We also have to understand that, as leaders, our actions are being watched more closely: 49% of employees would quit their jobs if it became clear their employer’s values did not align with their own. And in the current labor market, employees have the upper hand. The upshot is that taking values alignment into consideration during the hiring process is a must. How can you lead teams through major changes like digital transformation or a pivot in company strategy without triggering a wave of attrition? By building teams who share the same fundamental attitudes about work. How do you know you’re building the most effective teams regardless of members’ backgrounds, location, or personality? Again: shared values. That’s why a values interview is one of the most important elements of a hiring process. These interviews involve a set of structured behavioral questions designed to assess how a candidate’s mindset aligns with your core values. And the person conducting the interview usually 82

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comes from outside the department doing the hiring. That’s on purpose. The more we can make the values interview about the candidate’s mindset (and less about their skill set), the better. Optimize your onboarding process for remote workers Leveling up your onboarding game is critical, especially in cases where teams are in remoteonly or hybrid mode. Atlassian learned this firsthand: Half of our 7,000+ employees joined the company during the pandemic. That’s over 3,500 Atlassians who have never been into one of our corporate offices or met their teams face-to-face. So we adapted our processes with distributed teams in mind and developed a 90-day plan for onboarding new hires that is optimized for remote workers. Try, learn, adapt, repeat Despite the obvious difficulties of distributed working, most people value flexibility so much that they’re committed to working through the challenges. As leaders, our job is to evolve how we work so we can ensure an engaged workforce and an adaptable, sustainable business.

Enabling distributed teams is about embracing mass personalization and letting people step up to take control of their workweek. It’s also about keeping our promises because talking about flexibility, but then putting policies in place to restrict it, does more harm than good. We’ve all survived the past 18 months, but it’s time to set our sights higher than that. Nobody has all the answers, so let’s experiment with new ways of working and coach our teams through these changing times. This means less emphasis on managing tasks and more on managing people—less talking and more listening, and maintaining a focus on mental health and wellbeing. It’s clear organizations who set teams and individuals up for success in the new world of distributed working are most likely to succeed. If we help them thrive, the whole organization will thrive, too.

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash.

IS IT RAINING?

When it rains more, there’s less economic growth By Talib Visram

Our current climate brings plenty of disastrous examples of extreme rainfall. Floods have caused death and displacement around the world, from Sri Lanka to Colombia. In Canada, British Columbia’s unprecedented heavy rains caused mud- and rockslides, putting the province into a state of emergency and displacing 18,000 residents. Germany experienced its worst flooding in 200 years, which killed more than 150 people. Scientists later found the German floods were up to nine times more likely due to climate change. The heating of the globe—caused by the burning of fossil fuels—intensifies rainfall. Most industries, like agriculture, benefit from more annual precipitation. But a new studyhas found that as the number of rainy days increases— both in the form of extreme rain and gentle drizzles—economic growth slows. And it found that the impact was more pronounced in wealthier countries. Those effects will likely continue to worsen until the world reaches net-zero emissions. “The biggest problem of climate change will be, and already is, the increase and intensification of weather extremes,” says Anders Levermann, professor of dynamics of the climate system at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. “And rainfall is a huge part of this.” The globe’s temperature has risen about 1 degree Celsius (roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1880, but it’s been rising at double the previous rate since about 1981. And with each degree it climbs, precipitation increases by about 7%. That’s because a warmer atmosphere can simply hold more water vapor. Separately, more evaporation from the ocean occurs when it’s warmer, and that water must eventually return to the earth. Levermann is one of the authors of the study, which examines economic output data from 1,554 regions across 70 countries from the 40-year span of 1979 to 2019. First they looked at annual mean precipitation, finding that an increase had a positive effect on economic growth rates. That seems to make sense because farming needs more water throughout the year, as do other industries. “This is consistent with the interpretation of net water supply as an economic good,” the study reads. However, when researchers looked at daily rather than annual rainfall, the results differed. First, as the extreme daily rainfall—when precipitation is dangerously high—increased, economic growth rates were negatively impacted. Again, that makes sense: Extreme rainfall can cause floods, such as those seen around the world last year, which slow the economy. Levermann clarifies that the study didn’t assess the short shocks of flood destruction, which are also harmful, rather the effect on economic output. “It’s the perturbation of the normal flow of things,” he says. 84

What makes the finding even clearer is that economic growth also slowed with an increase in the number of “wet days,” defined as any day with more than 1 millimeter of rain. “That’s really little rainfall,” Levermann says. “It’s hardly measurable.” Still, that light rain resulted in strong reductions in growth rates. “It’s quite natural that extreme rainfall events will perturb our daily life,” Levermann says. “But what I think is surprising is that if we have more rainy days, that normal drizzle will harm our economy.” The study also examined individual sectors, finding that even the services and manufacturing industries slowed due to more days with light rain. Increased rain may cause transport delays, for instance, leading to postponements in package

deliveries, or in employees not being able to get to work on time. While those effects may seem trivial, Levermann notes that “We’re talking about percentages here, which are relevant because that’s what we rely on. We think it’s a bad year if we have 1% less economic growth.” Perhaps surprisingly, researchers also found the increase in rainy days affected richer economies more. We may tend to think they’re more resilient, but perhaps because systems are so automated and efficient, they leave little room for adaptation to “small grains in the machinery,” Levermann says, adding, “We are confident in the rich countries that nature cannot really disturb us. And that’s not true.” Photo by Osman Rana on Unsplash.

STARTING OVER

The joy, humility—and beauty—of a lifetime of new beginnings By Amy Neswald

At 28, I was older than most of the other students in beauty school when classes started. A few girls had just graduated high school, others already worked in salons. And then there were a few like me, people looking for a different way to make a living. I tried being an actor in New York City for eight years, to no avail. I found myself stuck in the dream machine, feeding money to the shady industry that dangled vague promises of success in front of hopeful actors like a carrot. The first day, we received our kits—two mannequin heads, a set of plastic rollers, cheap scissors, a comb, a brush, and a jar of Queen Helene green gel. There was a smock with the school acronym, LIBS, and a cutting cape— everything a beginner at beauty school might need. The teacher, Ms. Evalyn, said in her Staten Island accent: “If you finish this course you’ll never be without five dollars in your pocket.” To this day, I’ve found this to be true. I finished the course. I earned my license. And I don’t think I’ve ever been without enough scratch to buy myself, or someone else, a cup of coffee. Learning how to learn I didn’t feel it at the time as I suffered through getting lost in a haircut on the school’s salon floor or lumbering through a poodle perm, but taking the chance on beauty school not only changed the trajectory of my life. It allowed me the space to be as uncomfortable and bad as I needed to be as I embarked on learning a skill I had no talent for and no earthly idea of how to even start. But it did present the tools I needed to learn how to learn. Each new step launched a new challenge and with each new challenge, I found myself a perpetual beginner again, caught in an endless loop of pushing forward and circling back. Every long journey was comprised of a series of mini-journeys reliant on my willingness to listen not only to my human teachers, but also the materials I was working with, who were the real teachers. The benefits of the beginner’s mind are well documented. The absence of expectation is a boon to the human experience, an open mind is key. But aside from all that, being a perpetual beginner has other benefits as well. A life of learning keeps things fresh. The connections between disparate ideas and skills become apparent. And when a hopeful beginning ends in abject failure, as it did when I earned my motorcycle license, despite driving a scooter into a ditch, one not only learns about the benefits of failure, but that a whole new beginning lies in wait. Some beginnings are simple. Learning to bake bread. Hiking Maine mountains. Reading a book in a genre you’ve never read before. Some are more complex. Adopting a pet. Learning to drive. Getting married. Starting a new profession. And other new beginnings are thrust upon us— 86

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the times in life when a person doesn’t choose the beginner’s path, the path chooses them. The new experience of having a child, for instance. Or ushering a loved one into death—the sort of new beginning that occurs when something else ends. What if the practice of beginning and of learning is also practice of humility? What if living life as a perpetual beginner teaches us to weather the hardest beginnings with a little grace, a little kindness, and maybe, even within the pain of loss, a tiny, perhaps nearly invisible, glimmer of hope? It might not seem logical but stepping into LIBS that first day of classes released a chain of events, beginnings, endings, and middles that forked like rivers or cracks in glass. It led me to working backstage on Broadway, a whole new world that I explored for over 15 years. Working in theater is one of the very few places where working on a different job every year is an asset as opposed to a liability. Every new show was a new, new beginning and required new ways of thinking, new strategies, new experiments, and

new subtle and surprising teachers. I suspect this practice and profession of beginnings and endings led me to graduate school, which led me to writing a book, which led me here, writing this article, another new beginning, for I’ve never written on being a perpetual beginner before. Ms. Evelyn knew the score as she led us through unpacking our kits, counting our rollers, and setting up our mannequin heads that first day. In my memory, she had a slightly mischievous quirk at the corner of her mouth as she watched us struggle to comb our mannequins’ knotted hair. None of us were good. All of us were beginners. This moment, she knew, would be the beginning of things we never saw coming. This New Year, dare to become a perpetual beginner. Learn a new skill, start a new hobby, pick back up the instrument you played in high school. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it. You’ll become a better listener…with a more open-mind…who isn’t afraid of failure. And with those evolutions, you live and see a brighter life. Photo by Maxime Horlaville on Unsplash.

PEPPER STEAKHOUSE IS BACK Our favorite steakhouse at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is reopening its doors this month By bazaar staff

We’ve been missing a memorable steak experience, and Pepper Steakhouse was one of our favorite go-to destinations to be lavishly spoiled with incredible steak offerings. This is why we were elated to learn that Kuwait’s prestigious Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is reopening its beloved steakhouse Pepper. We immediately jumped at the chance to dine at Pepper, and take in the gorgeous ambience and revel in a bounty of exciting flavors. If you havent’ made plans for Valentine’s Day yet, make sure you book your table at Pepper Steakhouse!

