Dubai Vibes Magazine | Issue 10 | December 2021

VOL 1 • ISSUE 10 • DECEMBER 2021

Pierre Delfau: A seasoned hotelier speaks words of wisdom Dr. Saliha Afridi tells how to cope with depression

Kate Hardcastle A different kind of rock ‘n roll star

Expat stories.

What’s yours?

Have you ever feared failure?

Shaista Aggarwal says why you should not ‘UAE is very kind to expatriates.’

- Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan

Paul Mark Simmons: From travel agent to hotel sales director

For Dubai Vibes Magazine advertising, partnerships and other promotions, kindly send email at this address: bella@dubaivibesmagazine.ae or call 0544585440

From the publisher

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Kate Hardcastle MBE, an awardwinning TV personality from the UK, has a vision for what the consumer desires and how businesses can meet and it led to her to being awarded the MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2018 for Services to Business and Commerce. Kate says: “I know that it often surprises people to hear I was actually a singer as a first career. I think due to reality shows, we are used to the switch from a ‘normal’ career into one on the stage - but perhaps not the other way around!

****

Right from the age of 17, when he joined medical school, Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan has Have you ever feared failure? Shaista Aggarwal says why always wanted to become a you should not - Page 12 - 13 neurologist. “So, I was very clear about choosing my specialization.

I took the medical profession very seriously,” he says.

“I have been working in the UAE for 10 consecutive years and I am very happy that the benevolent governance of this country, as well as the leadership, have a real humanitarian role in giving an insurance provider to the patient – by law or otherwise. I feel it’s a very kind gesture that is happening continuously,” says Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan, a neurologist who also is Chief Executive Officer of Ahalia Medical Group and ergo, simultaneously a full-time consultant in Neurology and the Director of Medical Sciences in Neurosciences in his group.

Paul Mark Simmons: From travel agent to hotel sales

director - Pages 16 - 17 **** Being an expat can take its toll, working away from home. Are you depressed? The US-educated Dr. Saliha Afridi tells what the signs are and how you could overcome them.

“The reality is that many people who are depressed look like they are ‘just fine.’And while they dig deep to show up for meetings, or family dinners, inside of themselves, they feel disengaged, disconnected and discontent,” she said.

Publisher Gabriel John Rimando

Editor Elton Burton

Associate Editor Angelo Dumag

Sales and Marketing Manager Elaine Anne ‘Bella’ Marbella

Contributing Writers Joshua Trias Amanda Hensley Zainab Shahid

Graphic Designer Allan Caragao

Photographer Than Dumas Find us at https://www.dubaivibesmagazine.ae/ https://www.facebook.com/DubaiVibesMagazine.ae

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ON THE COVER

**** This and more good reads in the latest edition of Dubai Vibes Magazine. Enjoy.

STAFF BOX

Pierre Delfau: A seasoned hotelier speaks words of wisdom - Pages 20 - 21

Kate Hardcastle MBE is an awardwinning TV personality from the UK, who has appeared in numerous TV shows including BBC’s Watchdog, ITV’s Eat, Shop, Save, ITV’s Tonight, Rip Off Britain and Inside Out to name a few.

‘UAE is very kind to expatriates.’

-- Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan ‘Back in our home countries, patients spend for their diagnosis, laboratory investigations, doctor’s consultation (fees), and the medicines from their own pocket.’ Dr. Vinod says.

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“Right from the age of 17, when I joined medical school, I have wanted to become a neurologist.

So, I was very clear about choosing my specialization. I took the medical profession very seriously.”

“I

have been working in the UAE for 10 consecutive years and I am very happy that the benevolent governance of this country, as well as the leadership, have a real humanitarian role in giving an insurance provider to the patient – by law or otherwise. I feel it’s a very kind gesture that is happening continuously,” says Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan, a neurologist who also is Chief Executive Officer of Ahalia Medical Group and ergo, simultaneously a full-time consultant in Neurology and the Director of Medical Sciences in Neurosciences in his group.

