20 Inspiring Arab Women Tell Us What It's Like to be Mumpreuners

1. Aiisha Ramadan - Creative Director of Aiisha Ramadan

On motherhood: I'm a mother of one beautiful girl, Cièlle, who's 2 years old. In fact, my role as a mother started to be convincing after several months from giving birth. I spend most of the days being alert of my actions, as these will be the role model for my daughter. If I could pass on to my daughter humility and love, that would be great.

On balancing life and work: I was motivated to focus better on my work, and get the best possible results in order to build a legacy. I have to be honest, if it wasn't for my mother and my husband, balancing between motherhood and my business and job wouldn't have been nearly possible. 

A tip every working mother needs to know: If you travel, do your best to take your children with you as much as possible, because time flies by so fast.

2. Amina Khalil – Founder and Designer of Amina K.

On motherhood: I have a baby boy who is turning one this week. I am a working mum, who is trying to juggle it all. The qualities I would love to pass down to my son, is to enjoy life, be open to new experiences, love nature and the outdoors, and most importantly, know how to interact with people.

On balancing life and work: Every day is a challenge, and you just take each day at a time trying to balance it all. Of course, I have to slow some things with work and learn to prioritize my family. I have learned when to say yes and when to say no. It is something I am working on every day.

A tip every working mother needs to know: To try to be there for your kids' bath and bed time. So no matter how busy the day gets, they can rely that you will be there at the end of the day, for some quality time and to tuck them into bed.

3. Amy Mowafi – Co-Founder and CEO of MO4 Network

On motherhood: I have two young children. A daughter, Maya who's turning four soon, and a son, Momo who's turning two. I had both kids mainly to keep my mother quiet, and on the account that she promised she would look after them (a promise she has kept!). But they were the best decision I ever made, and I am totally open to having more (as long as mum keeps taking them in!).

With regards to qualities, it's not about "passing down to them" so much, as I'm still working on honing my own qualities, but the qualities I would love for them to have are fearlessness, tenacity, ambition, passion, optimism, the love of laughter, to take one's work very seriously but NEVER one's self very seriously, and most importantly to be good. BUT not good in the convoluted way we think of it in the Middle East. 'Good' for me has nothing to do with sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, nothing to do with curfews and cultural conditions (kids will experiment and I think as a mum you just have to hold your breath, be there to guide, wipe the tears away and hope that it all passes with minimal damage). I hope instead they are good to other people, that they understand that whatever your faith, karma is a bitch and it's best to have her on your side, and to have the presence of mind to understand that anger towards other people is the most wasted of emotions. There will be those that hurt you or hate on you, but there is no revenge more powerful than your own personal success and happiness.

On balancing life and work: I don't balance shit! There is no such thing as doing it all. You can only do what's best at that very moment in time. Some days things go smoothly, and none of the kids has a cold, and Maya isn't suffering from some emotional trauma because her favorite Frozen dress is in the wash so she can't wear it to school, and everyone at the office is relatively psychologically stable, and then I am a powerhouse! Other days (most days) everything is a mess, and I just have to take it minute by minute. The trick I think, is to understand you don't need to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you just need enough energy to take one more step forward.

I built my name in the industry as a writer and editor when I was young, free and single and had a tremendous amount of time to do what I wanted when I wanted, and would stay up all night working and writing and developing ideas I would go into the office the next day excited to put into motion. I think it's important to use the years before motherhood to make that mark, when you don't have to make the sacrifices that come with the responsibility of a mum. I started my business, however, when I was pregnant with my first baby, but it was certainly made easier by the fact that I had built the foundations of my career already. Having kids has made me even more ambitious (which I didn't think was possible). I'm no longer doing this just for myself, I'm building a legacy for my family. Being a mum also makes you an expert multi-tasker. Employers are often scared of hiring mothers, especially ones with young children, but they need to understand that if you want something done, give it to a working mum. When my my kids were babies I could take a call, type an email, and breastfeed all at the same time. No you show me any male CEO who can do that.