The restaurant is famed for its juicy, tender, flavor-loaded per fectly grilled steaks set amidst stunning surrounds and a transcendent ambience. Located on the lower lobby level of the hotel, Pepper Restaurant features an expansive two floors of seating and the interiors are mindblowingly beautiful, wherever you choose to dine. For a more intimate experience, Pepper’s delightful cuisine can also be enjoyed in the venue’s private dining areas that are designated on each level of the restaurant. The private dining rooms are per fect for romantic dinners to celebrate those all impor tant personal occasions. With 5-star scener y, ser vice and dishes, it’s on ever y gourmand’s must-visit list, making it a per fect destination for couples this Valentine’s Day. As the hotel’s premium steakhouse restaurant, Pepper offers “Home Grilled Masterpieces” in classy, extravagant

surroundings. The specially crafted menu at Pepper Steakhouse means that guests can enjoy an array of prime meat cuts from baby shor t ribs to juicy steaks smoked or grilled to per fection in the open flame kitchen. Steaks are per fectly rendered by using the finest ingredients and delivered with flawless ser vice by the restaurant’s experienced team. The menu was truly a sight for our sore eyes, and we couldn’t help but feel hungr y just taking a look at all of the exciting offerings. Tantalizing appetizers like Wagyu Beef Tar tar with Confit egg yolk, onion, chives and Espelette chili danced right before our eyes. There’s also a Foie Gras Au Torchon with dates pureé, apple, hazelnut ser ved alongside crispy brioche and a handcrafted cinnamon bubble. Fans of shor t ribs will love the Crispy Shor t Ribs with Butternut squash, baby carrots, pickled onion and braised bright red cabbage. Salads are aplenty too, with

classic options like Pepper’s Signature Garden Salad, Caesar and Crab Salad. Given that the weather outside is still quite chilly, we highly recommend that you star t off your meal with one of Pepper’s delectable soups. Choose from the creatively conceived Mushroom Chowder with Sauté Girolle, Confit Shimeji mushrooms, potato and a melted Truffle foam, or a hear t warming and show stopping Lobster Bisque ser ved with Vanilla scented Chantilly cream and Caviar. When it comes to the grilled offerings at Pepper Steakhouse, prepare for a feast to remember, and we advise that you show up ready to eat! Whether you go for the Pepper Signature Mix Grill, complete with Angus steak, Beef Shor t Ribs, Lamb Chop, Beef sausage, and King Prawn, or you opt for a simple cut of your steak of choosing from Pepper’s Premium Gold Angus Beef, you will not regret it. [Continued...]

We absolutely loved the Wagyu Stockyard Silver Label steak. With a marble score of 4-5, this grass fed cut of beef (you can opt for Tenderloin or Rib Eye) melted in our mouth with ever y bite. The iconic and unrivaled Classic Chateaubriand, also known as the softest par t of the whole tenderloin, will per fectly ser ve two people. We love this special dish because you also get to enjoy the Table-side car ving experience, as you watch the scintillating car ving of this special cut of beef. Fans of seafood can also opt for the King Prawn dish, or Whole Seabass. If you’ve got chicken on your mind, then look no fur ther than to Pepper Steakhouse’s Roasted Free Range Chicken with baby potato, charred jumbo asparagus and the smoothest Jus. Their 48-hour Braised Shor t Ribs are also not to be missed, and are ser ved with a delectable aged Gouda cheese cornmeal porridge, roasted red grapes and crispy leeks. All of Pepper Steakhouse’s Grill and main offerings come with various potato sides like the creamiest Potato Gratin, Rosemar y infused roasted baby potato or Cheese fries. Other sides include sauteéd mushrooms, wilted spinach amongst many other choices. For sauces, you can choose from a butter y Béarnaise, Mushroom, Peppercorn or creamy Blue Cheese Sauce. Perhaps what is most telling of Pepper Steakhouse’s menu is how inclusive it is, as they’ve literally thought of ever yone. From showstopping steaks, to chicken and seafood offerings, there’s even a Burger menu at Pepper! You can go all out with the poshest burger we’ve seen yet, the Pepper Signature Wagyu Burger, with a Brioche bun, sumac infused mayo, and Truffle and Parmesan fries. There’s a plant based option too, as well as a free-range Chicken slider, per fect for younger diners. End your Pepper Steakhouse experience with an unforgettable desser t like the Dark Chocolate Fondant ser ved with cookies ice cream, or a tangy, Lemon & Strawberr y Meringue Tar tlet with minty jelly and mascerated strawberries. If tropical flavors are more up your alley, then you will love the Baked Coconut-Caramel & Mango Cheesecake with Raspberr y Sorbet.

Pepper Steakhouse is open for dinner from 07:00PM till 11:30PM. The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is located in Messilah, Al Ta’awun Street, Block 7, Building 13. For more information, please call 2226 9666 or visit http://Jumeirah.com. Follow their latest updates on Instagram, @JumeirahMessilahBeach, Twitter @JumeirahMB, and Facebook.

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FORGET THE OLD NORMAL

We’re not getting back to normal. Ever. Here are 3 strategies to manage now By Jeannine Falcone

Joining a video call with a client while holding a screaming toddler, answering the door for a delivery, and quieting a barking dog. And doing it five days a week for nearly two years. If that’s not a recipe for burnout, then I don’t know what is. The fact that 44% of employees report feeling burned out doesn’t surprise me at all. What does surprise me is that the figure isn’t higher. With a similar number of employees considering quitting their jobs, it’s past time to start addressing corporate burnout. Marketers are no strangers to burnout. The pressure for growth and performance has been intensifying amid higher consumer expectations, shrinking budgets, and a swirl of technology and content. The pandemic magnified this complexity. So much so that nearly 70% of marketing leaders say that the last year completely exhausted their teams, according to new Accenture Interactive research. But here’s the good news: This same research found a core group of marketers globally (17%) who have bucked the burnout trend to become “Thrivers” energized to meet future challenges. That’s compared to the “Strivers” and “Survivors” who feel like they’re merely persevering or totally burned out. Leaders can learn from what Thrivers do differently. After all, they deliver an enviable performance premium. Thrivers are 40% more likely to perform better in revenue growth and profitability, plus they’re 80% more likely to perform “far better” in customer satisfaction. Get to know people—again Marketers know how complex the landscape has become. Customer demands are getting trickier, and all the while, employees want to feel that their work is meaningful. Thrivers ground themselves by getting reacquainted with customers at a time when many have re-evaluated what’s important to them and are seeking out businesses that understand it. This takes the whole enterprise getting curious (and accountable) and using both traditional and new data sources and feedback mechanisms like surveys and social medial engagement to develop a multidimensional view of what makes customers tick. It’s about who they are, not just what they buy. Customers aren’t the only ones who’ve done this pandemic-inspired soul-searching. Employees have as well, and getting to know them again is equally important. So leaders should seek out 92

feedback here, too. Ask employees how they’re doing and what they need to do their jobs well. Create an environment where they are comfortable answering truthfully. Companies that do this well can set up employees to embrace their inner Thriver. Cut out what doesn’t matter Thrivers manage complexity by decluttering to help people become more productive and fulfilled at work. For example, they used the pandemic as permission to rewire marketing. Now, the rest of business is poised for this same rewiring. It’s all about letting go. The responsibility starts with leaders who can empower their people to do the same. No matter the functional area, tedious and repetitive tasks are ripe for this letting go. While not a panacea, when deployed with intelligence and input from users, automation can provide some of the reprieves that exhausted employees desperately need. Business leaders should take a collaborative approach here, consulting and discussing the possibilities with employees first (remember: we’re reacquainting) and investing in technology second. But knowing what to let go of, when, and how can be overwhelming for leaders. There is no right answer because decluttering plays out differently in every company. That’s why I tell leaders to start by asking this question of everything their team does: “What would happen if we stopped doing this?” It’s a powerful way to zero in on what matters the most to customers and employees.

Rally around a higher calling What does the business stand for? Thrivers ask themselves this question often, and it’s one that business leaders must ask and take ownership of with intention. The responsibility for differentiation and customer experiences that bring the brand purpose to life is a whole-organization job that must be championed from the top. The C-suite can encourage departments to make it a priority to remind their employees of the deeper “why” behind their functions, roles, and responsibilities—and how they embody the brand purpose. For some, that could be mean regular townhalls that translate how that department positively strengthens the organization’s purpose. For others, that could mean programs that recognize employees’ and customers’ stories that embody the brand’s purpose. The more that business leaders can embrace this responsibility as a shared ambition, the more they can get rid of ambiguity, cut through organizational silos, and use the brand purpose as a lens for setting priorities and allocating resources. The benefits of this are twofold—first, it’s meeting customers’ need to spend on brands with purpose; and, second, it’s giving employees a point of collective difference to rally behind. Letting go of “how we’ve always done things” can ensure that the systems and ways of working being built back now makes sense for people and businesses. That’s how to ensure a better future for all: one with less burnout and more brilliance.

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash.

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A DIFFERENT ROAD TO HAPPINESS

To be truly happy, you need to consider this one controversial approach By Next Big Idea Club

Wendy Syfret is a Melbourne-based writer and editor. She is the former managing editor of VICE Asia, as well as head of Editorial for VICE Australia. She has contributed to publications such as The Guardian, Crikey, and ABC Life, to name a few. Currently, she is editor-in-chief of RIISE, a climate-forward fashion and lifestyle publication. Below, Wendy shares five key insights from her new book, The Sunny Nihilist: How a Meaningless Life Can Make You Truly Happy. 1. Nihilism doesn’t deserve its bad reputation. Nihilism has a PR problem—the term itself has become shorthand for “grim” and “depressing.” But I’d argue that this reputation is undeserved, owing more to the people who have embraced, promoted, and manipulated it than the concept itself. In its simplest form, nihilism preaches that “life is meaningless.” In turn, so are you and I. When we accept that “meaning” isn’t an inherent thing, we can examine it as a concept we create, and hence have the ability to control. Additionally, we can question where it comes from, and who is pushing it. Even if you don’t go full nihilist, it can be a prompt to wonder: Why do I believe what I believe? Where do these ideas come from? Who is benefitting from them? What do they really deliver to me? And how do they benefit others? 2. Meaning is supposed to make us happy, but our obsession with it is making us miserable. The search for a meaningful life isn’t a bad thing. It is a quest that has pushed humanity forward for millennia. It’s also a lot of work—people have dedicated their entire existence to understanding meaning through religion, philosophy, art, and even a commitment to civic life. Few of us have that kind of time, but our desire for meaningful connection remains. Unfortunately, that lust can easily be hijacked by power-holders who recognize that if they can produce a dupe of that meaningful feeling—for only a fraction of the work needed to create a true sense of meaning— then that’s a powerful tool. Meaning was never supposed to be binged on. Even believers of meaning located it in, perhaps, one or two parts of their lives. But now, every job is suddenly “culture-defining,” and each consumer product “life-changing.” Nothing can exist without some huge, bloated narrative attached to it. It’s great marketing, but it’s also exhausting. 3. Meaning makes you selfish. Rejecting it might make you kinder. One of the deceivingly nice things about buying into all this meaning is it can make self-obsession feel like a truly noble act. When we embrace personal myth-making, placing ourselves at the center of 94

the universe, we give ourselves permission to spend a lot of time thinking about our own lives, actions, and experiences. Who doesn’t love that? In contrast, nihilism’s major selling point of “you don’t matter” is a spikier declaration. Honestly, staring into the abyss takes guts, but there are a lot of benefits to attempting it. Acknowledging nihilist principles doesn’t need to be a destructive experience. Accepting our own smallness in the face of the universe prompts interesting considerations around how we spend our time, money, and energy—when we’re not totally devoted to ourselves. We start wondering about what we want to last beyond our short lives, and what needs to be protected and treasured. For each person that will be different, but I’d bet it’s not your follower count or LinkedIn presence. 4. Value vs. meaning. I dunk on meaning a lot, but I’m careful to point out that it’s not the same as value. Value is real, like the practical use of the products we’re bombarded with. We could all benefit from thinking more about value and spending less time wondering about meaning. At this moment, what do you need to feel happy and well? What is truly being offered for your time and effort? Navigate your life by prioritizing value over meaning, and I promise you’ll feel far more rewarded for your efforts.

