Women Can Achieve Anything, say AUC Entrepreneurs

Reporter: Mariam Ahmed @Mariamaboalnasr 

More women are involved in the workplace, with many of them succeeding as entrepreneurs, says a report from the Pew Research Center, a fact tank based in the US.

That certainly holds true for alumna Farah Wagdy, who used her skills from the Communication and Media Art major and Graphic Design minor to launch her own clothing brand The Farah Wagdy.

“There are now more women who have greater access to resources than in the past,” Wagdy told The Caravan.

At first, Wagdy says she faced numerous challenges.

“How to hire people, communicate with the people who sell me fabrics, and where to begin were the questions that consumed me,” Wagdy added.

But she kept going, driven by her burning ambition to create a line that was for women’s every-day use, whether it was for socializing with friends, going shopping, or a later afternoon business meeting.

For Sham Al Zahbi, a former chemistry student and founder of the Dao Derma Skin clinic, the trick that women must accomplish is to try to balance the stress of their jobs with the responsibilities of their families and homes.

Alzahbi says that a smart balance between work and life is needed for successful female entrepreneurs.

After Al Zahbi earned her master’s degree at AUC in collaboration with EVA Cosmetics and completed a part of her PhD at Cambridge on a full scholarship, she opened her own clinic to offer a scientific approach to skincare  and skincare therapy. 

“Finding the right team and ensuring that you offer something unique that speaks directly to the consumer, that the delivery experience should be distinct from what is currently available, and that it should be associated with a story is not an easy process,” Al Zahbi said.

Al Zahbi added that launching a business from scratch should be done with an eye not only to make money but to have something you are passionate about.

“When success is achieved, money will follow,” she says.

Habiba Hamdy, an undergraduate student in a visual arts major and the founder of the “8tsh” clothing brand believes that young women should pursue their dreams and “keep going no matter what, and ignore criticism”. 

Al Zahbi, Wagdy, and Hamdy agreed that family support was the golden ticket which made them keep going towards their goal.

“My family supported me, and when I was unmotivated and wanted to give up, my family encouraged me to persevere,” Hamdy said. She believes that women can succeed just as much as their male counterparts.

“There is no difference,” she says, “Women can achieve anything, but passion and dedication are required.” 

The three young entrepreneurs also say that their AUC education provided them with the necessary skills to hold their own in a fiercely competitive market.

“My chemistry major influenced my mindset and made me want to offer people skincare therapy,” Al Zahabi said.

Wagdy’s communication and media art major assisted her in media management, as she is now doing everything related to social media. Her graphic design minor also empowered her to be more creative when designing outfits.

“My visual arts major helped me become more creative and see things from a different angle, and photography and design courses also helped me a lot,” Hamdy added.