“I could honestly say that the best part of my career as a medical administrator at the CEO level, which I have been holding for the last 14 years, and as a practitioner with the head of neurology that I have gain for more than a decade, is the insurance coverage for patients,” Dr. Vinod says.

He said insurance coverage for patients makes it more attractive for doctors to practice in the UAE. “Back in our home countries, patients spend for their diagnosis, the radiological laboratory investigations, the doctor consultation fees, cross references and the medicines from the pharmacy, from their own pocket,” Dr. Vinod said.

However, he said the situation is a lot different in the UAE where approximately 85% of the population are expatriates from over 200 countries across the world.

In the same vein, Dr. Vinod said: “I wish the screening of diseases (in the field of) oncology as well as genetic diseases also be taken seriously by the employers, the employees, the HR of organizations, the insurance companies, the thirdparty administrators, and finally the Department and Ministry of Health in this country, so much so that, if these

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things also are included among the insurance coverages, we will be able to serve a much bigger population with the same expertise and infrastructure.”

Dr. Vinod comes from a family of engineers. “My grandfathers, both of them, my dad, my brother, all were engineers, and they excel in their professions. I took inspiration from the community to understand that medicine was my method.

“Right from the age of 17, when I joined medical school, I have wanted to become a neurologist. So, I was very clear about choosing my specialization. I took the medical profession very seriously.”

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Dr. Saliha Afridi tells how to cope with depression Being an expat can take its toll, working away from home. Are you depressed?

The US-educated specialist tells what the signs are and how you could overcome them.

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“The reality is that many people who are depressed look like they are ‘just fine.’And while they dig deep to show up for meetings, or family dinners, inside of themselves, they feel disengaged, disconnected and discontent.

“T

hese pains (bouts of depression) are messengers, Listen to them.” – Rumi

And so, says clinical psychologist, Dr. Saliha Afridi, listen to what the depression is asking of you.

“While many people are focused solely on getting through it or treating it, they might miss what is being asked of them by the depression. Oftentimes, depression can communicate a disconnect from ourselves or what is most important to us, or it can be a way that our psyche pulls us away from the noise of the world (withdrawal) and makes us consider what is important to us and how we want to be spending our time,” says Dr. Saliha.

Dr. Saliha says that in this age of knowledge and Dr. Google, there is a lot of misinformation about clinical disorders resulting in people either catastrophizing a few bad days or minimizing a depressive episode.

The signs and symptoms of depression, she said, include low or tearful mood, an inability to enjoy the things you are used to enjoying, feeling withdrawn from friends and family, low energy, low concentration, low motivation, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, as well as a disruption in your sleep or appetite (too much or too little).

Five or more of these symptoms must be present every day, more often than not, over a course of the last two weeks, and they must cause significant impairment in a person’s personal and professional life.

Dr. Saliha said being depressed doesn’t necessarily mean sulking in one dark corner.

“The reality is that many people who are depressed look like they are ‘just fine,’” she says. “And while they dig deep to show up for meetings, or family dinners, inside of themselves, they feel disengaged, disconnected and discontent.

“Celebrities such as Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga have all come out and talked about dark periods in their lives, where they made their appearances on sets or shows, looking fine, but inside felt the darkness of depression. So yes, you can be depressed and show up for your work, your children, your partner, and your life, but the ‘impairment’ is in the way you show up being less engaged, and less rewarding,” she added.

Dr. Saliha says some people might start to self-medicate during their depression, to lift themselves out of a low mood. “They might start shopping unreasonably, going out and socializing excessively,

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over committing to work to keep their mind busy, or using substances to numb themselves of their dark thoughts and feelings.”

As a clinical psychologist for the past 13 years, Dr Saliha has spent 12 years working in the UAE and founded The Lighthouse Arabia in 2011, a community mental health and wellness clinic providing quality psychological and psychiatric care to children, adults, couples and families. Dr Afridi has worked with prominent companies and ministries such as The Executive Council, The National Program for Happiness and Well-being from the Happiness Ministry, many professional service firms and fortune 100 companies in her bid to dissolve mental health stigma and be at the forefront of the mental health movement within the UAE and the region.

