26 December 2015 www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | women 2015 THE SPA QUEEN Nawal Joz, managing director of Joz Beauty Division, says you need backbone to succeed. • Bahraini, so all my life. • Despite the smallness of the island, the people have a big heart. Bahrain’s history is preserved by its cultural treasures and the consistency and focus on being business-friendly is facilitating the economy’s growth. Whether you’re a homebody or a partygoer, you’ll find something here for you. Best for me is that it’s my home and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. • It’s a father-daughter succession in a family business. After achieving my MBA, I had the opportunity to break new ground. I didn’t do it alone, of course. I built on the work of my dear ones and I was guided by my brilliant and insightful mentor, my father Mohammed Joz. • In my role as MD of JOZ Group and from the businesses I have worked with, I have learned much about the perseverance and dedication it takes to turn a dream into a business reality and keep a business thriving, despite the challenges. Being a spa owner is one of the most rewarding, exciting, mind-expanding, life enhancing journeys possible! Where else do you have the chance to explore every corner of your creative, leadership and business talents… to make such a difference in the lives of the people you touch, while at the same time living the good life inside the thriving health and beauty phenomenon? • 2015 has been the most important year of my life as I found my life partner and got married this year – it’s been truly a fantastic year alhumdulillah! • Our mission for 2016 is to increase profitability by adding more upscale services. To amplify our portfolio adding new innovative treatments in the salons and accumulating more diversified brands. We will also be upgrading two of our salons. The Main Focus of 2016 is to add mobile spa services to the menu. • You would need backbone to be able take the initial losses and not give up. Many businesses close down because proprietors don’t take into account that it takes three to four years to get out of the red zone [in terms of financial losses] and achieve break-even after five to ten years [depending on the industry]. So unless you’re going in for the long haul, you’re better off at the job that you’re in. Once you decide to take the step, stick through with it. THE ARTIST After a 30-year career in business, Gaye Bentham has taken her joint passions for photography and travel to the next level to produce stunning prints which saw her stage her first solo show this year. • I have been in living in Bahrain for over 30 years. I originally came out here from Athens, Greece with Citibank, subsequently working for Investcorp and then Arcapita. I retired seven years ago. • There has been a lot of development and Bahrain is a lot bigger, there are so many more choices of entertainment and it was wonderful when the law was passed allowing expatriates to purchase property in certain areas. The one thing that has not changed is the hospitality and friendliness of the Bahraini people, and I think that is the thing that I love about living here. I also enjoy living in a multicultural society. • When I retired, I decided to take a course in photography – it was something I had always been interested in. I bought a Canon DSLR camera and took an online Open University course to learn the basics. A couple of years later, I travelled to Cambodia for a photography holiday, that changed my life in so many ways. • I love that, now I am retired, I have time to combine my two passions – travel and photography. I particularly like to get off the beaten track and endeavour to take photographs that truly reflect the life in the countries I visit – as opposed to just 'holiday snaps'. • 2015 was a great year for me. I had the opportunity to showcase my work in a solo exhibition. Travel wise, I packed a lot in. A trip to Kerala, India; an amazing safari in some fairly remote areas in Tanzania and Zanzibar and I am now getting ready for a trip to Kenya in December. • In 2016, I plan more travel! And to keep working at improving my photography skills. I would like to push the boundaries and take a Photoshop course and learn more about low light and night photography, which I haven't attempted yet. • The way I started certainly worked for me. If you have a strong interest in photography, first of all learn the basics then join a photography group or take a workshop/holiday. But really, the best way to learn is just to get out there with your camera and practise, practise, practise. Nawal Joz Gaye Bentham
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