IQBAL JUMABHOY
Father to Nada, 31 and Imran, 29
“In my opinion, being a modern-day independent, strong woman is no different from being a modern-day independent man. I have always told Nada that her gender does not define what she can or cannot achieve. When Nada was growing up, my wife Maniza and I faced the difficult decision of sending her to boarding school in England as the education system in Singapore then did not allow her to pursue both the arts and sciences simultaneously. As parents, we have always encouraged curiosity in our children and have aided them in pursuing their interests. It was with this sentiment that we knew what we had to do, despite how heartbreaking it was to send her away. But it all paid off as Nada’s desire to learn gained her a spot in a top university, all while gaining a huge amount of self-confidence in the process. I believe that life throws many challenges at you, often when you least expect it. Together with Maniza, we try to impart to our children values of hard work, kindness and remaining grounded in hopes of them being able to adapt and face the challenges that come their way. These days, Nada and I value each other as friends and communicate in an open and honest manner. Back when she was a child, she used to listen to my every word. But now, she has an opinion about everything I do or say, and in turn tries to make me a better version of myself. Frankly speaking, I think she has a much tougher job!”
Iqbal Jumabhoy is the founder and chairman of real estate investment and development firm, The Wire Group, and is currently working on a new travel-tech platform, Blackbook, due to go live later this year
“I have always told Nada that her gender does not define what she can or cannot achieve”