An interview with Bahrain’s first female aviation engineer, Hend Al Awadhi
Bahrain’s first female aircraft engineer, a senior airworthiness inspector, Chief Aviation Officer for Permits and Licencing, a lifestyle influencer, and a motivational speaker. Hend Al Awadhi is a multi-faceted personality, who has broken many barriers in her life and her story is one of perseverance and determination. Life N Style caught up with Hend to find out more about the woman who has inspired a generation of women to follow their dreams.
Hend, You broke the glass ceiling as the first Bahraini female aircraft engineer, how did you feel on your first day at work? What was the inspiration for choosing this role?
Hend Al Awadhi: The first day at work was the culmination of a journey that started when I began my studies in the field of aviation. The day I signed off on my first aircraft was honestly terrifying! It was a huge responsibility for a 23-year-old and at the time there were a lot of people who doubted her capability of being an aircraft engineer. It was definitely a day to remember as I was not only the first female aircraft engineer but also the youngest in the history of Gulf Air. So I was scared but happy and extremely proud.
I got into aviation, not with the aim of being the first or breaking any barriers but simply for the thrill of the adventure. I’m a very curious person and I really like to explore. And I’ve been inspired by stories of people who achieved the impossible and that motivates me.
Aviation is a very male-dominated field, what barriers did you face, as a woman, in becoming successful in your field?
I have personally never seen the field as male-dominated nor did I feel the need to prove anything to anyone. I lived in the moment and had small goals for myself – successfully completing a task, finishing the day’s work, and making sure that aircrafts departed and returned back safely.
I would attribute a large part of my success to concentrating on the work and not trying to prove anything to anyone. I believe the key is not to focus on the external noises, but instead on how to accomplish your goals. People will always have their opinions and that has nothing to do with you.
Tell us about your love for aircrafts and aviation and what made you realise that this was your path in life?
As a child I was always travelling to faraway lands with my parents – that is really what ignited my love for aviation and travelling became my passion.
I always knew that I wanted a job which involved a lot of travelling. And aviation fit the bill. At the time the only job I knew about in the field was being a pilot. But as I grew older I explored my options – that is when I found out about aircraft engineering and because I love fixing
things, I realised that I had found the perfect path for myself.
You were also a part of a reality show involving NASA and the BBC, what was that experience like?
When I got the call to be on the show, I thought it was a prank being played by someone who knows me well enough to know about my obsession with space.
But it actually turned out to be true.
It was a collaboration between NASA, the BBC and Dubai TV. A reality show where they trained you to be an astronaut and the eventual prize was the opportunity for a spacewalk. They chose 12 qualified Arab contestants from hundreds of hopefuls based in their aptitude and qualifications and I was grateful to be one of them.
As a young girl, I had always dreamed of going to the moon. It was like a part of my biggest dream being fulfilled. I’m so thankful for this experience. It just proved that when you really believe in something, it actually can happen.
You are also a lifestyle and travel influencer, presumably, the travel part comes from being in the aviation industry, how did the lifestyle part come about and what was that journey like?
It was coincidental. I did not plan on making social media a big part of my life or becoming a public figure. When Snapchat and Instagram were new, my work was very hectic as I was working 12-hour shifts so I used to post as a normal user sharing my experiences. I ended up building a community of women who also had similar experiences at work and were doing long shifts (like doctors and nurses) and we became each others’ virtual support system.
With fashion and lifestyle, were things I enjoyed and I started talking about them for fun, the response was good and the community continued to grow.
I believe my goal is bigger than just looking out for myself. It is about encouraging and motivating other women to do what they really want to do. And I have reached a point where I have a platform with hundreds of thousands of men and women with whom I can share my experiences and advice. I’m very grateful and thankful that people consider me inspirational. I believe that if I can change the life of one person, then my mission and life are complete.
You wear so many hats, how do you juggle so many roles? How do you manage the work-life balance?
Juggling multiple roles, I think, is an intrinsic part of every woman’s life. As a mother, wife, colleague, boss, sister – you mean different things to different people. So you must manage your time wisely and know exactly where you’re putting your effort, then you can actually balance all parts of your life.
Your journey is very inspirational to young women – what is one tip that has helped you achieve all this and that you would want to share with girls across the world?
I usually end every conversation and every interview by saying that it’s your life, and your choices, so choose wisely. Choose, and let your choices be aligned with your values.
So when you know your values, you will know what’s your purpose in life. So make sure that every decision you make in life is aligned with this so you are at peace with yourself. And once you are at peace with yourself, you will be happy. And once you are happy, that will radiate to everyone around you.
