Garnering an award
Having heard about the award for Best Arab Start-up Business, handed out by the  Mohammed Bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders in the female category, Nada dreamed one day that she would achieve it.
“This year has been very successful and the company has won several awards. The company has won the Bahrain Development Bank Distinctive Entrepreneurs Award for 2007 and The Excellence in Small and Medium Businesses award from the Ministry of Labour, as well recognition from companies thanking OSHO for their assistance.”
OSHO was nominated for the Mohamed Bin Rashid Awards by the Bahrain Development Bank; Nada proudly states, “I was honoured.” They then found out that they had been short-listed and were visited by the examining organisation who evaluated the business from many aspects such as topic, service, accounts, marketing strategy, client and projects.
When Nada found out that she had won the award she screamed loudly in the office. “The lady that rang me to tell me I had won the award played with me for awhile talking about disqualifications and rules and regulations and who would present the award before finally letting me know we’d won!”
As Nada considers the award very prestigious and high calibre she was overjoyed to have won and the office was extremely excited; everyone was congratulated. “I couldn’t have done it without my team; they are a big part of the success. If you don’t have the people, how can you achieve results, it’s not a one person show!”
When asked about why she thought that OSHO had won the prize Nada stated that the company impressed the Mohammed Bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders on many levels such as the organisation of the centre, its growth, efficiency and the  characters behind the work. Mostly though, she feels it was the humanitarian concept of the business that was of interest to them; that they were concerned with the safety of workers and their environments, helping them to go back to their families safely.
Nada feels that not only was it a great day for her and her company but also for Bahrain as they won on an international level. “I honoured my country. I believe my country is proud to have me.” Nada has enjoyed the publicity following the prize and is set to appear soon in an interview on Bahrain Television. “I like meeting and talking to new people; for me it is one of the highlights of being in business, to travel and experience different cultures.”
OSHO has distinguished its expertise in three different fields related to occupational safety and health work, which are Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management, HSE Training and Awareness and HSE Consultations. OSHO’s vision is to achieve excellence in creating dynamic safety cultures within organisations around the world by providing proper occupational safety and health solutions.
The company’s mission is to continuously provide exceptional solutions that are based on proven systems, advanced technology through safety management, training and awareness and consultation. Nada believes that her client base, which includes Bahrain Financial Harbour, Villamar at the Harbour, Marina West, The Lost Paradise of Dilmun water park, Adhari Park, Bapco and Hyundai Heavy Industries, GPIC and Sipchem, attest to the quality of the work by the team at OSHO.
 Amongst the greatest challenge that Nada faced when setting up OSHO was finding the right people. “There are many qualities that we look for in an employee such as them being pro-active and hard-working in order for them to grow with the company as a success. The most important things that I look for, aside from basic skills, are people’s attitude and character.” If they have honest and ethical attributes this is what impresses her.
Although in a traditionally male business sector she feels welcome. “We are not restricted now, woman are much more empowered today than they were.” Nada is not exactly the timid and retiring type and believes for women in business to succeed they need to be aggressive to get what they want, but in a more feminine and diplomatic way. “Women are brought up to be shy in our culture, but if you don’t ask for what you want you won’t get it.” Nada also advises women not to take things for granted. “The key is working hard and getting educated, as well as using your common sense.”
Beyond work
Nada is an advocate of balancing work and social time for life success. She loves to travel and visit new and interesting countries. On a regular, weekend, however she like to take things slowly in comparison to her normal hectic work day and to relax and read books or watch films. She admits that she is a home girl.
“I don’t like going to the cinema, I prefer to watch films in the comfort of my own home.” Friday is the family day and her mother always makes brunch, although she also likes to go to grocery shops and pick up the things her family needs for the week.
 While she likes business and achieving her goals, she is also very much into fashion and beauty, often dressing in skirt suits and items adorned with flowers. “I love fashion. I don’t like to be too trendy as I prefer the classical look and like bright colours and will probably wear the season’s colour in my own style.” Her most important fashion tip is to dress outfits up with your own accessories, “they make the outfit, and you can really change the look by changing the accessories.”
Women like beautiful things, fashion, music, culture and Nada is no exception; her office is filled with flowers and adorned with trophies of success and little animal trinkets. Nada tells me, “it’s important to take care of yourself. I always do my own make-up and like to create different looks.” Femininely powerful, she is a force to be reckoned in and outside of the boardroom, however she’s not emasculating as she is both pleasant to talk to and really likes a good chat, when you get behind her savvy business sense.
“Let’s get my sister in here and all have a girly chat,” and so we did! |
