Courting challenges

In 2003 there were 118,455 cars in the UAE.

By last year, this figure had risen to 296,675. Evidently plenty of cars are sold every day in showrooms around the country, and a majority of car sales consultants are men.

At the Al Tayer Motors Premier showroom, Samar Ashraf is one of a handful of female sales consultants.

She won first place in the recent Ford ME Vehicle Walk-Around Challenge.

Samar is 25 years old and was born in Cairo, Egypt.

After growing up in Al Ain, she returned to Egypt to study tourism, after which she decided to change the direction of her career.

"I studied tourism because of my love and appreciation [for] my country's history and heritage," she says. "However, the opportunity came from Al Tayer Premier Motors after I graduated, and I could not miss it.

Besides, the thought of working in car sales seemed quite challenging, and my educational background has proved to be quite useful in my job since I took courses to perfect my presentation and demonstration skills."

Samar joined Al Tayer Premier two years ago and began exceeding monthly targets quickly. Her work, however, has not been without obstacles.

"Challenges [have been] there from day one," she says.

"The fact that I work in a predominantly male environment is a major one, but I am fortunate to have joined a professional company where I have been treated well by my colleagues."

Samar's colleagues have even offered to pitch in and help, but she has been keen to prove herself without assistance.

"We are all equals in terms of responsibilities. So if I need to drive the car by myself to the workshop, I will do it. I shouldn't be any different from my male colleagues who would do the same if duty calls," she says.

This 'can-do' attitude was evident in Samar's performance at the Ford ME Vehicle Walk-Around Challenge, in which 15 sales consultants battled to prove their product knowledge and selling skills in order to win a place in the world finals.

Samar emerged victorious amid fierce competition from both males and females. "The competition was based purely on product knowledge and selling skills," she said.

"It didn't really matter what gender [we were] — at the end of the day it was all about how well we presented the products."
Back at the showroom, Samar's colleagues were impressed with her performance.

"Coming [home] as a winner of the Walk-Around competition in the Middle East was indeed an achievement. In my work place, my colleagues congratulated me and were happy for what I had achieved," she says.

"Respect has always been there; winning the competition merely solidified and strengthened my co-workers' belief in me."

Samar enjoyed the valuable experience at the world finals of the competition held in the US, where she was placed highly.

Samar credits her family for their inspiration to succeed in her career. "In my day-to-day work, I have [their] support," she says.

"I draw inspiration from my loving family headed by my father, who is the registrar at the UAE University, and my mother."

Outside work, Samar has an active social life and a variety of interests. "I love to read, listen to music and spend some time with my family and friends," she says.

"Riding horses and swimming are just two of my favourite activities."