I’ve learned that discomfort can drive personal development. The time I took on a leadership role in an unfamiliar and complex project, managing a diverse team, was a key moment that really helped me build my leadership skills and confidence. I also faced a major fear when taking part in a public speaking workshop – but it helped me develop effective communication skills and the ability to promote myself.
Bahrain is quite a challenging business environment at the moment. Businesses here are facing issues that many will recognise, such as keeping up with tech advances and investing in digital transformation to stay competitive. But there are additional challenges specific to Bahrain. Businesses may struggle to adjust to new sectors, for example, as we diversify away from oil dependence, and that could limit their growth potential. It’s also a competitive market, particularly in retail and banking, which puts pressure on profit margins. Problems with finding the necessary skilled workers add to the challenge, and the complex legal and regulatory frameworks can be a significant burden for local and international businesses. It’s never been more essential for companies to plan carefully.
I led an automation project that reduced our month-end close time by 30%
Even so, some sectors are showing enormous promise. Bahrain is a key financial centre in the region and leads in fintech and Islamic banking, which creates significant opportunities for investment and growth. The government is putting money into tourism, which is boosting opportunities in hospitality and related services. The IT sector and associated services are benefitting from the growing focus on digital transformation, and widespread opportunities are appearing in renewable energy. The need for quality healthcare is increasing too, which is encouraging the development of medical facilities and tech innovation.
I really enjoy solving business problems. One of my most satisfying experiences was leading a project to simplify and automate our process for generating financial reports. We implemented financial software that reduced the risk of human error and increased the accuracy of our financial reporting, which had a positive impact on decision-making. It also reduced our month-end close time by 30%.
If you love what you are doing, you will be successful
If I had law-making powers, I would legislate for financial awareness and consumer safety, particularly around digital money. Comprehensive financial education programmes in schools and workplaces, as well as stricter regulation of online financial products and services, are the best way to prevent scams and fraud.
Business runs in my family. I decided to study accounting after working in my father’s business, and my brother encouraged me to pursue my ACCA qualification after finishing my degree. If I wasn’t an accountant, I might have joined the family business or perhaps started my own company.
When I’m not working, I enjoy charity work, my religious studies and travelling. But it’s important to enjoy your working life too. My favourite saying is: ‘Success is not the key to happiness – happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.’
