The example drawn by young Emirati Jawaher Al Muhairi is inspiring, albeit a bit frightening. She speaks six languages, has a bachelor’s degree in aviation management, a postgraduate diploma in diplomacy, and is adept at statistical improvement – all by the age of 28.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – September 18, 2021 – Entrepreneurs
This month saw competition from 300 other candidates to earn a place in the “Influence” category in this year’s 30 Under 30 list published by Forbes Middle East, which recognizes the achievements of young people from the region and their great potential to help shape the future.
Her inclusion highlights the fact that she is an outstanding example of talented young Arabs, many of whom are women, who are changing the face of their region and breaking new ground with increasing control over their own destinies.
She follows in the footsteps of other pioneering Arab women such as 42-year-old Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, managing director of both the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency and the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
Earlier this month, Al Mubarak was elected president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one of the world’s largest and best-known conservation bodies. She is only the second woman to lead the foundation in its 73-year history and the first Arab woman.
Al Muhairi has similar ambitions to make a difference in the world, and a message to all young women in the region: Have the courage to follow your dreams and seize the opportunities that come your way.
Her journey began at the age of 18 when she began dedicating her days to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management at Emirates Aviation University in Dubai, and her evenings at a part-time job in finance at Al Ansari Exchange.
“My job was different from my major because it was the only option available,” Al Muhairi said. “But it was a good field and I wanted to keep up with independence because my studies weren’t very cheap.
“I knew my parents would do their best and make ends meet, but I felt a great responsibility not to become an extra burden on them – I have eight siblings and they had to take care of their education.”
She was making just 4,000 dirhams ($1,100) a month, but she was happy to be paid at the age of 18.
“I am becoming more mature,” Al Muhairi said. “I wanted to keep learning and I knew if I started my career at a young age, it would definitely pay off later.”
After graduating at the age of 21, she joined the Emirates Engineering Center as a business development specialist, where she gained valuable experience. Her day-to-day tasks included developing and interpreting scenarios to support maintenance facilities, providing support to management, and assisting in the formation of strategic policies.
“I used applied statistical methods a lot, which was very different from the theory I learned at university,” she said. “I’ve worked with optimization methods to interpret scenarios and have really enjoyed it.”
Al Muhairi continued to gain experience and education, and three years later, her professional interest turned toward international affairs and diplomacy. A year ago, while still working full time at Emirates Airlines, she was appointed to the Dubai Youth Council, and as part of her duties, she represented local youth before state leaders, and at international events.
“I felt like this was something I enjoyed and would like to have a career out of,” she said.
In the months that followed, she represented the UAE at numerous events abroad, most notably at the United Nations Youth Conference in New York, and at the Asian Youth Assembly of the Malaysia Urban Forum. The experience she gained in such gatherings gave her confidence to pursue a career in diplomacy.
In 2017, Al Muhairi successfully applied for a junior diplomat position in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and began studying for a Postgraduate Diploma at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi.
Soon, she began climbing the career ladder in the ministry and became a senior economist in charge of the UAE-US economic file. In September last year, she was promoted again and became Head of the Asian Economic Affairs Department.
Al Muhairi said, “My role is to promote and facilitate economic interests, organize economic platforms and research the main issues that affect the economic and trade relations of the UAE.” “And because it is a senior position, I also have to supervise and support my fellow diplomats.”
Her dreams, ambitions, and determination to further her personal development do not end there. This month she began paid leave during which she will complete two years of master’s degree studies in international affairs at Columbia University in New York, with a focus on international finance and economic policy.
“I took this bold step because I never expected to be associated with an Ivy League university,” she said. “It was something on my mind because, in our nation, nothing is impossible — but I had the impression that I had to be an Ivy League graduate (to be accepted to graduate school).
Al Muhairi said she was not intimidated by the idea that only certain types of people could enroll in such elite universities. She was confident in herself and her abilities when she took the step to apply for a place in one of them and accepted the challenge of improving herself mentally.
“I want to get the most out of this experience,” she said. “What motivated me was the support I received from work.”
Columbia awarded Al-Muhairi a fellowship covering 70 percent of its tuition fees. The UAE Ministry of Education covered the remaining 30 percent, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation continues to pay her stipend while she is studying.
The announcement last week that Forbes recognized her career achievements by awarding her a spot on its Under 30 list is a testament to her success in building a successful career at a young age and her growing responsibilities.
“Now, I’m not only responsible for representing myself or my family, it’s the same area,” she said. “So, I have to make sure that the people in the area are inspiring and I represent them.”
Al Muhairi spoke of the tremendous support for women’s empowerment she has felt from leaders in the UAE, and across the Gulf, enabling increasing numbers of young people to realize their dreams in ways that make them feel proud – and of their countries and their region -.
“I see all of this as a symbol of giving back to our country,” Al Muhairi said. “They made sure we got the right education, support, and recognition, so whenever these kinds of opportunities are presented, I personally make sure I try my luck and am grateful for the things that work in a very beautiful way. I feel like I’m working toward the right thing.”
Al Muhairi’s advice to the blood of Arab youth is that they believe in themselves and their abilities and have the courage to pursue their dreams and seize the opportunities that come their way.
“I was one of those people who had to learn to trust myself in pursuing my dreams and achieving what I hope to achieve,” she said. “Don’t undermine yourself. Even if it’s a small thing, you should go for it. The region has a lot of talent under the age of thirty.
“We are all young, we have energy, and if we come together with the same mindset and the same energy, we can really make the changes we’d like to see in the world.”
Read Also: Rise of the Ukrainian “Dream” With Unique Shots
Source: Ukrgate