She has a BA in Anthropology, University of Michigan, US; MA in Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology, US; and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology. She is also member of American Psychological Association and is US-licensed by the Arizona Board of Licensed Psychologists.

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‘Destiny might bring you there.

But only hard work will take you to the top.’

– Dr Fazeela Abbasi, celebrity dermatologist

A highly experienced dermatologist and a pioneer in the use of advanced laser treatments, the doctor has garnered a distinct reputation for her success in the field.

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“I think it’s in my genes. I am a workaholic. Took it after my mother, I suppose, who is a superwoman at the age of 72. She is a lawyer, a judge, member of parliament, chairperson law and justice (committee), a wonderful mother, great granny and still not slowing down,”

“D

parliament, chairperson law and justice (committee), a wonderful mother, great granny and still not slowing down,” says Dr. Fazeela, who’s from Pakistan but has become a rolling stone, spending most of my life in US, London and Dubai.

estiny pushed me toward selecting this field,” says Dr. Fazeela Abbasi, a highly experienced dermatologist and pioneer in the use of advanced laser treatments, who has garnered a distinct reputation as a celebrity dermatologist and aesthetic skin specialist.

“I have been in dermatological practice since 2003. After completing my medical school, I went on pursuing post-graduation qualification in Clinical Dermatology from Saint John’s Institute of dermatology, Kings College London, the world’s renowned dermatology institution. After which I joined MD Dermatology and completed my doctorate in medicine adorning my educational career with the most prestigious qualification in the field of dermatology,” says Dr. Fazeela.

“I wanted to be a heart surgeon but my son was born with a life-threatening lung disorder. He is healthy and well by the grace of God. But at that time I had to choose a field that did not involve emergency rotations and hectic working hours. Dermatology seemed to be just the right fit and now it’s like I was born to do it,” she says.

Dr. Fazeela brings prestige with her name and is sought by those who do not settle for less. Her techniques are revolutionary in anti-aging treatments. She is one of the most sought-after doctors for her artistically performed injectable procedures. Moreover, she is also known for coining the term, DFA Signature Liquid Face Sculpting.

She is the youngest doctor to become an honorary teaching faculty member for the Sharjah University of Laser Training and Research Centre, an institution recognized by the Dubai Health Authority for issuing CME credits for laser therapists across the Gulf region.

This achievement is a testament to her dedication to the field of dermatology.

One of her countless achievements includes being the pioneer dermatologist in Pakistan to introduce top laser brands in the country. In 2008, she established her clinic in Islamabad and since then she has been striving to deliver the best that dermatology can offer. Currently, she is practicing in Dubai as a part of the Euromed Clinic Center.

What keeps her going?

“I think it’s in my genes. I am a workaholic. Took it after my mother, I suppose, who is a superwoman at the age of 72. She is a lawyer, a judge, member of

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Her advice?

“There are no short cuts in life, and hard work is the key to success. Though destiny might take you to reach that point, only hard work will take you to the top.”

Dr. Fazeela says she plans to “strike a balance between my deen & Duniya.

“Which means paying equal attention to worldly success and success in life here after.

As far as worldly plans are concerned, I am in the process of launching my skincare line.”

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Have you ever feared failure?

Shaista Aggarwal says why you should not Shaista runs a business that started out as a home-based activity. How she made it grow is her story. Read and be inspired.

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‘The love for the craft is what keeps me going every day. Although it’s very hectic with events all year round, the fact that every piece and item I make is unique and custom made, makes it enjoyable.’

“I

encouraged me to grow and expand.

Never forget to be the first person who believed in you to give you that push in the direction where you are today,” Shaista said.

t sounds odd, but my life philosophy is based on failure: Do not fear failure, but rather fear not trying,” says Shaista Aggarwal, who hails from Mumbai in India and has been calling Dubai home for the past 10 years.

“I plan on expanding further in the food trading aspect of the business and would like to teach other small businesses like me what I have learned in my journey.”

Shaista said her love for her craft has kept her going till she found a gap in the market and went for it.

