Dr Otaibi bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi is a role model for women everywhere. She has been a true pioneer, especially as an educator and a proponent of women’s empowerment and she is paving the way for future generations of Bahraini women.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr Shaikha May Al Otaibi spoke to Life N Style Magazine about her life’s work as a visionary educationist, a successful entrepreneur and a trailblazer for Bahraini women.
Building the Nation’s Future
As the founder of the prestigious Bahrain Bayan School, the first bilingual school on the island known for its commitment to innovation and its focus on developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, Dr Otaibi ensured that with the right amalgamation of pride in Arab identity, Bahraini culture and Western education, the school grooms young Bahrainis of today into leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Today several of the school’s alumni lead in the private and public sector in Bahrain.
Dr Otaibi shares with us the inspiration that started her down this path, “Teaching has always been my dream since I was a child. I used to use the carbon on the back of our chairs as a blackboard and imagine a class full of students listening to me explain a lesson. It is my passion to build awareness about education and its importance. Only when we prioritize good education can we build sincere, passionate, empowered future leaders who put community and country first in all their endeavours.”
Promoting Bahraini women entrepreneurs
Dr Otaibi established the incubator ‘+973 Artisanat Creative Entrepreneurs’ in 2012 to encourage and empower local talent. She proudly talks about this initiative and several of its success stories. “We are the first and only non-profit initiative in the Kingdom of Bahrain in partnership with Tamkeen and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development aimed at encouraging and empowering local talent.
At +973 we assist novice entrepreneurs with all aspects of setting up and running a business, from establishing their brand, providing showroom space and sales staff, and supporting them with marketing. Since its inception, more than 300 entrepreneurs have ‘graduated’ from +973 Artisanat, and have gone on to establish their own showrooms successfully.
Here are some of the success stories:
Al-Rumaysa’ Buhumud, the owner of the ‘AlKashkha’ brand for perfumes and fragrances. She launched her perfume project in the +973 Artisanat incubator. She had a very good response from the market and has three branches in the most famous commercial complexes in Bahrain.
Aisha Al-Zayani, a Bahraini fashion designer and owner of the Dar Al-Wala brand launched her fashion design project in the +973 Artisanat which did extremely well and now she owns two branches in Al-Aali Mall and Souq Al-Baraha.
Sharifa AlNoaimi is a Bahraini fashion designer, and owner of the Ranis Collection brand, launched her fashion design project in the +973 Artisanat and now she owns two branches in Al-Aali Mall and Souq Al-Baraha.
Pride of Bahrain
Dr Otaibi is a highly respected figure in Bahrain who has been recognised the world over for her work in education and philanthropy. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work including the Zayed Future Energy Prize and the World Education Summit Award, United Arab Emirates.
She was recently awarded the Arab Woman of the Year 2023 by the London Arab Foundation for which she was congratulated by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King, President of the Supreme Council for Women. “Of the many awards I have received, the one that I cherish the most and hold dear to my heart, is the Efficiency Award I received from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2011”, says Dr Otaibi.
When asked what inspires her and keeps her going, Dr Shaikha May Al Otaibi says, “It is my passion to serve people. Not to please them but to make an impact. And the desire to find novel solutions. Innovation and creativity inspire me to break barriers and develop ground-breaking ideas, to create something entirely new.”
Reflecting on her journey as a woman leader, Dr Otaibi shares some of the key lessons she has learned along the way, “Leadership is not easy – it comes from experience. There are many qualities that enable one to be a good leader but the most important one is humility. Being humble and grounded is what makes a true leader. Logic, good decision-making and being a team member before being a leader are the hallmarks of a great leader,” she says.
Women Empowerment & its Challenges
With its progressive policies, supportive initiatives, and inclusive environment, Bahrain is nurturing its women entrepreneurs. The Kingdom’s commitment to empowering women is exemplified through initiatives like Tamkeen’s Riyadat program and rising startups like Playbook, by offering educational resources and networking opportunities, to enable Bahraini women to develop and expand their business ventures while helping them with their career progression.
Last year, the Supreme Council for Women, highlighted significant achievements in Bahrain’s women entrepreneurship landscape – 42% of active commercial registrations and 53% of virtual commercial registrations in Bahrain were owned by women. It is noteworthy that 37% of these businesses have been successfully operating for more than five years.
Dr Shaikha May Al Otaibi feels that this is not the time for us to rest on our laurels,” Bahraini women are exceeding our expectations in all areas, but they still need to work harder.”
In the workforce in Bahrain too, women have made incredible strides, they make up 83 per cent of tertiary school enrollments, 54 per cent of the public sector workforce, and 45 per cent of leadership positions in official state agencies. In the private sector, women comprise 35 per cent of the workforce, hold 17 per cent of board seats, and occupy 35 per cent of managerial roles. The political landscape is no different, as Bahraini women make up 20 per cent of the total members of the Council of Representatives, 25 per cent of the Shura Council and there are five women ministers heading important ministries including health and tourism.
In the workforce in Bahrain too, women have made incredible strides, they make up 83 per cent of tertiary school enrollments, 54 per cent of the public sector workforce, and 45 per cent of leadership positions in official state agencies. In the private sector, women comprise 35 per cent of the workforce, hold 17 per cent of board seats, and occupy 35 per cent of managerial roles. The political landscape is no different, as Bahraini women make up 20 per cent of the total members of the Council of Representatives, 25 per cent of the Shura Council and there are five women ministers heading important ministries including health and tourism.
However, the gender parity challenges remain and the Supreme Council of Women, says Dr Shaikha May Al Otaibi, has worked very hard to raise awareness and find solutions for some of these challenges. “Women often face gender stereotypes in the workplace and prejudices. To overcome this challenge the Kingdom of Bahrain along with the Supreme Council for Women worked very hard to promote diversity and inclusion initiatives, implement policies that support equal opportunities for women and guarantee that women and men get equal pay across all ministries in the Kingdom. This is in addition to the new amendments to the labour law which support women in various forms such as increasing the duration of maternity leave and suckling hours”.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Dr Shaikha May Al Otaibi is a living example of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. She is an inspiration to women everywhere to pursue their dreams and to make a difference in their communities.
She shared with us the message of hope and empowerment she would like to share with young girls and women on Bahraini Women’s Day, “You are strong, resilient, and capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Do not be afraid to take risks and step outside your comfort zone, and remember consistency is the key.
Do not be a follower, try to be innovative, think outside the box and embrace your unique talents and skills, these are your greatest assets. Support your fellow women and girls, lifting each other up and celebrating each other’s successes.”