A tip every working mother needs to know: IT'S GOING TO BE OK.

4. Dalia Elali – Founder and Designer of Dee by Dalia

On motherhood: I'm a mum of two lovely boys, they are my world and happiness. Being a working mum is not easy as I have a lot of responsibilities towards my boys and work. I usually take my kids to all their after school activities and go through their homework with them. I try to teach my kids the qualities my dad has passed down to me. One of them, is always be kind to people and wish success to everyone, it's a positive way of learning. Ethics are the most important thing to teach your kids when they are young. If they are brought up with good ethics and a kind heart, they will live a very happy life. I try to be their role model by teaching them how to be generous and help poor people and the less fortunate ones.

On balancing life and work: As I said, being a mumpreuner is not easy at all. I had to learn how to delegate the less important tasks to people to help me, while I'm there next to them, making them feel the love at most of the important school events. I try to finish most of my work before my kids come back home, and once they are back I focus on them. Sometimes, I need to attend night events, and I only do that after they sleep. The only thing I feel that being a mum effects my career growth, is that I can't travel as much to shows and exhibitions in Paris and New York, and going to fashion week is always a  hard step for me.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Always hug and give your kids so much love and emotions, for them to grow strong and confident. Ethics is what makes a person respectful, so try to always show them how to become a better person without being too competitive.

5. Donia El Naggar – Co-Founder of White Bliss Events

On motherhood: I'm a mother of a 2-year-old boy, and he is my top priority. Also, I am the Co-Founder of White Bliss weddings and events planning, and I consider my work as my first baby. I always try to do my best as a mother, and do my duties by myself without depending on others, also to give him all the care he needs, not to let him miss anything just because I'm a working mother.

On balancing life and work: I am trying to balance between work and family by being organized, and I always have a plan for my day. During my working hours, I focus on work and try to forget any feeling of guilt, to be efficient. When I'm back home, all my mind is dedicated to my home and family. I focus only on their needs and spend a great quality time with them, even when I have a week full of work, I try to plan for a weekend full of fun with my family. When I feel successful at work, it gives me more power and confidence to go on and do more with my kid, I feel that I can do it!

A tip every working mother needs to know: Be organized and set a daily plan for your life with balanced time for your work and family. When you achieve any success at work, think that you are a great mum and a successful working woman, and it influences you in a positive way. When you feel guilty anytime, don't stress on yourself. Just keep your work aside and have quality time with your child. Always be there in the most important days for your child and share with him what he likes. During working hours, focus only on work and leave everything aside, also try to give more than you are asked to do.

6. Jumana Al Darwish – Co-Founder of The Happy Box

On motherhood: I have a beautiful family – my wonderful husband, who was my childhood sweetheart, and my 4-year-old daughter Ayla. We are the three musketeers! They are both my everything. Being a mother is incredibly fulfilling, she was my inspiration for The Happy Box, as I was searching for something that would allow more quality time for both Ayla and I, as well as all the other parents out there – life flies by so quickly. I love to show and teach Ayla to love and learn to give back to the community. Ayla has come with me on the Happy Hearts Giving Campaign trips, and I think it's very important for her to have this understanding.

On balancing life and work: It’s a constant struggle for balance, and so far, balance has proved elusive! Because of the nature of The Happy Box, that two are very much related: I work on The Happy Box while still embracing my role as a mum. I involve my daughter Ayla in as much of the business as I can, and she loves it - it’s our way of bonding and spending time together, and learning through fun. Of course, some days are easier than others, and I’m very grateful and reliant on the support system of help I’ve created, whether it’s my husband or a friend or family or a trustworthy nanny or the new members of The Happy Team, whom we have begun to hire. Juggling motherhood while working on a start-up is very much reliant on knowing when to ask for help.

The great success of The Happy Box hasn’t affected anything of being a working mother. Yes, The Happy Box has grown so much since we launched, but I think it’s important for women to know that if they desire both success and being a great mother, then it is possible. Mostly, I stay calm and try my best to manage everything with a positive attitude. I take each day as it comes. Life is an adventure; you might as well enjoy every moment. You live once, right?