“I run a business called ‘Made By Confetti,’ which started off as a homebased business for custom-made cake toppers, baker tools and accessories, and now I also do food trading specifically in food colorings from Australia.

“The love for the craft is what keeps me going every day. Although it’s very hectic with events all year round, the fact that every piece and item I make is unique and custom made, makes it enjoyable,” she said.

Shaista said Dubai’s year-round calendar of events offers an opportunity: “I felt there was an untapped market for high quality finished cake toppers, acrylic work, custom corporate gifting, and so on.

“Furthermore, the boom in Dubai’s food

and beverage (F&B) industry has never slowed down and businesses directly or indirectly related to the food industry have been quite successful,” she added.

For those planning on doing startups, take this advice from Shaista, who obviously is someone who has been there: “Find a niche in the market, make yourself and your products necessary and you will always be needed.”

Furthermore, “take criticism, convert it to energy and a drive to work harder,” she says.

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Shaista states that being in business comes to her naturally. She owes her entrepreneurial outlook and business acumen to her father, father-in-law, and husband; and is grateful for their ongoing encouragement towards taking calculated risks and doing her best.

Shaista, who holds a Bachelors Degree in Graphics Design from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore (NAFA), said she started working with Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) in Mumbai, and did many projects with established international brand names.

“After marriage, I took a break as I was busy with my family and children, and eventually started up again a few years ago,” she said.

“It’s the critics and naysayers that

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From travel agent to hotel sales director Paul Mark Simmons, Director of Sales at Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, shares his inspiring life journey – how it all started for him. Good read.

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‘You can also define success as seeing your colleagues grow within the team or even on to other properties. You can’t hold people back and if they move on the bigger and better things then you can take satisfaction with the thought that you helped them get there.’

“I

n those days,” says 50-year-old Paul Mark Simmons, Director of Sales at Southern Sun Abu Dhabi about his humble beginnings in the United Kingdom, “it was hand writing coach and rail tickets before you were allowed to sell package holidays to popular destinations like Spain and Greece.”

Paul wasted no time and hit the road soon as he finished college, where he started working as a travel agent.

He then moved to handing UK groups attending exhibitions, “which meant I then had to negotiate hotel rates for the groups,” Paul said.

“Due to the coverage, I was contracting Rotana Hotels a lot and eventually joined their sales team in London promoting the hotels to the UK and Ireland market.

“After five years with Rotana, I had the opportunity to move to Abu Dhabi and join Millennium Hotel, looking after their Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi as director

of sales and later director of sales and marketing,” Paul said.

Following the stint, he moved to Cristal Hotels to look after the company’s two Abu Dhabi properties.

He then moved to Southern Sun Abu Dhabi to handle the opening of the hotel.

Paul said he really wanted to experience a pre-opening. “That was seven years ago and the time has flown by,” Paul said.

“I think, when you are in hotels, you become part of the community very quickly. As a hotel, you want to be a meeting point for business meetings, dinners with clients or friends and family.

“Nothing better that seeing returning guests, who stay or use your outlets, who use you as their go to place. That makes it all worthwhile,” shares Paul, a golf enthusiast, who starts his day walk the dog, having coffee before heading to the office to review reports from the day before and the present day’s forecast.

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His advice?

“Have patience, it will come to you either sooner or later; and just keep working hard and keep learning as market conditions and trends change all the time,” said Paul.

As for success?

“I think when you are in a revenue generating role it is easy to look at making budgets or forecasts as success……and it is important.

“But you can also define success as seeing your colleagues grow within the team or even on to other properties. You can’t hold people back and if they move on the bigger and better things then you can take satisfaction with the thought that you helped them get there.”

Paul has a long-term plan, too!

“Off to Asia in shorts and flip-flops and the occasional game of golf!”

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Pierre Delfau: A seasoned hotelier speaks words of wisdom Born in France and raised in South Africa, Mr. Delfau shares lessons he has learned – from how best to run a hotel, to what really defines success.

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‘The role of a general manager, I think is really to be a visionary in the property because you have to set a vision, you have to set goals but also to look after the team because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who are at the forefront of the hotel.’