5. Meaning takes us out of the moment. Meaning promises fulfillment, enlightenment, and a path to “living right.” In reality, it too often delivers confusion, and a sense of somehow being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Meaning can manifest as just another box we can never manage to tick. When we stop thinking about what our lives could be, we return to the reality of what they are. If we accept that existence doesn’t have a reason, then all we have is this life and this precious, fleeting moment. With that perspective, how do we spend our time differently? For me, each second feels like a rare treat to be enjoyed and savored. Even a mundane day is a gift that will never be repeated. The world feels larger, but also smaller. I’m able to more clearly ask: What makes me happy? What do I need right now? Where is pleasure really found? The answers are simpler and closer than you think. A perfect peach, time with loved ones, a midday walk in the sun. These actions are “meaningless,” but they are the tiny blocks that build a beautiful (pointless) life.

Photo by Szilvia Basso on Unsplash.

PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

What your organization looks like in the eyes of a cyber attacker By Stu Sjouwerman

It’s easy to grow numb to numbers. The projected loss, in dollars, from what is clearly an unabating wave of cyberattacks has gotten so extreme that it has become, well, meaningless. Seven years ago (a lifetime in technology), CSO reported that companies and governments were losing $400 billion per year to cybercrime. Truth is, cybercrime is just getting warmed up, fueled by sophisticated criminal enterprises and state-sponsored terrorists flocking to cyberspace. It’s hardly news. Let’s understand in a bit more detail the motivations behind cyber crime and common methods criminals use. WHY HACKERS HACK There are many different types of cyber crimes, and the kind of attack can vary based on the end goal or motive of the criminal. Motivations include: Financial: Data is the new oil, and money is obviously the biggest lure for crime. When we talk about cyberattacks like ransomware or business email compromise, we know that a majority of these attacks are financially motivated. Nation-state attacks: State-sponsored attackers (or transnational organized crime) are looking to disrupt large organizations, disturb economic activity, create political instability, or steal trade secrets. For example, Russian and North Korean attackers actively targetedCOVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. Corporate espionage: The theft of trade secrets, proprietary data, or intellectual property can reduce competitiveness and market leadership. Computer resource theft: The trillion-dollar value of cryptocurrencies and NFTs have made hackers rush to hijack the processing power behind thousands of networked computers in a scheme known as cryptojacking. The purpose is to mine cryptocurrency. Hacktivism: Politically motivated hackers, nationstate sponsored or otherwise, purposely attempt to cause disruption or vandalize property they believe is counter-productive to their agenda. HOW HACKERS HACK Regardless of whether attacks are opportunistic or targeted, cyber-criminals typically follow these seven steps, sometimes referred to as the cyber kill chain. 1. Reconnaissance: Attackers spend time researching, identifying targets, and creating an attack strategy. This includes leveraging opensource intelligence tools (OSINT), researching social media, or purchasing stolen credentials on the dark web. 2. Weaponization: Based on what attackers have discovered, they plan their next phase of attack. This may include creating phishing emails or websites outfitted with a malicious trojan or a backdoor. 96

3. Delivery: An extremely well-crafted, highly targeted spear-phishing email delivered to specific contacts of an organization. Attackers can also deliver the payload via a software vulnerability, compromised credentials, or through a USB stick. 4. Exploitation: With a foot in the door, the attacker moves laterally through the network to gain more leverage, learning roles and reporting structures, and accessing systems and data. 5. Installation: The attacker now injects malware on the compromised asset, evades detection, and signals command and control servers. 6. Command and control: These purpose-built servers enable attackers to take complete control of the compromised network. 7. Act on objectives: Finally, attackers proceed toward their ultimate agenda. That can include exfiltration of data, execution of ransomware code, deletion of sensitive files, or other hacks. HOW CAN ORGANIZATIONS BEST DEFEND THEMSELVES? Just as a business expands and evolves, so do cyber threats—and organizations must be prepared to mitigate these risks. Here are five suggested best practices: 1. Build a culture of cybersecurity: Culture represents a mix of security awareness, attitudes, and behaviors. Coaching employees regularly about various threats and consequences of their actions is crucial to building resilience. Start at the top and engage employees at every level. Employees should not be seen as part of the problem, but as part of the solution. 2. Protect credentials: Billions of stolen login credentials can be purchased on the dark web and 85% of employees still reuse passwords, which means

most enterprises are at high risk of getting compromised. Ensure employees change their passwords frequently and use long and complex passwords since shorter ones are easily hacked. Although multi-factor authentication is not entirely invulnerable, make MFA mandatory for all account logins. 3. Run OSINT on your org: Think like an attacker: If someone wanted to target your CEO, your employees, or your critical resources, how would they do it? Run open-source intelligence on your organization, or involve a partner to help. 4. Patch systems frequently: Cybercriminals exploit publicly known and often unpatched vulnerabilities. The rise of remote working has exacerbated the problem as patching remote systems can be a complicated affair compared to on-prem devices. Most software updates contain security fixes, so it’s critical that operating systems are updated. 5. Have reporting processes in place: Flag critical people, systems, and resources and ensure you have an alerting mechanism in place that rings alarms when it encounters an anomaly. After technical controls, employees are your last line of defense; teach them to report suspicious items or activity at once. No one is truly immune from cybercrime. Organizations that prepare for this eventuality will always be in a better position of defending, responding, recovering, and surviving.

Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash.

#XCITED FOR ASSIMA MALL Kuwait’s 44th X-cite store opens its doors in the heart of the city By bazaar staff

Kuwait’s hottest new destination is Assima Mall. In the heart of Kuwait City’s business district, the mall is already transforming the shopping landscape of Kuwait. A modern, airy space, it feels like the future has arrived, and one of our favorite stores there is X-cite’s 44th store.

The store looks and feels luxurious. You know it is super premium as soon as you walk in. The latest electronics concepts are on display for you to see and even experience yourself so you can make a well-informed purchase. It is conveniently located near the parking area in Basement 1, making it very accessible. You won’t even have to worry about carrying your big-ticket items. Whether you’re a Mac or PC person, X-cite can provide you with the latest, greatest and fastest devices. If you’re more price-conscious or need more affordable options, you’re also in luck. From tricked out gaming PCs and laptops to smaller more portable laptops, everything is on display. There’s a huge demo area too, so you can try things out for yourself before buying. Accessories like keyboards, lights, chairs and gaming mice will also elevate your experience. Our homes have gone digital and are getting smarter. At X-cite at the Assima Mall you will find the latest smart home demo area, chock full of new gadgets that will optimize your connected home experience. Why imagine the future, when you can experience today. Smart lights, thermostats and robovaccums are only the beginning! If staying home is more your style, then having the best home entertainment system is a must! The latest range of smart and super high definition TVs at X-cite mean that you can immerse yourself in high-stakes soccer game, catch up on the news or just Netflix and chill. You will also find premium sound experiences for your home that will transform your viewing experience. You will be the envy of your friends and they’ll probably end up wanting to spend most nights at your place. Which means you will probably need to up your hosting game. X-cite’s coffee corner has a demo set up of a large range of premium coffee machines including Nespresso, Phillips Gaggia, Ariete and Sage so you can choose a machine that will make you your own barista at home. Creating the right sound scape at home is another way to make your space more interesting. But,we don’t just want to listen to our music, we want high definition sound with deep bass and a strong treble. That’s easily turned into reality because you can find the best brands like BOSE, Marshall, B+O, JBL and Sony at X-cite. While we would like to only focus on things that are fun, our homes still need to be cleaned and food must be cooked. Lucky for us, today’s home appliances have come a long way. X-cite has [Continued...]

the best brands including Dyson, Phillips, Sage, Cuisinart and KitchenAid. You might think that all vacuums are the same, but we promise you that the Dyson is life changing. And if you are serious about bread baking, the KitchenAid mixer needs to be your new BFF. The fun doesn’t just have to be indoors, X-cite has a digital imaging range that will make our camera enthusiasts and sky gazers ecstatic. From the newest drones to really powerful telescopes, you can take to the skies and experience them in a totally new way. If we learned anything from the last few years, it’s that our health is our most valuable resource, so we’re not taking any chances. We are serious about tracking our vitals and X-cite has the latest connected medical devices. We also take our R and R seriously, so investing in massage solutions and devices that keep us healthy and relaxed have become a necessity. Lucky for us, it’s all available at X-cite Assima Mall. All of this and more is available at X-cite. And you don’t even have to worry about payments because there’s an Easy Credit dedicated office for affordable financing solutions on-site, so you only need to think about what you need and X-cite takes care of the rest. 100

X-cite Assima Mall is open from 10 AM to 10 PM during weekdays and from 10 AM to 11 PM on the weekend. For a comprehensive list of X-cite’s 44th store locations and to shop online for the latest deals visit www.xcite.com. Download the X-cite app for Android on Google Play or iPhone on the App Store. Follow X-cite social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim and Facebook XcitebyAlghanim. Call 180 3535 for further Inquiries. [...Continued]

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TABLE TELEPHONE

I’m a nutritional scientist, and this is why I say your phone has a place at the table By Uma Naidoo

Go into any restaurant or coffee shop, and you’ll see a familiar scene: Individuals or groups of people seated around tables, holding a beverage in one hand, shoulders and backs crouched forward as they scroll on their smartphones with the other. (Bonus points if they’ve got wireless earphones in.) This would appear to be the antithesis of mindful eating. But with the recent explosion of mindfulness and meditation techniques, it may be that utilizing our smartphones can help us find ways to engage more with our food, rather than further distracting our minds. Utilizing our phones may be a critical step in developing more mindful eating habits. As a nutritional psychiatrist, I believe there are ways to use the powers of technology for good: good foods and better moods, that is! Mindfulness apps Mindful eating is one skill under the broader arc of mindful activity—that is, engaging in our dayto-day work (or relaxation) with nonjudgmental, moment-to-moment awareness. What I find so appealing about mindfulness is that it can apply in any scenario of day-to-day life and doesn’t require that we carve out hours of extra time to develop this sense of calm, grounded focus. There are numerous mobile applications in existence that provide daily, weekly, or even month-long, bite-size practices to help develop your mindfulness and have research to back up their mood-improving outcomes. Meditation apps, like Chopra and Calm, come to mind. My own Mindful Eating feature with Whole Foods on Headspace is one of my favorite applications (and their graphic animations are just the cutest). Audio and video support Many applications like these also offer guided mindful eating meditation audios. There are also innumerable, accessible singles to be found on popular audio and video streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify. Playing or streaming one of these from your device during a meal allows you to engage with mindful eating practices, whether you’re at home or on the go. For me, it could be while I’m in the bustling hospital cafeteria seeking out an antioxidant boost from green tea. Notification management apps I couldn’t write about mindful eating and not make mention of distracting tech. There are certain situations where phones can pull our minds far away from our food into the rabbit holes of email, texts, or clickbait articles (we’ve all been there, I promise). One easily reversible way to “disconnect” during mealtime is to turn on Do Not Disturb for the length of time you plan to sit down for your meal. You can set these to turn notifications back on after a certain period of 102

time, so you won’t be unplugged for too long. Take this a step further by turning off needless pings, like social media notifications when someone likes a post, starts a live video, or is dancing on TikTok by going into your notification settings. Ah, peace and quiet! Progress tracking tools Our phones may be invaluable tools to cement our mindful eating habits. Using a mobile habit tracker allows you to document each increment of progress in real time, without having to carry around any other sort of tracker, like a notebook or planner. Documenting your momentum may help keep you motivated to continue eating mindfully,

too. Research demonstrates that tracking your progress with regular check-ins actually increases the likelihood you’ll achieve your goals. Rather than pulling away from our phones, in an increasingly tech-driven world I think it’s vitally important to embrace the role our technology can play in developing healthier habits. By marrying mindfulness-development tools with strengthening our own sense of body intelligence, we pave the way to understand the relationship between our lifestyle, mental health, and overall well-being.