A tip every working mother needs to know: Ensure you spend quality time with family and loved ones, creating memories and living in the moment, is what it’s all about. Put down your mobile phone and any other distractions whilst your are spending quality time, emails can wait for when you’re back on work mode! That’s how The Happy Box started, and that will always be the main priority.

7. Lama Qaddumi-Shahin - Managing Partner and Creative Director of Mosaique

On motherhood: I am a wife and mother of two. Karim is five, and Faris is three.  As a mother, I need to multi-task and balance my work and personal life. It's all about good time management. And of course, setting your priorities. I’d love for my children to grow up to be well-balanced driven gentlemen. To appreciate life and make the most of what it has to offer. Most importantly, to be grateful and happy.

On balancing life and work: I always enjoyed working and the times when I couldn’t work, just after having my children, I was restless. Working allows me to be in my own world for part of the day, it allows me to reset and re-energize for my time with my young kids and husband. This allows me to really appreciate and enjoy the time I share with my family.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Do what you enjoy, and what you believe is good for you as an individual and your family. If you, as an individual, are happy, you will most likely reflect this happiness when you are with your family.

8. Layla Shugri – Owner and Designer of Lya Lya

On motherhood: I am a mother of two kids, Anthony, 8-years-old, and Tiana, 6-years old. I grew up in a very loving free spirited family. Being a mother is the most rewarding and greatest gift I was given. No matter how much you read and educate yourself on how to be a great mother, there is no magical formula to it and you learn as you go. Kids come with their own unique personalities and it's like any other relationship, you need to get to know their personality and find what motivates them to be able to teach them how to be great human beings. At the end, I just want them to grow up to be great human beings, loving with values, not to be judgmental and make them believe that they can be anything they set their minds to.

On balancing life and work: Balancing between family and work never gets easy. However, I set my priorities and if I had to choose, family always comes first to me. I make sure that when I'm with them, I am present at that moment and spend quality time with them. Also being a fashion designer and having my own company gives me the flexibility with time. As for my success, kids actually contributed in it and motivate me to be better at what I do, as I want them to look up to me when they grow up, and doing so will also help me give them a better life.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Be proud of being a mumpreuner, by handling it all and managing to achieve your dreams at the same time, you are being the best example of a role model for your kids that they can look up to when they grow up.

9. Maha Gorton – Founder of Little Farasha

On motherhood: I have three children. Ayah is seven, and Faisal and Zayed are four years old. As a working mother, family always comes first. There are times that work takes up more of my time, however, there are specific parts of our day that I rarely skip, such as reading the children their bedtime stories and putting them to bed. I always try to have dinner with them as well, as it’s a great time to catch up on what they have done during the day. Growing up, my mother always worked but she was also always there for my sister and I when we needed her. That is something that I find very important for me to do with my own children. I feel, especially for my daughter, that it’s so important for them, to see that women can work and be independent, as well as raise a family.

On balancing life and work: I believe success as a working mother all comes down to time management. I try to make sure that I use the time that the children are at school to get as much done as possible, so that I give the children focused quality time when they’re home – my mobile gets put on silent so I don’t get tempted to check my emails! There are times of course when one side becomes more demanding, but I try to maintain a balance as much as possible. I am very blessed to have a supportive family, so when I’m busy with work, the children are with their father or their grandparents.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Put your blinkers on! Try as much as possible to block out what other brands are doing, in terms of expansion and growth. Go at your own pace. Accept the guilt! You are going to feel guilty a lot of the time, that you’re either not focusing on your brand enough or not giving the family enough time. Accept it, take a deep breath, and move on. Quality vs quantity! When I’m busy with the launch of a new collection and my time is limited, I make sure I carve out 30 minutes, or more if I can, to switch off from work and just focus on the family. We will head down to the beach or the park, go for a walk in our neighborhood … or go out for ice cream!