“I

n my days in the 80s…it was 1986 when I first started, the idea was to join an industry and you’d probably stay in that same industry for the rest of your life” says Pierre Delfau, general manager of Southern Sun Abu Dhabi.

He adds: “These days, it’s quite different.

I would not say that’s the right thing to do, but in my time, certainly what you would do is to start an industry and then probably stay there. So, I started with Southern Sun, and I spent 12 years with them originally, to the point of becoming deputy GM. “And then I went on to a resort environment, which gave me another type of experience, another type of customers that I had to deal with. It was a fantastic time there at the resort, five years.

Fast-forward to the present: “My journey with Southern Sun Abu Dhabi started in 2012. I was the opening GM of this property, so really, I saw it growing from next to nothing to what it is today, which is really a fantastic 353-bedroom hotel,” says Mr. Delfau, who was born in France and grew up in South Africa, where he had his introduction to the hospitality industry.

“We opened our doors in April 2014. At

that time, we really put something in Abu Dhabi that nobody else had as a four-star property. The size of the hotel as well as the amount of food and beverage that we have here was definitely something unique. Even to these days, I think it’s a fantastic property to stay not only for leisure and business.”

These days, one might wonder how Mr. Delfau’s day start and how he runs the hotel.

“My day starts about 4:30 in the morning… when I catch up on what happened the day before on my iPad, before I get to the office, and I get here very early,” he shares.

“I usually start by taking a walk around the hotel and see what’s happening in the various areas. Obviously, a lot of my time is concentrated on looking at the business. And it continues right through the day talking to our colleagues and seeing what our colleagues are doing.

In a place like this, you have nearly 200 colleagues working. How do you keep them motivated at work?

Mr. Delfau, who started working when he was 18, clears the line between his role as GM and that of his staff.

“The role of a general manager, I think

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is really to be a visionary in the property because you have to set a vision. I bring a team in that is able to deliver what is expected of them. I always tell people it’s the wrong thing to employ somebody and always having to tell that person what to do. You meant to employ somebody that knows what to do and that is able to deliver what you expect them to deliver.”

He further explains: “It’s like asking an executive chef to come into the organization and dictating what the menu is going to be all about, what the food is going to be all about, what the dish is going to be all about. No, that’s wrong.

That’s why you’ve got an executive chef.

That’s why they have to be creative. That’s why they have to create something… that you will find fantastic.

“I’m a general manager. I’m not a chef.

I’m not a chief engineer. So, for me, I’m more of a person that would allow the people to deliver on the expectations.”

Mr. Delfau also has some words about success: “On a personal note, I measure success as waking up in the morning, happy to get up… happy to get in my car, drive through…happy to get home, have dinner with my wife…happy with the way my family has grown up…with the way that I see my children growing up.”

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Kate Hardcastle MBE: A different kind of rock ‘n roll star ‘I know that it often surprises people to hear I was actually a singer as a first career. I think due to reality shows, we are used to the switch from a ‘normal’ career into one on the stage - but perhaps not the other way around!’

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‘I wanted to be a ‘rock n roll business’ star instead - and you know what? I have just realized I might well be on the way to it. I tour the world, perform on big stages, and have my own shows - the route was just a different one!’

K

ate Hardcastle MBE is an awardwinning TV personality from the UK, who has appeared in numerous TV shows including BBC’s Watchdog, ITV’s Eat, Shop, Save, ITV’s Tonight, Rip Off Britain and Inside Out to name a few.

Her vision for what the consumer desires and how businesses can meet it led to her being awarded the MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2018 for Services to Business and Commerce.

Kate says: “I know that it often surprises people to hear I was actually a singer as a first career. I think due to reality shows, we are used to the switch from a ‘normal’ career into one on the stage - but perhaps not the other way around!

“And certainly not that someone chose that route. I was so passionate about my studies, and I was enjoying where that road was taking me - that while the thrill of the lights, stages and big audiences will always have appeal, that career also came with a lot of waiting around. I wanted to be a ‘rock n roll business’ star instead and you know what? I have just realized I might well be on the way to it. I tour the world, perform on big stages, and have my own shows - the route was just a different one!”