Photo by Nate Johnston on Unsplash.

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WORK UNPLUGGED

The future of work is asynchronous By Kenzo Fong

The long-awaited workforce revolution has finally happened. Almost one-quarter of office jobs are fully remote. Millions of people are no longer stuck in offices and distributed work—whether it’s hybrid or 100% distributed—is more widely accepted for many careers. But the world had never been built for distributed teams or remote work. We’ve always been told to go to the office, see people face-to-face, use the tools provided by the company, and do our best to stay afloat.

But there is a solution for our new remote reality: asynchronous work. For more than a decade, I worked with global teams across borders and time zones—at Google, I was based in Amsterdam and London, then in the United States for Android and Uber—and felt like I was in meetings all day while swatting away at a constant stream of emails, messages, and other distractions. My colleagues in Singapore, Los Angeles, and Tokyo would be using different platforms for communication, file sharing, and project management—and those tools were all in silos. None of the tools were interoperable even though they claimed to be. This was an enormous hassle and led to low productivity, wasted time, and overall frustration. Companies are waking up to the current problems with distributed work and see the need for more flexible solutions. For example, constant messaging from an app like Slack can cause anxiety for teammates in other time zones, when they receive pings throughout all hours of the night or even on weekends. Being on Zoom all the time leads to people having to join meetings late at night or early in the morning. 104

Why did this happen? Because companies forced employees, no matter where they were, to abide by the same schedule. We want teams to break out of the tyranny of the traditional synchronous, in-office work model that doesn’t put work first. If you’re getting your work done on time and efficiently, why does it matter when or where it’s done? In the new way of working, we need to transition to asynchronous work. Asynchronous, in shor t, is when work happens for different people on their own time. Consider a worker in London and one in Los Angeles. Based on a 9-5 work culture, they would have only a few hours to collaborate and work together. With an asynchronous work style, work becomes more like a relay race where one could set tasks and deadlines for the other without the expectation to respond right away. Work gets done on time, people are less stressed, and it allows for a wider talent pool. With an asynchronous work style, companies can hire literally from anywhere in any time zone and are not limited by geography. It may sound daunting at first, but there are ways to begin your transition. Set up the proper tools to allow asynchronous work to occur. Taskmaster apps are better than simple

messaging apps, which let anxiety seep in and can lead to wasted hours—10 hours a month to be exact. Remove pretty much all meetings— especially video ones — and save meeting time for more complicated topics, discussions, and brainstorming. Company culture needs to change with the times and accept and adapt to distributed work if leaders don’t want to fall victim to the Great Resignation. Workers have spoken and want more flexible and efficient communication styles. Learning to balance synchronous and asynchronous communication should be simple for teams of all sizes with new tools. It’s time to take a step back and ask if your current way of working and managing people really the most productive and efficient. We have to rethink how we work—and allow people to work when and where they please, as long as they contribute. When we realize that distributed work doesn’t have to be so unnecessarily difficult and time-consuming, workers will be more productive, less stressed, and most impor tantly, happier.

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash.

IT’S LOVE AT FIRST BITE WITH CHICK’N BITES Crispy whole white meat bites served with honey mustard or BBQ sauce

I DON’T WANT TO BE THE BOSS OF YOU

Why no one on your team wants to be a manager anymore—and how to change that By Amy Leschke-Kahle

According to a CareerBuilder survey of over 3,600 workers, most people don’t want to be managers. Of the subset who are interested in rising to management, they make up slightly over one-third of organizations (34%). This slim percentage does not provide enough innate appetite from individual contributors to fill company’s need for aspiring managers. Why is this? Companies have created a job called “manager,” which has a very poor reputation. And it makes sense. Here’s an everyday understanding of what a manager’s job is: You approve stuff, you remind people of the stuff they need to do that you need to approve, you tell people what to do, and then you tell them how they’re doing it wrong. Despite the article headlines of how much we all want feedback, we really don’t want to give it or get it. Pile on the always-moving nature of work today and you’ve got a major disconnect between the job description and the real world. We need to redefine and reengineer the role of “manager” to reflect the dramatic, pandemicaccelerated changes that have taken place in the world of work. There are three shifts that necessitate this rethinking. 1. Fluctuating working models. Just a few short months ago, hybrid was the new kid in town. And now it’s the norm. Our leaders need specific processes to be able to support their team members no matter where they sit. 2. Speed of work. Work no longer happens in year-long increments. The word “annual” has all but disappeared from the business conversation. People leaders need to keep up with the lightningfast speed at which work is going. 3.Dynamic work. We’ve been conditioned to think that work happens in teams as they are reflected on the org chart. While the org chart represents home base, employees today often move from team to team contributing to many teams at the same time. People leaders need to have visibility to their team members’ breadth of work, not just what’s happening on the org-chart team. These shifts, along with others, should be compelling organizations to redesign the role and practices of people leaders. Organizations, and HR in particular, need to simplify the role, shift assumptions around the maturity of the workforce, and amplify performance. Simplify roles During the pandemic, HR departments have pushed many tasks onto managers. Some transfer may be appropriate, but people leaders are not a substitute for HR expertise. HR should be analyzing the work that they’ve assigned to managers and ensuring that that’s where it 106

belongs. If we expect people leaders to fulfill the role of guiding our most important assets, then we need to create time and emotional space for them to do that, not overload them with administrative work. Fill your HR team with experts that your managers can count on to help with the hard stuff like difficult conversations, documenting poor performance, and supporting employees through difficult times. Hopefully these tricky situations don’t happen often (which is most likely why training managers to be able to handle them doesn’t stick). HR will become the trusted advisor they’ve always wanted to be. Treat your people like adults Start with a full trust bucket. You’ve hired an organization of adults; treat them that way. Unless legally required, you may not need to give permission to go to a doctor’s appointment or monitor what application employees are using. Of course, there will be exceptions, but don’t design your workplace norms around the exceptions. Create a separate exception process with triggers that bring in a more robust approach when needed, but otherwise, assume maturity.

Emphasize great work This may be the whole point of having leaders in the first place. People leaders should be more like the favorite teacher who saw your best (rather than the principal’s office you dreaded dragging yourself into). Leaders have direct line of sight to helping employees do more and better work. In this new hybrid, dynamic, fast-moving world of work, leaders need to be as agile as their environment. This translates into light-touch, frequent connections with employees, rather than infrequent burdensome conversations. It means less documentation, intentional focus on an employee’s strengths, and a renewed respect for the part they play in the success of the organization. The role of a people leader is hard, partly because HR has made it difficult, and partly because people are complicated and nuanced individuals. It’s time that we rethink and redesign the most important role in the company to be able to succeed and contribute in the new world of work. Photo by Hayley Maxwell on Unsplash.

TO QUIT OR NOT TO QUIT

Take this simple test to measure your workplace burnout By Connie Lin

We surveyed more than 6,000 workers around the world to find out how they’re feeling and what they expect from the future of work. Having done the same research a year earlier, this year’s findings offer valuable insight into how attitudes have changed and what’s driving the shift. Economists and labor experts are still struggling to explain the full phenomena of the Great Resignation. Some link it to the COVID-19 pandemic, which demolished most work norms. Some claim a mass employee revolt was inevitable, much like the boom-and-bust cycles of our economy. But most agree that one key driver is a pervasive sense of burnout: Employees feel overworked, overwhelmed, and overlooked. Burnout is a state distinct from mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, according to Leah Weiss, who researches the issue and teaches a perennially waitlisted class on compassionate leadership at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Burnout can result directly from “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”—as the World Health Organization defines—leading to “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to the job.” In fact, the term originated in the early 1970s to describe why air traffic controllers—frustrated by increased congestion, user-unfriendly machine interfaces, and generally tedious work—began making more human errors, causing a spike in collisions. But while burnout is sometimes seen as a binary state—you either are, or you aren’t— Weiss argues that’s not the case. It’s a spectrum, and your place along it can be measured by a simple, six-question quiz, courtesy of the team at 360Learning. The quiz is data-driven, with an initial set of responses from 20,000 people who took the exact same quiz sourced from HackerEarth, along with data sourced from Gallup about why people quit their jobs and industry turnover data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Job-to-Job Flows explorer. According to Weiss, there are actions employers can take to fight the scourge of burnout—and those don’t involve yoga, meditation, or TED talks. Instead, companies should be asking their workers questions, like, “Do you feel a sense of autonomy and voice in your team?” If they fail to do so, they could face more staffing headaches still to come. A record 4.4 million people quit their jobs this past September, and a recent survey from Joblist suggests nearly 75% of workers are considering quitting. Photo by Jackson Simmer on Unsplash. 108

‫‪#‬ﻻﺗﻬﺪر_ﻋﻤﺮ‬ ‫ّ‬

‫ﻬﺪر ﻣﻴﺎه ﺑﻘﻴﻤﺔ ﻣﻼﻳﻴﻦ اﻟﺪﻧﺎﻧﻴﺮ‬ ‫ُﺗ َ‬ ‫ﺧﻼل ا ﻋﻴﺎد اﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ‬

MUJI MAKES MORE SUSTAINABLE COTTON Two Cotton Seeds Grown for Every T-Shirt By bazaar staff

We love cotton. It is soft on our skin, easy to care for, comfortable to wear all year round and “breathes”. It is also lightweight and absorbent, making it perfect for our hot and humid summer climate, as well as a layering piece in cooler months. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of the material is the staple in every closet, T-shirt. No matter your style, age or size, you probably have several hanging in your wardrobe right now.