10. May Abdel Asim – Managing Director of Media & More

On motherhood: Well, I am a working mom, like many working moms out there, so that is nothing special, we all juggle somehow.  My role as a mother of two daughters, is to try to raise them as empowered as I can. I want them to be kind human beings who have compassion and empathy for their surroundings. I hope that I can raise them to make a difference in whatever they choose to do and to be themselves in a society that doesn’t encourage girls to be free. I want them to be happy and courageous, and hungry for life and willing to go the extra mile. I hope they become voices for those who don’t have one, each in every aspect they choose for themselves. I really hope I can raise them to be free women and free spirits.

On balancing life and work: I hate to break it, there is no real balance. I am constantly running. You have to accommodate meetings, pitches, costume parties, tennis practice and school buses, and the list goes on. But then again, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love my work and I love my family, and I have a great support system around me. Without my husband, who is a hands on father, my sister and my parents, my life would be difficult. It is important to try to keep strict family time without phone or laptop, I am trying hard. Also constant family vacations are very helpful.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Planning, planning and planning. Have fun, enjoy life and the world will not stop turning if you are late for a meeting every once in a while. We need to all chill a bit, and enjoy more!

11. Nada El Sadat – Founder of Cairo Boutique

On motherhood: My family consists of two adorable girls - Lara who's five, and Tia who's two. My role is similar to any mother’s role among her family. Care and love is what I transmit all the time I am available to my girls. Ensuring healthy food and cleanliness, along with having time for activities for both of them. I would love to pass on to them a kind heart and persistence, along with passion and confidence. Faith is very important as well, I try to deliver religion in a very modern and light way, to have it in their heart.

On balancing life and work: It's a struggle, specially when your children are still young, and you need to be available all the time. I am trying my best, as well as having a great help from their father. I believe success is not really affected by being a mother. I think it takes longer and it's harder, but it doesn't matter if you're smart or a hard worker.

A tip every working mother needs to know: I would advise every working mother to consider her work as one of her children, and divide her care and love over them equally. That way, she can feel that she's a useful human being in the society, and be proud of herself later on in front of her children.

12. Nayrouz Abouzid – Managing Director of Ego Communicate

On motherhood: I was raised in Italy away from my extended family for over 20 years. Everything I learnt was through my parents only - my mother taught me to be the woman I am today, and my father has always pushed me to follow my ambitions blindly. Without their mentor-ship, I don’t think I would have managed to be half as persistent; these are all qualities I aim to pass on to my son, Omar. I hope he is a hard worker, and does not expect things to come easy. I hope I can instill all the morals that I’ve learnt, such as self-respect, patience, and honesty.  As a mother, I’ve learnt that kids respond faster to real-life examples; preaching is by no means a way to teach a kid wrong from right; they have to experience and see for themselves. My role is to minimize the risk; not eliminate it.

On balancing life and work: Balancing the two most important things in my life, is probably the hardest thing a working woman has to go through. Fortunately, and I say it every time, my husband is one of the most supportive human beings I’ve met. When I work late, he baby sits and vice versa. We’re a team, with one goal; to provide happiness and stability for our home. Whatever it takes, we’ll do it. As for my success, being a mum has made me ‘hungrier’ for achievement and growth. There’s nothing wrong with having a target to achieve; and there’s no better target than to make my son proud.

A tip every working mother needs to know: Don’t try to do everything at once. You’re human and you can make mistakes. If you’re guilty about the time spent away from your home, children or husband, make sure it's time well spent. When you’re home, STOP working. Tomorrow is a new day…anything can wait.

13. Norshek Fawzy – Founder and COO of The Wellness Log

On motherhood: I can't begin to explain to you how being a mother changed me, to the better - I hope! I've always had a spoiled part in me - just a tad. Today, I may put stuff off or delegate others, but I know that I've built immunity towards 'being spoiled.' I promised myself I will not raise spoiled kids, never! However, it's so damn hard, because when my daughter looks at me with her wide puppy eyes and says 'please cookie, I love you,' I cave and just give her whatever she wants! So maybe when she's less cute, I'll be able to enforce my non-spoiling methods.

On balancing life and work:&