The Managing Director of ALF Administration, Omaira Farooq Al Olama, on the Comment That Changed Her Career Path

The Managing Director of ALF Administration, Omaira Farooq Al Olama, discusses the moment she decided to change her entire career path in order to help children across the UAE.

The Managing Director of ALF Administration, Omaira Farooq Al Olama joins the a&e team for Morning Coffee

After studying criminology, Omaira Farooq Al Olama initially began her career working within that field. But when someone in her workforce told her that as a woman she wasn’t capable of answering a simple question and she should wait to be asked to talk, she made a change to stop this happening to anyone else.

The entrepreneur went on to set up ALF Administration to teach children – boys and girls – that nobody should tell them not to speak up. Her work now aims to instil more confidence and leadership skills in the youth around the UAE.

Watch the full interview above, and find out what we learned chatting with the entrepreneur below.

Five Things We Learned Talking to Omaira Farooq Al Olama Over Morning Coffee

Letting go of negative people is key

Although it can be hard, Omaira revealed that cutting off negative people can be the key to being happy. She said: “I think one of the things I’ve taught myself was that sometimes you have just got to let go of negative people, regardless if they are friends or family.”

Be a voice, not an echo

Omaira revealed that her grandfather who she greatly admired taught her: “My grandfather used to tell me that I have a choice whether to be a voice or to be an echo. I can just go with the flow or I can stand up and help people, and I think that stayed with me.”

Be upfront about your limitations

The entrepreneur told us: “I do believe that if you have limitations, you need to say it. There’s nothing wrong with learning and admitting your mistakes.”

Less is a bore

Admitting she stole her personal motto from IrisApfell, Omaira told us she lives by the saying: “More is more, and less is a bore.”

She would tell her younger self…

… To eat as much as she can in her twenties!