The humble plant that grows the white, fluffy fiber is responsible for the employment of almost 7% of all labor in developing countries. Of all the textiles made in the world, cotton makes up half of them. As a global producer and retailer, MUJI understands the global reach of cotton as a plant, but also understands how mainstream cultivation methods are environmentally unsustainable. Sadly, only 1% of cotton is grown organically. Organic farming does not use fertilizers, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals. It’s one of the easiest ways to move towards a more sustainable method of cultivation, mostly by helping maintain soil fertility and har vests chemical free cotton. Traditional cotton growing, unfortunately, jeopardizes the environment as well as the farmers themselves. Additionally, organic cotton has a smaller

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carbon footprint because of less fuel and energy use. The absence of chemicals means that water contamination is no longer an issue, too. Clothing made from organic cotton is better for your skin, especially if you are sensitive or suffer from allergies. Ironically, it is also cheaper to produce, since the toxic chemicals are no longer an operational cost. However, the yield per planted area is about 70% compared to regular cotton cultivation, which means it cannot be mass-produced efficiently. This is where MUJI can really make a difference with their campaign too, by planting two cotton seeds for ever y T-shirt, they can encourage farmers to move towards the more environmentally friendly organic cotton. As a brand, MUJI, constantly makes consistent and long-term efforts towards practices that are friendly to the environment and people. The

organic cotton used in MUJI products is grown by natural processes in a land that has not been subjected to the use of any agrochemicals and chemical fertilizers for over 3 years. In a strategic move to improve cotton growing and manufacturing, they have begun an attempt to increase the production of extra-long staple cotton, which is one of the least produced organic cotton, by starting from the sowing of its seeds. Types of raw cotton with a particularly long fiber length of 35 mm or more are called extralong staple cotton and are said to be ideal materials that satisfy all the conditions of excellent touch feeling, toughness, and the antisee-through property. The product development staff members visited cotton farms in person and gradually increased the production of extra-long staple

cotton while deepening their relationship with the farmers. The cotton variety has been used in some products such as broadcloth shirts since the 2019 spring/summer season. By creating long-lasting relationships with the community of growers and providing them with the resources and motivation they need to grow more organic cotton, MUJI will be able to continue producing the high-quality and great value items we have come to expect and depend on.

Visit the MUJI stores in Avenues, Grand Avenue – Kout Mall or shop online more information, follow @mujimiddleeast.

2nd Avenue – The The Avenues and Al at muji.com.kw. For MUJI on Instagram

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THE BUSINESS OF CLEANING UP

Last year, the carbon-removal industry went mainstream By Adele Peters

Tackling climate change involves not only slashing emissions, but starting to pull some of the billions of tons of extra CO2 out of the atmosphere. In the past, it’s been in the realm of near science fiction, largely confined to prototypes and theory. While some activists still argue that funding carbon removal will be used as a fig leaf to allow companies to avoid reducing emissions, this year’s dire IPCC report noted the necessity of using the tech as part of an overall climate change solution, and investments and advances in the industry skyrocketed this year. carbon removal industry took large steps forward. Tech to suck carbon from the air is scaling up In Iceland, the world’s largest “direct air capture” plant opened in September, using giant fans to pull air through filters that capture CO2. The star tup running the plant, Climeworks, par tners with another company that pumps the CO2 underground, where it turns into stone. The facility can capture 4,000 tons of CO2 in a year. Carbon Engineering, another direct air capture company, worked with par tners to begin the engineering of larger-scale facilities, including one planned for Scotland that will capture between 500,000 and 1 million tons of CO2 a year. Another large-scale direct air capture plant will begin construction somewhere in the southwest in 2022. New government support can help bring down cost The new U.S. infrastructure package commits billions to carbon removal—the largest government investment in the space so far— including support for four new direct air capture hubs, which each can remove at least 1 million tons of CO2 annually, in different regions of the country. The Department of Energy launched a new “Earthshot” program for carbon removal that aims to bring down the cost of the technology from as much as $2,000 per ton of captured CO2 to less than $100 a ton. (The program is modeled on the Obama-era Sunshot program, which helped lower the cost of solar power.) New technology is emerging Direct air capture machines are only one way to tackle the problem. A star tup called Phykos, from former employees at Alphabet’s X, is building robots that can grow seaweed in the middle of the ocean and then sink the seaweed, potentially storing carbon at a large scale. (A company called Running Tide has a related approach.) Another star tup is adding crushed rock to forests, where the rock can react with the rain and air to capture more carbon. Yet another turns agricultural waste into “bio oil” that can can be injected underground. Others are using technology to scale up more traditional methods of carbon removal like reforestation, including a star tup run by Reddit’s former CEO.

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Big companies are pouring new support into carbon removal After Microsoft announced last year that it planned to be carbon negative by 2030, and remove all of its historical carbon emissions as a company by 2050, it star ted investing in new carbon removal solutions to help the market grow and solve challenges like ensuring that data is accurate. The company’s $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund has invested in companies like Climeworks, the star tup behind the new direct air capture in Iceland, and CarbonCure, which adds captured CO2 to concrete. The tech company Stripe star ted purchasing carbon removal from star tups in 2020, and committed another $8 million this year, aiming to help bring down the high cost of new technology. Shopify spent millions on direct air capture.

The carbon removal industr y still needs to grow exponentially: By one estimate, by midcentur y, the world may have to remove 10 billion tons of carbon a year. That number may drop if some industries can move faster to decarbonize than expected—super-polluting industries like steel, concrete, and air travel may be able to transition to solutions like green hydrogen, for example, so less carbon removal is necessar y to balance out lingering emissions. Even so, the industr y is only a fraction of the size it will eventually have to be. But it’s finally beginning to be taken seriously.

Photo by Callum Shaw on Unsplash.

Beyti Kebab

UNTANGLE INNER KNOTS

Resolving these 4 inner conflicts can help you move forward By Stephanie Vozza

If you’re feeling stuck or unhappy with your career, the best place to look for answers is in the mirror. The inner world tends to manifest in the outer world, and the solution will start with you, says Ralph Kilmann, author of Creating a Quantum Organization. But it’s not an easy fix. Through his work with organizations and people and his own personal development, Kilmann says he’s discovered that our inner conflicts drive ever ything else. “How can you possibly make a good decision about your personal or your work life if you don’t know who you are and what brings you bliss?” he asks. “You can’t if you’re unconscious.” Moving for ward with intention requires answering and resolving these four inner struggles, he says: Are you a “physical body” or an “energy body”? The Western world is deep into the physical body, says Kilmann. For example, physical education in schools revolves around spor ts and fitness instead of exploring inner feelings. Discussions of an “energy body” comes more from the Eastern world where people talk about chakras, the energy centers inside your body. “People used to say, you can walk into a room and feel the tension or feel the mood,” says Kilmann. “That’s an energy thing. How we radiate energy and what energy we radiate has more to do with what goes on than the words we say.” Lowest energy levels come from the root chakra and are about anger, guilt, shame, fear, apathy, and pride, says Kilmann. At the higher end, the crown chakra has energies that have to do with love, peace, joy, and compassion. “Boy, do those sound and feel different,” says Kilmann. “If you’re in an organization where people are radiating the lower energies, it changes ever ything. You can be ver y dissatisfied, frustrated, and stymied. You cannot be yourself. It’s a shame to spend 40 to 50 hours a week in a place that does not give you bliss.” To answer the question—Are you a physical or energy body?—Kilmann says we are all both. Seeing yourself that way can help you resolve discomfor t or stress in different ways. “It’s not just about taking medication; it may be changing your attitude, your belief system, your thoughts,” he explains. Are you governed by your ego or your soul? Kilmann suggests organizing your inner voices into two categories: ego and soul. “The ego is focused primarily on self-image, safety, security, sur vival, and success,” he says. “The ego is dominated by those lower emotions fear, pride, 114

anger, desire, and grief. The ego stands ready to defend itself and its prior decisions and actions. Ultimately, the ego seeks power control, influence, fame, attention and immor tality.” The soul focuses on a “special calling,” wanting to answer the questions like: Why were you born? What are you here to do? How do you fit into that universal puzzle? “The soul radiates higher energies of love joy, peace, and compassion,” says Kilmann. Like the first inner conflict, the answer is that you can be both. “We’re not tr ying to destroy either ego or soul,” says Kilmann. “The question is, ‘How can they work together?’ Ideally, your ego and soul are on the same page. You have this calling in life, and your ego musters up the energy to get you there. They work together. That’s the best possible scenario.” Are your surrounding “systems” separate from your inner self, or part of who you are? Incorporating outside systems as being a par t of you falls under your soul perspective. If you’re par t of ever ything, that can change your perspective and approach. Once you take responsibility for outside systems, you can better work together to change the system. “Why not have the systems in an organization suppor t personal growth, encourage people to do their best to become who they are, and to contribute?” asks Kilmann. “That’s called empowerment, but it can only happen if you take responsibility for those outside systems.”

Have you resolved your primal relationships, or is your past draining your energy? The final conflict can be the ultimate challenge, as it involves resolving primal relationships. “I often find that people in organizations are interacting with one another in the present, but a person may unconsciously remind you of someone who hurt you,” says Kilmann. “Instead of seeing the person in front of you, you’re seeing a manifestation of someone from years ago. … How can a group get anything done if everyone’s projecting their unresolved past in the present?” Resolving these challenging relationships could require meeting with the person face to face to discuss what happened or it may require therapy. It also means facing conflicts of truth, which is the fact that each person in the situation has a different story or version of what happened. Addressing inner conflicts is important. Left untended, you’ll work out of habits driven by your unconscious mind. Kilmann says the silver lining of the pandemic is that it’s pushed people into greater self-awareness. “Albert Einstein said you can’t solve a problem by the same consciousness that created it,” he says. “You have to rise above it and see it from a larger perspective. You have to move away from fear, spite, anger, pride, and hate, and into love, joy, peace, and compassion. If you can interact with others in that manner, it will change everything.” Photo by Universal Eye on Unsplash.

