At StartUp Terminal, we believe our diversity is our strength. As International Woman’s Day grows near, we celebrate the achievements of women around the world.
To kick off our celebration, we’ve asked Dubai based Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner of Brazen MENA, a few questions on her experience achieving success in the corporate world, and what advice she has for women entering the workforce today.
Excerpts:
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Louise: I’m the managing partner of Brazen MENA, a multi award-winning PR consultancy in Dubai. I’m also a MEPRA strategy board member, PRCA MENA and MEPRA awards judge and member of Global Women in PR MENA. I’m a huge advocate for mental, physical and spiritual growth – something that is part of my company DNA. My passions outside of work are family, friends, music, animals and fitness.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Louise: My mother inspires me the most. She battled cancer for 13 years before she sadly passed in 2018. Her strength, joy and positivity even in the darkest days never wavered. She celebrated life, even though it wasn’t kind to her, and she turned up to each chemotherapy session with her lipstick on and hair done. I try my best every day to be like her.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Louise: I would like to say first of all that I’m so pleased International Women’s Day gets bigger and better every year. It’s now a firm date in the calendar and once we look forward to like any other celebration. I will be celebrating with some amazing client campaigns, my team of inspirational women, and taking a moment to remember all the incredible women who have done so much for us to be where we are today.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Louise: After 2020 and what is set to be a challenging 2021, I would encourage all women to do two things. Firstly, keep being resilient. We have to keep going, being motivated and turning up. On a day I’m not feeling particularly resilient, I remind myself of the amazing feats women in history have done for us, and also the strength of my mother, and it drives me to move forwards. Secondly, check in with yourself. Take some time out each day to ensure that you’re getting what you need physically, emotionally and spiritually. As women, we’re responsible for so much and more often than not, we prioritize everything and everyone else, but we must help ourselves before we help anyone else. Even something small each day will make a big difference.
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Louise: For me, women empowerment is about having a choice. A choice to work, a choice to start a business, a choice to get married, a choice to be single, a choice to stay at home. A choice to be able to carve our lives out as we want.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present globally?
Louise: Due to the pandemic, I think women are in danger of burning out and losing our mojo. We’re juggling work, home schooling, loss of freedom, looking after families and the stress and anxiety that comes with all that. Homes, usually our sanctuaries, have become classrooms and workspaces. That said, hope is in sight with the vaccine rollout, and easing of restrictions, so we just have to be resilient, be the strong women we are, just a while longer.
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