At StartUp Terminal, we believe our diversity is our strength. Today, on the occasion of International Woman’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women around the world.
To kick off our celebration, we’ve asked Dubai-based entrepreneur Maryam Yusuf (Founder & Managing Director, Pixel Digital Marketing), few questions on her experience achieving success in the field of entrepreneurship, and what advice she has for women entering the workforce today.
Excerpts:
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Maryam: I’m originally from Bahrain and I’ve been living in Dubai for over 20 years. I started my first business, Pixel Digital Marketing, at the age of 22 after graduating from university and working as an intern with Google’s marketing team for 1 year. Since I founded Pixel in 2014, the company has grown from a one-woman-show to the amazing team of 14 that it is today. During the pandemic in 2020, I co-founded Flashback, a photo and video digitizing service that helps individuals and families convert their old printed photos and video tapes to digital so that they can preserve their memories forever.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Maryam: Being a part of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization gives me access to a great network of female leaders, but the woman that inspires me the most is definitely my mother.
She has taught me so many of the life lessons that I carry with me everyday, and is a continuous inspiration with how she manages to always help me see things in a positive light.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Maryam: I live everyday as if it’s Women’s Day – I personally don’t need one specific day to celebrate the achievements of women and to support women, as I do that regularly. I understand the importance of this day internationally, but to me it’s important to continuously support and celebrate the remarkable women that I know.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Maryam: Believe in yourself. You have more opportunities today than women have ever had before.
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Maryam: Making it happen. Whatever it is others think you can’t do, prove them wrong and you will feel empowered.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present globally?
Maryam: I can say as an Arab woman that one of the primary challenges is feeling the need to please others, especially since we’ve come such a long way between where the previous generation was and where we are now. You can’t please everyone, so just be yourself.
(Email us: editorial@startupterminal.com)