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STICK TO YOUR VALUES AS YOU GROW

3 ways a purpose-driven company can stay true to its values during hypergrowth By Shalini Rao

Most startups begin with a shared mission. When a company is just a handful of employees, it’s easy to align on bigpicture goals and rally behind core values. In those early days, a small, cohesive team spends countless hours brainstorming, communicating, and creating something new together—fostering a shared experience like no other. But what about during the growth phase? When you’re racing to hire enough people to keep up with blistering demand, it’s much more difficult to nurture and sustain a mission-driven culture. And in today’s Great Resignation wave, growing companies are not just grappling with hiring, but also retaining their employees. A shared vision and sense of purpose is one of the best ways to ensure employees stick around and bring their best selves to work each day; a recent Deloitte study found that missiondriven companies had 30% higher levels of innovation and 40% higher levels of retention, and they tended to be first or second in their market segment. But how do you maintain an intentional culture when you grow from 100 to 1,000 or 10,000 employees? We recently convened our partners, advisors, and some of the smartest minds from our portfolio companies and network at the virtual System Positive Summit to discuss that very challenge: how to remain a mission-driven company all along the growth journey. At Generation, my investment company, we work with mission-driven companies every day. Our Growth Equity strategy’s sole purpose is to invest in and support growthstage companies building sustainable solutions toward a net-zero, prosperous, healthy, safe, and fair future for all. What we have seen time and time again over the last nearly two decades is that mission-driven companies often grow faster, attract and retain better talent, and remain more competitive. At the summit, speakers from companies such as Asana, Splunk, Gusto, and Pinterest shared proven tactics they use to keep their missions front-and-center. Below are some of the most salient takeaways we overheard at the event. Focus on the how One of the best ways to create a mission-driven company, and to keep that shared vision alive through many stages of growth, is to focus not just on outcomes, but on how you achieve them. Many founders of early-stage companies are so busy they don’t take the time to set up processes that align with their values. They might say, as part of their mission, “we’re a company that values diversity and inclusion,” but then when it comes to hiring, put no formal program in place to ensure diverse recruitment. Or a company might say, “we are a values-driven organization,” but instead hire people based purely on skillset and 116

never ask candidates about their values. Always start with the basics: Define your core values and what you believe in, and then create frameworks for how you will achieve those goals. Gusto spent a lot of time codifying its values when the company started to hire, prioritizing values and motivation alignment over simply hiring for skills. The company has even made “be proud of the how” one of its core values. Make onboarding count Recruiting is one of the most challenging tasks growth-stage companies face every day, made even more difficult in today’s tight labor market. Many organizations focus on getting offer letters out the door and contracts signed, but then do cursory onboardings almost as an afterthought. That’s a mistake, because onboarding is the most crucial moment for helping new employees get connected to the overall mission. Give each new hire six full weeks to become incorporated into the team. Don’t just expect them to start adding value right away, but treat those first six weeks as a mission-alignment period, complete with learning and development, coaching, mentoring, socializing, and team building. The goal is to provide each new recruit with a clear understanding of the company’s culture, values, customers, and future vision. Build culture like a product The teams, tech platforms, and resources companies deploy to design, build, iterate on, and market their products are essential for growth. But when it comes to designing a culture, most companies leave it largely to happenstance. Instead, a true mission-driven company designs its culture like a product. Start with what you want the end-user experience to be, and then design

policies that will get you to that end-goal. Ask staff for their feedback via employee engagement platforms, and try different mission statements and iterate on them until they are just right. No one designs software without bugs the first time; it’s the same with building a company culture. Design, iterate, find and fix bugs, and continually work on your “culture product.” Create an intentional “culture roadmap” based on your growth trajectory, putting practices in place around hiring, onboarding, training, mentoring, and more to ensure your culture doesn’t wither over time. What can this look like in practice? Asana created a Voice of the Employee program, formalizing the same multiple streams of input that their Voice of the Customer model uses to inform new product features. The continuous rigorous feedback loop of listening, understanding, delivering, acting and responding gives the company an honest mirror of how they’re doing and is a process that has grown and scaled since Asana had just 100 employees. At the System Positive Summit, all the panelists agreed that company leaders should define, communicate, and demonstrate shared values they truly believe in every day, not just relegate culture to the HR team. Creating and maintaining a culture means treating your mission like a product, putting real mechanisms in place to make culture a measurable practice, and onboarding new employees through a holistic process. Building a culture of shared values is difficult, but worth it. Mission-driven companies attract and retain top talent, nurture innovative thinking and collaboration among employees, and in our experience are ultimately more successful.

Photo by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash.

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ONE COWBOY AT A TIME

Rooting out toxic masculinity in the workplace By David M. M. Taffet

I couldn’t sleep after watching Jane Campion‘s Golden Globe winning film, The Power of the Dog, an emotionally dense Western starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a 1920s rancher in rural Montana. Notwithstanding the fact that my father’s family is from Montana, and that his father lost his thumb breaking a stallion, it’s the film’s sickening, real-life portrayal of toxic masculinity that really hit close to home. The film serves as a stark reminder of how little has changed over the past century, and how much work is left to be done by leaders in every sector of life. Perhaps most disturbing is how accurately the film depicts masculinity contest culture—a dog-eat-dog worldview which sanctifies stereotypically masculine traits such as “emotional toughness, physical stamina, and ruthlessness”—traits which continue to pervade work culture in the U.S. Cumberbatch’s cruelty In the film, Cumberbatch plays Phil, a cowboy and ranch owner whose A+ performance of hyper-masculine norms masks a deeply hidden vulnerability. More than just a master of the cowboy arts (i.e., horseback riding, calf castration, lassoing, etc.), Phil’s every action is predicated on the tenets of masculinity contest culture. He viciously torments his sister-in-law, played by Kirsten Dunst, and her son (Phil’s nephew), Peter, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, who recently won a Golden Globe for his performance. Phil’s emotionally violent attacks on Peter’s “effeminate” air become the film’s central tension as their relationship unfolds into something more complex. Peter’s bullying experience brought back memories of my own adolescence. As a sensitive and precocious 5-foot-tall bookworm with dreams of becoming a civil rights lawyer, I lacked the masculine trappings of my fighter pilot father who was killed in action in Vietnam or my taller, athletic brothers; and, I got bullied for it. Although I grew five inches in college and now stand a whopping 5-foot-5, 92% of all American men are still taller than me. As a result, my physical, emotional, and intellectual strength is often underestimated. That being said, I am, according to The Atlantic, part of an elite crew of less than 8% of men who confidently married a taller woman! When I achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, I wrongly assumed that I’d find solace in a community of peers who were in it for the right reasons. I’m sure you know where this is going. As fate would have it, I was assigned to the firm’s three most notoriously cantankerous partners, one of whom was so difficult that he burned through three associates in less than a year. Unbeknownst to him, I’d had practice fending off bullies all my life. Aside from being my boss, he 118

was no different than the others. When an organization adopts and relies on masculinity contest culture as a scare tactic for productivity, dysfunction always ensues. Toxicity of this nature is often cloaked by false, shameinducing monikers like “meritocracy,” which implies that the means justify the ends, no matter their virulent nature or harmful consequences. This behavior may yield high returns in the shortterm, but only at the expense of organizational health and well-being. Rewrite workplace norms So, what can leaders do to root out this insidious foe? We must rewrite workplace norms together starting with this: Particularly in difficult situations, put your insecurities on the table instead of hiding them and letting them weigh you down. I can’t overstate the power of this one act. People will find your approach refreshing and endearing. They will respect you more, drop their guard, and open themselves up to more authentic, connected conversations. Truly confident leaders know that they have no market on right. I’ve found that the willingness to acknowledge your uncertainty, vulnerability, shortcomings, and mistakes–not just when forced to, but as a regular habit–dissolves egos and repositions your vulnerability as a strength–an avenue for connection via shared challenges.

tell you that growth comes through vulnerability and discomfort; embracing both is a sign of true strength. As for the “age-old” advice to keep one’s personal and professional lives separate? In this context, it’s completely bunk. As a leader, sharing your authentic self in the workplace promotes the kind of warm, familial environment we all crave. It inspires trust and engenders psychological safety. Given that my statuesque wife is my business partner, that we work full-time from our home, and that our team members are like family to us, you could say my pendulum has swung too far. Granted, that may be too much for some people. But, at a minimum, consider what would happen if you dropped the ceremonial division between who you are as a workplace leader and who you are as a human being. By embracing your vulnerability and discomfort, I assure you that you and your team will feel lighter, happier, and more connected by your common humanity–warts and all. Finally, I want to make it clear that I’m not trying to attack the concept of masculinity or men as a monolithic group. I’m talking about addressing the set of toxic behaviors that we accept as “rules of the game.” These rules were historically determined by men, but they’re upheld and accepted by all of us, including people of all genders, races, classes, and abilities. People like Ghislane Maxwell, who was found guilty of sex trafficking, are proof of that.

Growth and vulnerability Anyone who’s really been through the ringer will

Photo by Carlo Borella on Unsplash.

bazaar tries

NOVO PIZZA FOR THE WIN

Make pizza night great again with the always new, and always different Novo Pizza By bazaar staff

When you live in a place like Kuwait, newcomers to the food scene are always welcome! Sure we might have a steady relationship with a few joints in town, but when it comes to pizza, we’re always up for trying out the latest concepts and seeing what local companies are doing to up the pizza game in Kuwait. So there we were. It was pizza night, and instead of jumping on the usual bandwagon and ordering from the big players, we opted to try the local concept Novo Pizza based on a friendly recommendation. With its eye-catching, modern branding, mouth-watering images, and its dedicated ordering portal (You can still get your Novo Pizza fix via Talabat or Deliveroo, too!) We were most definitely intrigued. While delivering pizza seems like an easy enough service, we really do take it for granted in Kuwait. The guarantee of receiving a hot pizza, with the dough being thoroughly unaffected by the trip it makes from the kitchen to your door, is a big one. So when it came to Novo, we had big expectations that doubled in size due to our increasing hunger. Novo Pizza began its operation only last May, but it is quickly growing a cult following. With its primary focus on creating the best pizza dough and always interesting toppings to satisfy a highly sophisticated local palate, the concept quickly grew, and now boasts 5 locations in Kuwait and they’ve also recently added breakfast based on customer demand. With reviews that are that positive, we had to give Novo Pizza a try. But first, let’s take a look at Novo Pizza’s menu. The concept truly lives up to its “always new, always different” slogan, and with that stellar dough as the base of their creations and utilizing the freshest ingredients for their toppings, the offerings not only looked good, each and every bite delivered a premium taste as well. Novo Pizza’s appetizers present local favorites, from potato wedges that were delectable and crispy, Garlic Cheese bread that absolutely delivered on that must-have cheese pull, garlic, or truffle dough knots and even yummy Boneless Buffalo fried chicken wings and chicken strips. If you feel like you need to add some greens to your pizza night, then we cannot recommend the Chicken Caesar Salad enough! You can also opt for the healthful Novo Salad, complete with fresh romaine lettuce, crunchy and peppery rocket leaves, mixed capsicum, cherry tomatoes, and turkey slices, all beautifully enveloped in a yummy balsamic vinaigrette. And now for the main event, the pizza! The “Classics” section on Novo Pizza’s menu includes must-haves like Pepperoni and Margherita, favorites like Chicken BBQ and Chicken Ranch, but what really stole the limelight for us was the Verdura Supreme. It’s definitely one for the books! Prepared with Novo’s in-house tomato sauce, beef pepperoni, minced beef, black olives, cherry tomato, artichoke, white mushrooms, mixed

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capsicums and a more than generous dose of Mozzarella and a drizzle of vegan pesto sauce, the Verdura stole the show and was a massive hit at home. There’s even a vegetarian option that’s equally delicious too. The Classic pizzas at Novo come in small, medium, and large, but we highly recommend you get these on offer-more on this later! We love how Novo Pizza has developed quite an interesting menu, with a dedicated section titled “Specialty Pizzas” where the brilliants minds at Novo stretch their creative muscles, with creations like “Truffles Pizza” with sliced button mushrooms, chopped fresh parsley, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, drizzled with truffle oil. The Eggplant Parmigiana Pizza looked equally delightful, but we opted for the Spinach Alfredo Pizza and were not disappointed. The fact that Novo uses fresh Spinach here was a huge plus, the chicken was succulent and the alfredo and mozzarella sauce really was a home run. Keep your eyes on the Specialty section of their menu as they will always rotate in new and inventive flavors so you can always try something different here. Moving on to where the fun is at: The Signature Pizzas. And while these come in a large size, they are worth every extra calorie. From the fiery Mariachi pizzas (available in beef or Chicken) with Jalapeno and their secret Mariachi spices to Philly Steak and Texas BBQ Short Ribs, this is where Novo Pizza really flexes. We were also gobsmacked to see a Chick-Fil-Ah pizza offering, with the famous sauce making an addictive appearance, sliced fried chicken, mozzarella cheese, yet another drizzle of Chick-Fil-Ah sauce, and the sexiest waffle fries we’ve seen in a while. This is what you order when you have friends over on a Thursday night. Trust! [Continued...]

