Opportunities abound for Omani women as entrepreneurs
Oman has proven to be a land of opportunities for those who want to be entrepreneurs, regardless of gender. This was the key takeaway from the December edition of Caribou Chats, hosted by Startup Oman, the country’s only platform created by entrepreneurs and the ‘home of entrepreneurship’ in Oman. Founded by Daud Foundation, Caribou Chats is an educational programme designed specifically for Oman’s startup community. It aims to fully promote the entrepreneurial lifestyle, with all of its daily hurdles and learnings. The forum was moderated by Walaa Hamdan, the General Manager of Startup Oman.
The event featured a line-up of young Omani women who have distinguished themselves as entrepreneurs. First to address the Startup Oman forum was Khalsa al Rawahi, the co-founder of Mashhad, an architectural consultancy launched in 2016. “My love of architecture started because I want to build something that would last. I believe it influences lifestyle and thought. However, my journey started due to trust that I’ve received from companies that I’ve worked in. They helped me gain experience in architectural design which is invaluable in my work right now,” she said.
When asked what business advice she can give to aspiring entrepreneurs, Khalsa remarked: “Do what makes you happy, something that gives you fulfilment. Since I am an architect, I don’t want to ask permission from somebody (from the CEO, for example) because they have their own standards, and I have mine. That is the reason I started my own company.”
“Also, instead of blaming others for mistakes, look for solutions. Focus on your design and on how to illustrate that to your client. They say ‘A doctor’s mistake can hurt one, but an engineer’s mistake can hurt thousands’, so instead of looking for someone to blame, better to look for answers and solutions,” she added.
Joining Khalsa on stage was Lujainaa al Kharusi of Envago. She has 13 years of experience in the telecom sector and worked for one of the largest telecom operators in Oman as a Senior Regulatory Adviser prior to leaving her job to focus on her startup.
Lujainaa highlighted her learnings throughout her experience, which included lessons on negotiation and relationships, saying, “I learnt throughout my experience to not be afraid to ask. Negotiating with suppliers on terms and payment is important, and you might be able to get more favourable terms for your business. Additionally, building strong relationships with your partners and suppliers is critical as well, as it facilitates your operations.”
“I wanted a company that can make an impact on the society, the reason why Envago was created. When you plan to create a business, don’t think too much. Overthinking will take you nowhere. Go with your guts and trust your instincts,” she added.
“Having Lujainaa and Khalsa as speakers provided an immense value to our programme. Caribou Chats is designed to showcase successful local entrepreneurs, and we’re very pleased to have hosted them this month,” remarked Ali Daud, Founder of Startup Oman.