Business is in my blood. Having grown up in a big business family and as part of the third generation of the Al Fahim Group, even as children we were involved in business matters. My parents would talk to us like we were mature adults, and seek our opinion. If we had ideas, my father, Abdullah Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, now a retired Commander of the Air Force and chairman of the Al Fahim Group Council in Abu Dhabi, would ask us to prepare a business plan for him so he could guide us. Even today, I go back to him for suggestions on new ventures.
I started working when I was 18. My friends and I were partners, they always knew I had it in me to manage events. We started as freelance wedding planners with a small shop and then moved to a villa in Abu Dhabi. With a degree in marketing from Zayed University and having done wedding planning and event management courses in the UK,I have since organised everything from galas to sports carnivals, medical conferences, graduations and corporate events.
When you love something you do, it becomes your life. I believe in continuing to do what I enjoy the most, so I launched my event management company, Eventra, in June last year. To me, work is like a hobby; that's why I don't mind missing out on weekends. I got married last year, and have an understanding husband who's proud of me and supports me. Without our families backing me, it would have been a lot harder.
As a perfectionist I'm fussy about details. I like to be involved in every aspect of my work. Even though I have well-trained staff, you will find me at the venue at 6am if required to set up an event. But no matter how much you plan, things could go wrong, so I think and react fast, and always have a Plan B ready.
I have both Eastern and Western thinking. My training in the UK has helped me think out of the box, and come up with ideas for the diverse population here. In my walk-in showroom, clients can choose the fabrics, flowers, vases and tables they need, or even come up with their own ideas in our events library. I am probably one of the first here to have such a set-up.
I don't allow negativity to get in my way. I am grateful Eventra is doing well and our clients are happy. I am a positive person and have big plans for the future. Everyone can start a business but you have to take risks, be motivated and never give up. My dad always told me, "You want it, you earn it." I started this business with my savings, and even worked part-time to make money.
I want to give back. In August, I joined hands with Safe & Sound for a four-day Ramadan Fair at Dubai Ladies Club in Jumeirah, where shoppers donated books [for sale, the proceeds of which went towards] breast cancer awareness projects. I would like to help where I can, and am now thinking of an event for labourers.
Always be prepared in case of a crisis. During a high-profile corporate event in Abu Dhabi the PowerPoint presentation failed in the middle of the CEO's speech. We had tested the system beforehand, but now it just wouldn't work. Fortunately, we had already cautioned the officials that if anything went wrong during the presentation, they just had to look our way (that was the signal) and keep talking. We had our technicians on hand who fixed the issue in three minutes.
Sometimes the location of an event can itself be a huge challenge. I organised a private gala dinner in the desert last year for a group of 40 women from the UK. It was hard as it involved getting approvals to conduct it there and addressing everything from power supply to portable bathrooms. I had umpteen back-up plans in case something went wrong, but luckily, I managed to pull it off well.
Quick questions
The secret to a perfect event?
Plan ahead and have time to think through every detail.
Best wedding venues?
Hawaii, Bali, Thailand…
What's in your bag?
I have my own custom-made bag with multiple pockets for my iPad, USB, stapler, scissors, double-tape, adapters, glue, hooks and pens. I am like the Mary Poppins of events!
Being busy means that…
My Porsche Cayenne is my second home. In its trunk is my survival kit: spare clothes, shoes, make-up, toothbrush and a cooler box with water and beverages (in case I get stranded).
