Genius is one per cent inborn and the rest, 99 per cent, is purely the result of hard work, perseverance, dedication and commitment. Here are two women who, from their school day dreams, carved a niche for themselves and say smilingly, ‘we made it’.
While Dr Azza bint Mohsin al Hashimiyah, environment lover from her childhood days, is today a Lab Chemist/Lab Technician with Veolia Oman at its Samail Sewage Treatment Plant, Sumaya al Harthy, who was fond of fashion, is a traditional Omani wear fashion designer who has been in business for more than two decades.
"My motivation to reach high levels in my career has been driven by a passion for environmental science and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world,” said Dr Azza who believes that working in environmental research, particularly in wastewater treatment, has allowed her to address critical issues related to water quality and sustainability.
Dr Azza is driven by the desire to continuously learn, innovate, and contribute to solving real-world problems in the field which has kept her motivated, aligning perfectly with her organisation’s commitment to ecological transformation.
She chose a path that most women wouldn't have chosen but her genuine desire to make a positive impact on the surroundings made her choose a path in environmental science and wastewater treatment.
“I had a deep passion for science and the environment, along with a belief that women have an important role in this field. I wanted to contribute to environmental sustainability and public health and saw wastewater management as a crucial area where I could make a difference,” she said.
Dr Azza is very active in the field of STEM, where she involves herself applying scientific and technical expertise to environmental science and wastewater management. As a lab chemist at the Samail Sewage Treatment Plant operated by Veolia, she oversees the analysis of water quality to ensure compliance with Omani standards and contribute to the development of sustainable water treatment practices.
She shares a message for young Omani women. “Pursue your passions fearlessly and believe in your abilities. Nothing is impossible if you have the interest and desire to succeed. The journey may come with challenges, but don't let them deter you.”
Sitting in the school class, a girl dreams of making it big and creating her brand when she grows up and, after several years, Sumaya al Harthy reaches beyond what she had dreamt and that is the story of Sumaya al Harthy.
Today, her products under the brand name ‘Sumaitha’ speak for herself. Her business is all about an online and offline boutique where she sells premium class women's dresses, especially for parties and other gatherings. She has clients across the GCC and beyond who approach her as and when they have a special occasion. She believes that every designer is different and they have their own style catering to the vast customers across the globe.
She believes that her strength is her set of skilled expatriate workforce behind her, and the vast clientele that she enjoys across the region and beyond who visit her online store as well as her exclusive boutique in Al Khuwair.
On mobile phones that take most of our time in a day, Sumaya says phones are a great boon but most people don’t know the positive side of it but they use them for things that take their time away.
“Our youth unfortunately doesn’t know that they are living in a world full of opportunities. When I started doing business, only ‘Sablat Oman’ was there for me to connect with people and introduce me and my products but today, our netizens are bombarded with connectivity galore.”
She believes that youth power is the basis of any nation but our youth is driven by high expectations in everything. What our youth lacks today is the passion and willingness to work hard, and they seek for instant gratification. They don’t explore the chances around them but wait for the chances to come to them. “It is simple. You have a kitchen at home but it is up to you if you want to cook and eat or just buy from outside,” she opines about the youth of today.
“We are living in a world full of opportunities. When I started doing business, only ‘Sablat Oman’ was there for me to connect with people and introduce me and my products but today, our netizens are bombarded with connectivity galore where they can reach millions of audiences across the world just by one click.”
“So, using the tools the world has given us for our own benefit, to benefit the society is important. Convert one's hobbies into profession so that he or she can stick to it and once in a while, we need to sit back and look inside and find what I need in life. What you have and what you need to gain and improve will be shown. Only then you should search outside,” Sumaya added.
Her message for the youth is to work really hard, build themselves. “I believe in the survival of the fittest theory. If we don't try to survive, we wouldn't. Better make a move now because, it will be too late tomorrow,” Sumaya said, who has plans to open a museum for traditional Omani dresses because she has a vast collection of dresses from 1970's, a fashion school to teach young Omanis the art of designing traditional dresses, and to write a book on fashion in Oman.
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