Kate has launched a new global sustainability platform “Buy Smarter Buy Greener,” where she encourages consumers to make better choices, as well as an innovative podcast “Rock n Roll Business” giving business learnings from the music industry given her early career as a singer. She’s also a busy juggling working mom of three!

“As a busy working mom of three, I care about issues such as sustainability and like many, I want to do my bit to protect the planet and its people for future generations. At the same time, we don’t always have the time and money to source the right solution, and nobody needs a guilt trip about their choices - just ideas on how to make changes that are right for them. These tips and advice won’t break the bank and will examine everything from health and beauty products to ecofriendly travel,” she says.

“Consumers want the businesses they engage with to ‘be better’ across a range of measures - from stakeholder engagement to diversity and inclusion - and of course, environmentally. Yet the communication between organization and buyer on green credentials and ethical policies can be overly complicated and technical. The whole process needs simplifying, jargon needs eliminating and an intermediary

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that is independent - Buy Smarter Buy Greener is the platform where both business and consumers can engage in s positive way to educate, inform and to all buy better,” Kate further explains.

Kate, who takes her energy from her maternal grandfather who, she said, “has achieved so much as a disabled rights campaigner, as well as having a successful career in sports that I saw him completely as a ‘person of determination,’ said passion, persuasion and patience are values that have as well helped her in life.

“I am hungry to continually learn, and mindful to be respectful and authentic in my work,” said Kate, who studied business in Salford, Manchester, UK and went on to study at the INSEAD institute in Singapore and Paris focusing on strategic partnerships and alliances.

“I see myself as an evergreen student, life and business evolves and moves so quickly we should be open to growing our minds and experiences each day,” she said.

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‘Oh - and play the long game… yes there will always be a short cut, a quick win. Someone you might be able to charge a few more dollars here or there. Yet in life, I feel that respect is so important, and people will always remember how you made them feel.’

Lessons learned?

“You have two ears and a mouth, use them in that order.

Try to really listen to what people are saying before you speak. Say sorry. I know that there are some business philosophies around how apologizing can be seen as a weakness - but it really doesn’t have to be.

“If you can even apologize for the fact that someone has been made to feel a certain way or let down, even if there are a set of circumstances around that, it doesn’t mean you are accepting all responsibility - it instead shows you have empathy. There is a right way to do things.

“Oh - and play the long game… yes there will always be a short cut, a quick win. Someone you might be able to charge a few more dollars here or there. Yet in life, I feel that respect is so important, and people will always remember how you made them feel. Believe me, you have no idea who is connected to whom and what might just be around the corner. Try keep that karma on your side.”

And her advice?

“You have to be comfortable when you put your head down on your pillow to sleep at night that you did the right thing. And if there are things you need to change tell your self: ‘Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life. I will start that day making the changes I want to see to be the person I want to be’ “And I can only do that if I sleep - so please find ways in which to get your sleep it is the root of good health.”

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Abduljalil Abdullah Alfahim: Emitari supporting expats Coming from a business family, Mr. Alfahim worked in the banking sector in Switzerland and had various experiences in the corporate world. He speaks three languages.

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‘We run the business to support others and make them grow with the consultancies we give.’

“D

anas is a consultancy company which we started off from scratch and developed our first project, which is Marsa Mina. We run the business to support others and make them grow with the consultancies we give,” says Abduljalil Abdulla Abdul Jalil Mohamed Al Fahim, Emirati based in Abu Dhabi and CEO of Danas Business Consultancy.

Abduljalil came from a business family.

When he finished secondary education in a French School in the UAE. He traveled to the UK to get his degree at Plymouth University. Upon graduating, he worked in the banking sector in Switzerland and had various experiences in the corporate world which honed his business and intercommunication skills. He speaks three languages.

“I came back to the United Arab Emirates to start my own business, applying the skills and knowledge I have accumulated over the years of studying and working.