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bazaar tries

Make your pizzas more fun from Novo by dipping them in their in-house sauces! We love the salted garlic butter and the Chick-Fil-Ah sauce, and you can always opt for classic offerings like Marinara, Ranch, Honey Mustard, and Caesar Dressing. To say that we were stuffed is an understatement, but as avid foodies, we always leave room for dessert, especially when said dessert is also pizza. At Novo, the dessert menu is small but mighty, with an unforgettable Cinnamon Pie with their in-house cinnamon crumble, brown sugar, and vanilla gaze, and their famous Churros, rolled with cinnamon and sugar and also featuring the addictive vanilla glaze as a dipping sauce. If we could order that sauce on its own, we would! Now here’s the all-important factor that you should always consider when ordering from Novo Pizza-their deals! They have an amazing Buy-oneget-one deal on their website, and you can make office lunches more fun with the Team Building Deal, where you get a large pizza for free when you order two large pizzas. There are also meal deals, whether you’re in for a solo indulging night, you’re chilling with just a couple of friends or you’re ordering for a bigger gathering. We loved that Novo Pizza has these amazing packages that make for a budget-friendly pizza night!

What are you waiting for? Make pizza night great again, and try Novo Pizza today! Order from www.novopizzakw.com, find them on Talabat and Deliveroo and follow them on Instagram @Novo.pizza to get their latest updates and deals. 122

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bazaar movie night February Movies

THE COMMANDO

WARHUNT

LAST SURVIVORS

MOONFALL

DEATH ON THE NILE

UNCHARTED

Release Date: 27 January Genre: Thriller Cast: Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke Synopsis: A DEA agent with PTSD returns home after a botched mission and must now protect his family from a home invasion after a recently freed convict and his henchmen come after their stash of millions hidden inside of the agent’s home. Stakes are high and lives are at risk in this head-to-head battle of wits.

Release Date: 3 February Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson Synopsis: A mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit hurtling towards Earth. Does a NASA executive have the key to saving the world, and why is she only believed by her ex, also an astronaut, and a conspiracy theorist...and what do these unlikely heroes discover the Moon actually is...?

Release Date: 27 January Genre: Action, Horror Cast: Mickey Rourke, Jackson Rathbone Synopsis: A US Army plane flies over Germany’s Black Forest in 1945. It’s suddenly enveloped by a swarm of crow feathers. As the aircraft plummets toward the ground, the AIRMEN glimpse the feathers converging to form a mysterious woman in black.

Release Date: 10 February Genre: Crime, Mystery Cast: Gal Gadot, Kenneth Branagh, Sophie Okonedo Synopsis: Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. With wicked twists and turns enough to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking conclusion.

Source: cinescape.com.kw 124

Release Date: 3 February Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Benjamin Arthur, Mark Famiglietti Synopsis: A father and son have been living off grid for 20 years in a post-apocalyptic world, where the fight for survival exists every day. The father warns about the dangers beyond the utopia they’ve built, but the son becomes curious about life outside. A chance encounter with a beautiful stranger is about to see their world unravel.

Release Date: 10 February Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg Synopsis: The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Drake, showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully.If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother...

bazaar Apps

TOCA HAIR SALON

MASTERCLASS

PUPPR

DINOSAURS ARE PEOPLE TOO

MY NOISES

PHOCUS

Run your own Toca Hair Salon! Cut, color, comb, shave and blow-dry lifelike hair on six different cute characters. Using your fingers, you can make just about any hairstyle you want! This game is geared for kids, but we think adults can enjoy some colorful creativity too.

Has a little puppy entered your life recently, and you need help teaching it some tricks. Meet your new dog trainer! Puppr includes step-by-step video instructions to help you teach your dog basic obedience like “sit” and “stay” to advanced tricks like “fetch leash” and “sit pretty”. Great for both new and experienced dog owners.

This app creates beautiful noises to mask the noises you don’t want to hear : your chatty colleagues, tinnitus, or even your inner voice when you can’t shut it down! The concept is simple, works extremely well, and does not require expensive noise-cancelling headphones. Thanks to its unique audio engineering, it sets the standard among background sounds.

If learning a new skill is part of your New Year’s resolutions, this is the app for you. You’ve probably heard of Masterclass before, but we’re highlighting the Serena Williams course this time. Level up your tennis game and learn from the OG player herself.

Dinosaurs Are People Too is an original tapper game in which you can watch how the world advances with dinosaurs in it. See how history would have changed through the eras if that fateful meteor had never hit Earth. A fun and simple game that allows you to journey through history and experience key advances that transformed the world, such as the discovery of fire, the wheel or writing.

The perfect photo editing app for creating depth and portrait lighting effects on any phone. Simple design paired with the advanced person recognition technology we use in the background It is not just a portrait mode editor, but it also has many unique photo editing tools, and applies these professionally just in seconds with minimum effort.

play.google.com itunes.apple.com 126

bazaar music

FEBRUARY MUSIC Happy Valentine’s day! Or not! It’s up to you. But there’s no denying that love songs and break-up ballads make up a huge part of what music’s all about. We’ve got you covered either way.

Title: Unchained Melody Artist: The Righteous Brothers Release date: 1965

Title: I’ll Stand by You Artist: The Pretenders Release date: 1994

Title: Truly Madly Deeply Artist: Savage Garden Release date: 1997

The 1955 song was written as a theme for the little-known prison film Unchained, hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers in 1965. According to the song’s publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of “Unchained Melody” have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages

“I’ll Stand by You” is a 1994 song recorded by The Pretenders from their sixth studio album, Last of the Independents. Written by Chrissie Hynde in collaboration with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg (who used the melody from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Minuet for Lovers, it was the Pretenders’ most recent significant hit single, and their last successful single in North America.

The song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, released as the third single from their self-titled debut album in March 1997. It won the ARIA Music Award for Single of the Year and Highest Selling Single in 1997 and was nominated for Song of the Year. The song reached number one in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Two music videos were filmed for the track:

Title: Since U Been Gone Artist: Kelly Clarkson Release date: 2004

Title: Tears Dry On Their Own Artist: Amy Winehouse Release date: 2006

Title: I Will Survive Artist: Gloria Gaynor Release date: 1978

Recorded by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her second studio album, Breakaway (2004). The song, which was written and produced by Max Martinand Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, was released as the lead single from Breakaway two weeks before the album was released. It is an uptempo pop rock and power pop power ballad that infuses electronic sounds with a mixture of a soft and loud pop rock sound.

The song by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse from her second and final studio album, Back to Black (2006). It was released on 13 August 2007 as the album’s fourth single. The original ballad version of the track is featured on the posthumous album Lioness: Hidden Treasures (2011). The song was featured in the documentary film based on the life and death of Winehouse, Amy (2015) and was also included on the film’s soundtrack.

We just couldn’t ignore this powerful breakup song. It’s a classic, it’s an anthem and it is empowering. The song’s lyrics describe the narrator’s discovery of personal strength following an initially devastating breakup. It received heavy airplay in 1979, reaching spending three non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as topping the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart.

Sources: wikipedia.com 128

Chicken Machboos

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AMAZON ASTRO

HTC VIVE FLOW

ANKERWORK B600

GO AIR TONES TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

GARMIN VENU 2 PLUS

THE FREESTYLE

Looks like our Jetsons dreams of having some robot home assistant, a la Rosey, are just around the corner. Meet Astro, the household robot for home monitoring, with Alexa. Amazon Astro uses advanced navigation technology to find its way around your home and go where you need it. When you’re not using Astro, it will hang out close by at the ready. Stay connected from anywhere - Remotely send Astro to check on specific rooms, people, or things. Plus, get alerts if Astro detects an unrecognized person or certain sounds when you’re away. Astro can follow you with entertainment or find you to deliver calls, messages, timers, alarms, or reminders.

True wireless to complement you. In the world of headphones, brands are pushing to stand out – bright colors, big logos - but JLab wanted to forge a new path and create a product line follows a more nuanced approach to earbud aesthetics by showcasing the beauty found in tones of the world. Featuring a series of neutral colors, JLab GO Air Tones are the first earbud collection designed to complement a person rather than draw attention.

The immersive VR glasses made for wellness and mindful productivity. Compact and lightweight, the VIVE Flow goes where you go. Calmness is just a few simple steps away. Connect to your phone via Bluetooth and enter your happy place in virtual reality. Adjustable diopter lenses offer personalized focusing power - so you can find your viewing sweet spot. And they are easy to put on and take off. The proprietary dual-hinge fit design ensures both comfort and stability for different head shapes and sizes.

Understand your body better with advanced health and fitness features. And enjoy the convenience of making calls from your wrist when paired with your compatible smartphone. Create or respond to text messages hands-free, courtesy of your paired smartphone’s voice assistant. Health and wellness features give a better look at what’s going on inside your body. Find new ways to move your body with more than 25 preloaded sports apps. Bright AMOLED display and up to 9 days of battery life? Yes, please!

Source: bestproducts.com 130

This all-in-one video bar can solve all of your remote work frustrations. Just plug and play (or work). It eliminates the need to plug in a ton of gadgets. It features built-in speakers, a mic array, and an LED light bar to solve all your woes. It goes without saying that built-in webcams on a majority of laptops are not up to the mark. The top of the line mic will make sure you are heard. And the lights on top means you will no longer look like an extra from a horror movie.

Take your entertainment on-the-go with The Freestyle. From slanted walls and kitchen tables, to outdoor surfaces and floors, The Freestyle’s 180 degree design gives you the flexibility to point, play and enjoy a big screen experience. With its round, compact shape, you can easily slip it into a backpack and take your entertainment on the go. Setting up The Freestyle is a breeze. The projector optimizes screen size, auto-focuses, and levels the image even when pointed on an angle. It does the hard work for you, so you can kick back and enjoy the content you love, when and where you want to.

bazaar books

THE FAMILY CHAO

THE MAID

by Lan Samantha Chang, Fiction

by Nita Prose, Thriller

The residents of Haven, Wisconsin, have dined on the Fine Chao restaurant’s delicious Americanized Chinese food for thirty-five years, content to ignore any unsavory whispers about the family owners. Whether or not Big Leo Chao is honest, or his wife, Winnie, is happy, their food tastes good and their three sons earned scholarships to respectable colleges. But when the brothers reunite in Haven, the Chao family’s secrets and simmering resentments erupt at last. Before long, brash, charismatic, and tyrannical patriarch Leo is found dead presumed murdered and his sons find they’ve drawn the exacting gaze of the entire town. The ensuing trial brings to light potential motives for all three brothers: Dagou, the restaurant’s reckless head chef; Ming, financially successful but personally tortured; and the youngest, gentle but lost college student James.

