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RITIKA SHARMA / Emirates Business
Her Excellency Sara Al Madani is a well-known fashion
designer, entrepreneur and founder of Rouge Couture fashion label and is best known for the fact that she stated working at an age of 15. In 2014 she was selected by his Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qassimi as a board member at Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is the youngest.
Sara’s parents inspired her to start her own business at a young age. Following her success as a young entrepreneur and businesswoman, Sara was selected as a board member of Sharjah Business Women Council, to inspire women in the UAE to be more active and self-confident in order to achieve business success.
Recognised for her creativity and hard work, Sara is an honoured speaker in many universities, colleges and institutes. She truly believes that it is important to be an active member of the community, inspiring the younger generation and continuously sharing knowledge, experience and information. Emirates Business talks to this
dynamic youth icon to know more.
You are an inspiring entrepreneur. Please share your journey so far and tell us about your brand.
I am a very passionate person, I believe that the recipe to success is to work hard, be positive, and be passionate about what you do and this will lead to success.
I started my business when I was 15 years old, I’m 30 right now and all these years of hard work, learning and enjoying have made me the person I am today. I grew up with my fashion brand Rouge Couture and have learnt so much along the way.
How well is your brand doing
business-wise? How was 2015 and what are you expecting this year?
My business is doing extremely well and just like any business, it has its ups and downs. 2015 was an amazing year; I made a lot of changes and made some big decisions.
The year 2016 has been fine so far, but it’s undeniable that we are hitting recession. However when you are passionate about what you do, you don’t give up on it, passion is the glue that binds you to what you do.
How well placed do you think UAE is in terms of business environment, especially Small and Medium Enterprises?
It is placed very well and it is growing and improving very fast. Building the right ecosystem for SMEs takes a lot of time and needs a lot of patience, something that UAE has shown remarkable growth in.
Based on studies, we have conducted in Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the city of Sharjah has the potential to be the Middle East’s SME hub. The UAE has a lot to offer in terms of SME’s. It is right called the land of opportunities.
Where do you see yourself ten years down the line?
I see myself entering other
industries and expanding my fashion line into supplying to more markets. I believe that a successful entrepreneur shouldn’t just stick to one sector because they are doing well in it. There should be the will to explore and try out new things apart from their own expertise.
How important a role does technology play in any business today?
Technology is very important part of nay busniess and it plays a strong role in improving the efficiency and quality of the product or service you are offering. It is not an additional asset it is an enevitable requirement.
To catch up with the world and to
compete in the market, you have to look at technology as an essential part of your business.
I advise every business person to do so, no matter what sector they are
involved in because technology is the foundation of almost all the industries today.
How do you think we can bring more women in decision making positions?
Women have a lot to offer and they have a lot of potential. But this potential sometimes does not see the light of the day as it is lost within them due to a number of factors.
Sometimes it is the culture, sometimes the upbringing, sometime the surrounding and the list goes on. We must understand that when we empower women, we not only guide them towards finding what is lost but also to polish the talent that they already possess.
Women can be efficient in any job, in any sector, in any situation, in any industry – all that is required is a chance. This can be achieved in a lot of ways. But I think things cannot change in society till we start applying this awakened knowledge of equality and empowerment at home. When you are raising your children, behave in a way that you become an example for them.
If the world is saying women and men are equal but back home your family and parents are saying the opposite then there will be no positive outcomes. It all starts at home, so be careful about what you teach your family and what you practice because it will go a long way and it will mold the personality of the future generation you are bringing up.
What would you say has remained a major contributor to your
success, till now?
Curiosity, because being
continuously curious made me learn and reach my goals. It keeps you hungry for knowledge and information.
As you said, SMEs are an integral part of any economy. How do you think they will help UAE grow?
If we go back in time 30 years and more from now, all these big family businesses that exist now were once a startup business, this shows you that SME’s are the back bone of the economy. Therefore you can’t deny their importance and their contribution to the economy.
Can you tell us more about ShjSEEN and the overall business scene in Sharjah?
shjSEEN is an initiative by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It seeks to strengthen the position of Sharjah as an aspirational place to live, work and invest through our three core pillars: ACTIVATE, INCUBATE and AWARD.
The first pillar is Activate, where we create out-of-the-box events to promote Sharjah’s culture, lifestyle and economy.
The second pillar is Incubate (known as, “The (W)hole”). It is going to be one of a kind, since it is built upon 11 month research from all over the world, and the program is an original concept. It concentrates on finding innovative people with unique ideas in the industry. They have to go through certain challenges in order for them to be selected in The (W)hole program. Last pillar is award which is going to be the strongest award in the country. The program consists of 5 different award categories:
shjSEEN TOP 10 BUSINESSES Award
shjSEEN UAE STARTUP Award
shjSEEN ENTREPRENEUR Award
shjSEEN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Award
shjSEEN GREEN Award
As the youngest board member of the Sharjah Chamber of
Commerce, what do you think are your major goals?
I am the youngest and am treated as an equal as are all the board members. My ideas, my beliefs and my personality are well respected and taken into consideration by everyone in the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I am heard, I am trusted and I am active. This motivates me to work towards the colletive goals of the chamber, on the whole.
Your message to all the young dynamic UAE residents especially females.
Find your passion, believe in yourself, trust your knowledge and follow your dreams, nothing is impossible. You are your own wall, so don’t stop yourself from proceeding towards success. Once you do succeed, PLEASE don’t forget to help the people around you because success is based on 2 things, what you did and did you help others.
