Categories: Kids

Breaking Barriers

Randa Bessiso, Founding Director of the Middle East Centre at Manchester University, discusses the importance of hard work, self-love, and balancing everything in between

Tell us about your business – what inspired the idea and when did you start it?
It all began in Dubai in 2006 when I started to work with The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School on the concept of the Middle East Centre and the provision of the Global Part-time MBA for working professionals delivered through flexible learning. Today, the Middle East Centre is the largest in the international network and has supported around 3,000 part-time Master’s students in the region, making it one of the largest professional communities of its kind in the region. My inspiration was the desire to make a difference and an impact and to help people improve their lives through education. It’s more than just business success and helping others improve themselves and lives is equally important and rewarding.

What do you consider to be your greatest personal and professional achievements?
There have been several personal-professional recognitions along my career including several listings in the 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen/Middle East 100 Most Influential Women by Forbes Middle East. Arabian Business named me among the 30 most influential women in the Arab World in 2019, and I was included in their annual Arab Power List 2021. But these pale in comparison to the personal recognition from family. I am a single mom with a kind and passionate young daughter (Maya), seeing her grow and validating my own family values and the continuity this represents is a pleasure.

What advice would you give to the younger generation that might want to follow in your footsteps?
You must silence the self-doubt, believe in yourself, and make this a self-fulfilling prophecy. Be fearless – everything is experience and we are the combined accumulation of our personal experience so even failure (however we choose to define it) can be very positive. It’s really important to work with people you like and exclude those who don’t have a positive influence.

How do you cope with the daily stress of managing your business?
My approach is meditating and breathing exercises and I recommend learning the techniques for balance and well-being. This is easier said than done but do what de-stresses you. For me, it can be laughing with Maya, reading a good book or having conversations where you can be genuine and be yourself.

Do you feel that magazines, brands, and PR agencies lack diversity in this region? Do you feel you are included and represented?
Today, thanks to the media, women are much more visible and actively achieving and being recognised for this. We are lucky to be here in the UAE with its great leaders and positive role models and this is reflected in the media, which is also very inclusive. There are versions of our professional selves in the media and online but not like Unfiltered, for example, which is free and open. We are programmed subliminally to conform to stereotypes with unconscious bias and there are very few places where women can relate to each other personally, so Unfiltered is very good and timely.

What message would you like to give to women out there?
Be true to yourself and learn to say ‘no’ – this is the ultimate expression of self-love. Listen to your body and soul and don’t suppress emotions – it’s ok to not be ok and being vulnerable is also ok. Listen to your inner voice because it leads to a meaningful and fulfilled life and be kind to yourself – it’s a very important relationship!

If you look back over your life and career, if you were given the opportunity to do anything different would you?
‘If onlys’ or regrets are better left in the past and we need the courage to be fearless and true to ourselves to face the future, with gratitude. There may be many detours in our lives and careers, but nothing happens by chance. Whatever the route I have taken, I would change nothing that I have today and so I am grateful for all the obstacles and detours along the way, and of course I have Maya – my joy and friend.

What is your pet peeve?
This is simple and a regular annoyance – cold callers and especially those who cannot pronounce my name. I also do not like being labelled or labelling others.