A TASTE FOR POISON

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows it, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect.

THE POWER OF REGRET

By Neil Bradbury, Nonfiction

By Daniel H. Pink, Nonfiction

As any reader of murder mysteries can tell you, poison is one of the most enduring and popular weapons of choice for a scheming murderer. It can be slipped into a drink, smeared onto the tip of an arrow or the handle of a door, even filtered through the air we breathe. But how exactly do these poisons work to break our bodies down, and what can we learn from the damage they inflict? In a fascinating blend of popular science, medical history, and true crime, Dr. Neil Bradbury explores this most morbidly captivating method of murder from a cellular level. Alongside real-life accounts of murderers and their crimes some notorious, some forgotten, some still unsolved are the equally compelling stories of the poisons involved: eleven molecules of death that work their way through the human body and, paradoxically, illuminate the way in which our bodies function.

YERBA BEUNA

Everybody has regrets, Daniel H. Pink explains in The Power of Regret. They’re a universal and healthy part of being human. And understanding how regret works can help us make smarter decisions, perform better at work and school, and bring greater meaning to our lives. Drawing on research in social psychology, neuroscience, and biology, Pink debunks the myth of the “no regrets” philosophy of life. And using the largest sampling of American attitudes about regret ever conducted as well as his own World Regret Survey—which has collected regrets from more than 15,000 people in 105 countries—he lays out the four core regrets that each of us has. These deep regrets offer compelling insights into how we live and how we can find a better path forward.

WHAT MY BONES KNOW

By Nina LaCour, Fiction

By Stephanie Foo, Memoir

When Sara Foster runs away from home at sixteen, she leaves behind the girl she once was, capable of trust and intimacy. Years later, in Los Angeles, she is a sought-after bartender, renowned as much for her brilliant cocktails as for the mystery that clings to her. Across the city, Emilie Dubois is in a holding pattern, yearning for the beauty and community her Creole grandparents cultivated but unable to commit. On a whim, she takes a job arranging flowers at the glamorous restaurant Yerba Buena and embarks on an affair with the married owner. The morning Emilie and Sara first meet at Yerba Buena, their connection is immediate. But the damage both women carry, and the choices they have made, pulls them apart again and again. When Sara’s old life catches up to her, upending everything she thought she wanted just as Emilie has finally gained her own sense of purpose, they must decide if their love is more powerful than their pasts.

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Source: Goodreads.com

By age thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: She had her dream job as an awardwinning radio producer at This American Life and a loving boyfriend. But behind her office door, she was having panic attacks and sobbing at her desk every morning. After years of questioning what was wrong with herself, she was diagnosed with complex PTSD—a condition that occurs when trauma happens continuously, over the course of years. Both of Foo’s parents abandoned her when she was a teenager, after years of physical and verbal abuse and neglect. She thought she’d moved on, but her new diagnosis illuminated the way her past continued to threaten her health, relationships, and career. She found limited resources to help her, so Foo set out to heal herself, and to map her experiences onto the scarce literature about C-PTSD.

bazaar around town PORSCHE DESIGN CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY Porsche AG congratulates Porsche Design on its golden jubilee. Two very special cars are the highlights of the anniversary year: the exclusive Porsche 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design and a historical 911 S 2.4 Targa from Porsche Design’s founding year of 1972, which has been faithfully restored by Porsche Classic. The 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design is a limited run of 750 cars with numerous features inspired by the iconic designs of F.A. Porsche. In addition to the all-black exterior, the nods to the past include the classic checked Sport-Tex seat centre panels and the red second hand of the Porsche Design Subsecond clock in the Sport Chrono Package, which comes as standard. For the past two years, Porsche Classic has been working on a unique project to celebrate 50 years of Porsche Design. A 911 S 2.4 Targa from 1972, the year Porsche Design was founded, has been restored for the anniversary. “The vision was to produce a historical counterpart to the new 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design,” explains Ulrike Lutz, Head of Porsche Classic. “With the aid of the new Sonderwunsch (special wishes) programme, we were able to implement the idea of a unique pair of vehicles. The job of the designers and works restorers was to carefully transfer the specifications of the new car to the classic.” In tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, this one-of-a-kind vehicle features the same colours as the legendary Chronograph I watch that he designed in 1972, with black dominating both the exterior and interior. Classic side stripes with a Platinum satin finish and integrated Porsche Design lettering adorn the flanks. As a special highlight, the Targa roll bar has also been lasered in a Platinum satin finish – a new interpretation of the brushed stainless steel of the original classic model. The Targa lettering is finished in matt black. Like the special edition model, the grille on the rear engine cover features a ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary’ badge with a reproduction of F.A. Porsche’s signature. For more information visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, please call 1870 870 or head to porschekuwait.com. For the latest updates on social media, follow @PorscheCentreKuwait on Instagram and Facebook.

MASTARA MAKES GETTING WINDOW TREATMENTS SUPER EASY We all have a story about trying to buy new curtains or blinds in Kuwait. Especially when it comes to custom sized window coverings. Mastara have taken the struggle out of shopping around to find the right solutions for your windows, price comparisons, coordinating measure services or having to travel distances in traffic or heat to find the right blinds or drapes. To make life easier they launched a website where you can shop fabrics, order samples to your door and easily input your window measurements to have custom curtains made and installed in record time. If you need a little more guidance, you can also book a free consultation, where experts will take all the required measurements, display quality fabrics sourced from around the world directly to you and provide a same day quote! Browse the mastara website to shop directly online or book a consultation and if you need a little help, they’re just a click away! Check out some of mastaras projects on their instagram page @mastarakw or browse and shop fabrics online at www.mastara.me

COACH INTRODUCES SPRING 2022 WITH “THAT’S MY RIDE” CAMPAIGN Coach introduced its Spring 2022 campaign starring Coach Family including Jennifer Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Beck, Wisdom Kaye and Kōki. Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers worked in collaboration with director and photographer Tyler Mitchell on the campaign, which reimagines Coach’s iconic Horse and Carriage code and first-ever house logo in a pop palette for a new generation. Exploring the legacy of the house through a pop culture lens, “That’s My Ride” playfully evokes nostalgic ride scenes in movies and music that are now part of our collective imagination. “Joyful and optimistic, Spring 2022 celebrates our house codes through the point-ofview of a new generation,” said Vevers. “It expresses what I’ve always loved about Coach, which is the way our heritage can be a platform for individual expression and bold ideas that shape the future.”Captured in cities around the world, the campaign was also created in collaboration with new ambassadors for the house Dean Fujioka and Shawn Dou, TikTok star Parker Kit Hill and comedian Elsa Majimbo. Follow @coach on Instagram to check out the campaign.

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bazaar scopes

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22 The first of February is probably not going to be a lot of fun for the king of the jungle. Your luck is still magical and everything you touch turns to gold, it is just that you will have to work a lot harder at making it happen from here on out. People with whom you share a business are the culprit of most of your problems. Your mind may be on your significant other quite a bit this month for some reason.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 The first couple of February weeks are looking stressful for Virgo. This could be due to your partner hitting you with change after change lately. As the holiday of hearts approaches, it could be you who is causing all the surprises. Your energy is on your career and a short trip is probably needed to initiate a contract. If you applied for a job and haven’t heard back from them, you might around the 18th, give or take a few days either way.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18

There is a big mystery to be solved… are you up to the challenge of being lead sleuth? You are also due for some financial surprises as February slides away. If for some reason you are keeping your affection for someone hidden, I am afraid you won’t be able to forever. Whatever secrets you have the most likelihood of being exposed in March.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19 You are unclear about something, and this will have to be verbalized during the first part of February. Someone close to you is wounded somehow and you will be aware of the fact even though it is a secret. Another possibility is that you are having financial difficulties and your banker is not cooperating. Consider getting an update on your credit report and see what all the fuss is about.

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19 You are still experiencing the same issues regarding money. At work, there may be benefit discussions, salary reviews, or budgeting issues. Remember to count those day-to-day items you need for work that you buy for yourself. Your health, in general, looks quite good this month. Valentine’s Day has some strong feelings being expressed. You are well thought of in your career and reputation now. Opening doors should be extremely easy.

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 You are entering a period of confusion or uncertainty at the beginning of February. You may feel lost, your work world will be chaotic, and expect to lose your phone or iPod. Fortunately, this period won’t last all month, and the fog will lift. The positive possibility is that you glow in the light of the ideal at work or to people in positions of authority. Mysterious happenings are an intriguing possibility.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21 Watch your energy output and try to maintain a balanced response to all situations. If you have been hiding your anger, be careful because it is about to erupt like a jack-in-the-box. Sometimes energy balancing problems can cause us to hurt ourselves, so be very careful. Surgery and hospital stays aren’t beyond the realm of possibility.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 The month starts out a bit rocky for the Scales. The higher-ups are blocking your progress or expecting too much. This is creating many opportunities for you to rethink your values, among other things. Make your honey a nice home-cooked meal if you don’t feel like fighting the crowds. You can look forward to your energy level picking up towards month’s end when you should take a long trip, go to a college athletic event or apply for that scholarship.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Have you been losing things around the house lately? Or perhaps you keep making “Freudian slips”? Communications and the equipment surrounding them are likely to disintegrate this month. Or… haunting memories of someone from the past run through your mind. All of the above are possible, so just be aware. Valentine’s Day sees you making big plans or someone is making them for you.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21 Be careful in all of your communications during the first few weeks of the month because there is likely to be some major confusion. If you have to go on a short trip make sure and take a map because you are apt to get lost. Sagittarius will experience a more intense lover’s holiday on February 14th. We all could experience some unusual events that day, especially taking the form of the written word. You are learning the value of money, and of creating a practical budget.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Looks like the family may have spent a little too much time together over the holiday and by now have managed to get on one another’s very last nerve. Everyone needs to just go to separate corners because things will lighten up considerably as the month progresses. You look good, and by mid-month, you will find yourself receiving a huge perk of some sort. This should occur around the 18th, give or take a few days, but the happy energy will be hovering around you for longer.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22 Your money situation is in focus this month, not only yours but your partners (including business partners). Something is unclear and you would do well to straighten it out now rather than later. These energies are indicative of confusing conversations and hidden agendas. If you have reason to be suspicious about a partner’s whereabouts, motives, or financial management abilities, you might want to put some energy into finding out what’s up. 136

Source: wisehoroscope.org

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