“My drive to succeed and continuously learn along the way made me embark on this journey. I believe in the Abu Dhabi market and in promoting the economic sectors. For me, small to medium business enterprises are very important and I believe these sectors play a big role in the economy,” said Abduljalil He said he has “learned to always stand back up no matter what happens to achieve my goal.

“Life has taught me to bridge the gap.”

His advice? “Always go for your goals and achievements. Do not let anything get in the way.”

Working across a range of industries over the past decade, Abduljalil’s diverse career has seen him make great strides in sectors from banking and foreign languages to management and investment.

desk sees him make major corporate decisions, oversee Danas Business Consultancy’s overall operations, and manage its resources.

Abuduljalil wanted to give people a new reason to visit Abu Dhabi. He launched Marsa Mina at Zayed Port as a maritimethemed waterfront destination. The freeto-enter destination treats accessibility, community, and sustainability as its priorities. Constructed to be easily accessible to People of Determination, it also boasts an eco-friendly design. All the food and retail spaces at Marsa Mina have been built from upcycled shipping containers.

When Abduljalil isn’t at work, he enjoys horse riding, playing football, unwinding at the beach, and reading.

Passionate about helping Abu Dhabi reach new heights, a typical day at Abduljalil’s

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Are you a leader?

Niranjan Gidwani offers thoughts to ponder on.

Guide yourself through these assessment parameters to know how well a leader you are.

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“In the final analysis, leadership is the act of leaving behind a lasting legacy that others will be honored to take forward.

“S

trength of great leadership comes from the amount of commitment of the followers,” says Niranjan Gidwani, former CEO of Eros Group, known for his vision, ability and expertise to build regional groups and organizations into brands.

He added: “How leaders behave determines whether or not the followers will committedly follow. Authority, power and influence in leaders actually comes not through our positions or titles, but through our followers.”

Gidwani, who comes from a humble, middle-class, extremely value-based background, said leadership is “most definitely about performance, numbers and parameters.

“And yet, in today’s highly connected and socially influenced world, it is most certainly not just about wealth or profits.

This, in part, can be seen by the large

number of people globally leaving jobs for a relatively better quality of life.

The new generation has very different aspirations.”

Citing Malcolm Gladwell’s book titled ‘David and Goliath’. Gidwaini says that people will obey and follow much, much better when they believe they are being treated legitimately well.

“In the final analysis,” Gidwani says, “leadership is the act of leaving behind a lasting legacy that others will be honored to take forward.

“The cultural impact of good, strong leadership is a culture-based on the concept that attitude needs to be correct and honest towards both people and performance.

is home to almost 200 nationalities.

The country which has performed on all “people” and “performance” parameters.

This small nation which has created massive cultural impact on the global stage. Huge credit goes to the forward thinking and building up of the right culture by its Rulers.”

A degree holder in Mechanical Engineering who holds an MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Management in Pune, India, Gidwani has over 38 years of hardcore senior management experience with a strong exposure to handling international business.

Out of these 38 years, he has had working stints in India, Hongkong, Germany, Singapore and Dubai. Dubai has been the longest stint of 28 years.

“At the country level, (a) classic case study of sustained success with this thought process is the UAE. The country which

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‘Always show up and be unapologetically yourself.’

– Aishwarya Ramakrishnan Hailing from Chennai, Aishwarya Ramakrishnan, obtained her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology at the American University of Sharjah.

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‘So many things keep me going – Love for our business and the ideas in my head. I enjoy training and moving my body. I enjoy knowing there is so much to explore in the world.’

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ailing from Chennai, Aishwarya Ramakrishnan, obtained her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology at the American University of Sharjah and now runs Classic Quilts, a hobby shop on Jumeira Beach Road.

“So many things keep me going,” says Aishwarya. “Love for our business and the ideas in my head. I enjoy training and moving my body. I enjoy knowing there is so much to explore in the world.”

Her philosophy in life? “Always show up and be unapologetically yourself, in absolutely every life situation.”

Aishwarya said that in the journey of running her own business, she

has learned that “adaptation is very important to survive and thrive.”

Apparently having gone through curbs she advises those planning to open a business to “focus on building good processes (and) have good people working with you as you start (because) these make it easier to scale your business as it grows.”

Her plan for Classic Quilts is for it to go 100% digital and lead the hobby market internationally.

For her, Aishwarya says Dubai is the safest city in the world. “I love how openminded we have become because we interact with different nationalities on a daily basis.”

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As for which part of the city it is that she loves the most, Aishwarya said: “(T) he Middle bit: DowntownWorld Trade Centre area, literally knowing that the oldest building – Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) – is neighbouring the Burj Khalifa Tower, showcases how crazy the development has been in this city.

“We have gone from being a barren desert to being a huge metropolitan city – thanks to the vision of its leaders. I like this part because it gives me a good blend of the old (never forget your roots) and the new (always something to look forward to).”

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Dr. Shajahan Fazaludeen: Giving smiling confidence to the city’s expats An implantologist, Dr. Shajahan takes pride in bringing the smiles back to people of different nationalities.

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‘If I am practicing elsewhere, I would not have been able to treat this many people of different nationalities.’

“I love my profession. I am very passionate about it. I keep studying,” he said, adding that implants are the future of dentistry.

“Dentures will be replaced by implants.

That’s the future,” Dr. Shajahan said.

The “Dentist of Personalities,” as he is known in Dubai’s circles, said he also considers as his greatest achievement the fact that he has done all categories of people.

“I

think I have treated more than 100 different nationalities – even from countries I have never thought existed,” Dr. Shajahan Fazaludeen, implantologist who runs Smile Essentials Dental Clinic, said.

Hailing from India, Dr. Shajahan opened the clinic six years ago and have since brought the smile back to happy clients.

“If I am practicing elsewhere, I would not have been able to treat this many people of different nationalities from all over the world. You can see all the world in Dubai.

We all live like one big, happy family,” he said.

The busy man that he is, Dr. Shajahan said he has no time for hobbies. “I don’t have much time for anything,” he said, laughing.

“I spend my free time with my wife and daughter. So, yes my hobby is a taking my daughter to school,” he said, laughing even more.

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Most people would say Dubai is an expensive city. Dr. Shajahan said the place actually has all price range for everyone. “You can stay in Karama with standard rates, or stay in Downtown. You can spend AED100,000 on something or AED10 on another thing,” he said.

Dr. Shajahan said he will settle in Dubai.

“I will be here. I like the place,” he said.

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Mette Haxthausen: An Optimistic Goal-digger Enthusiastic Danish businesswoman like Mette Haxhausen, the managing director of Sisters Beauty Lounge, always believes that energy, passion, and people are the best three things that keep her moving forward in life and business.

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“I love serving people regardless of the industry, and I believe I belong in that sort of environment.”

“Stay in contact with your family and friends while working hard can maintain a good relationship,” she advised.

Life in Dubai Mette’s reason for choosing Dubai as her place for business was driven by curiosity.

Since then, she has been a traveler who has always been in awe with wonder.

“I was driven by curiosity; I always love to travel, and I knew at first that I would work outside my country (Denmark).”

Throughout the life of Mette, she has been in the retail and hospitality industry.

And as a goal-oriented individual, she is aiming for holistic growth.

“I am always aiming for personal growth and in business. I love serving people regardless of the industry, and I believe I am meant in that sort of environment,” she said.

Mette’s values and philosophy in life motivate her to work hard and create harmony in building and retaining relationships with her affiliates.

Her love for Dubai mesmerized her heart to stay in the city. Aside from the fact that Dubai is a business hub, she fell in love with it because of its harmonious environment and diverse culture.

“I fell in love with Dubai because of the people, places, and the fact that we are all here for reasons to genuinely care for each other,” Mette said.

Staying six years in Dubai has never been easy, but she maintained to be strong and courageous all the time, and her inspiration will always boil down to the people surrounding her.

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“Choose wisely the people you will allow to enter in your inner circle. And I am fortunate to have great friends and love ones around me,” she said.

She always believes that the secret to a happy life is to be courageous and optimistic. Her passion for serving people inspires her to be a woman of bravery and a Sister to everybody.

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