28 December 2015 www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | women 2015 THE LEGAL EAGLE After starting the year exploring the wilds of South America, Paula Boast returned to the island to become a partner in international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys. • I’m originally from Northern Ireland. I started working on Bahrain projects from London in 2006 and moved here permanently in 2008. • From a business perspective the best thing is the fact that peoples’ doors are always open. It makes business development much easier. It allows you to build relationships with people more quickly. As a lawyer, it goes without saying, I am always glad to see developments in Bahraini law and legislation coming through. Improving and developing the law is vitally important. • I studied law at university for three years, followed by a year at law school, before training for two years and then qualifying as a solicitor, eventually, in 2003. • The thing I like most about my job is the challenge. As lawyers we are basically just problem solvers. But every day we see an array of different business problems arising in a multitude of different ways. I also enjoy that my job allows me to become part of the business community itself. I do that through my role as the vice chairperson of the Bahrain British Business Forum. • Moving law firms. Choosing to move along in your professional life is always a tough very decision. Never ever one to be taken lightly. Deciding to stay in Bahrain to achieve that new move was just as important. • On the business side in 2016 I will be focusing on building my construction, engineering and projects practice, meeting more people and building more relationships. On the personal side, I will probably go on a mountaineering trip in the Himalayas and fit in some scuba diving along the way. • Forget about gender - just believe in your own ability. Be as ambitious and as driven as you want to be - but always be courteous and kind to people. Stay balanced and look after yourself - stress will get you nowhere and no one will ever thank you for it. Start your networking and business development skills base early, keep practising - in the end it will become your core skill to help build your business. THE MUSICIAN Singer and make-up artist Josephine Ellul returned to the island in 2015 bringing her band The Noise back to their spiritual home at JJ’s. • I performed my first show here for JJ's Irish Restaurant in 2009 for the 10th birthday, then started a residency there in March 2012. I took a year out last year and have been back since August 2015. • The best thing about Bahrain is the people, for me this feels like home now. There is such an eclectic mix of people and cultures and everyone has been so welcoming. I feel safe and at ease here. Also there is good support here for people with ideas and a good work ethic. If you want to do well, you can. • I’m a self-taught singer and have learnt the business over 20 years of performing. If I didn't know how to do something I found out. So now I create and handle everything. I manage and promote the band, act as agent, negotiate all contracts, and sing. The make up artistry was a natural progression from performing and I trained in Hong Kong on my year out to advance my knowledge and practise my skills. • The best thing about my job is making people happy. My trade is happiness, be it by connecting with an audience via the band or making someone see a beauty in themselves, they hadn't seen before. There is nothing comparable to the buzz I feel on stage or from witnessing a person grow in confidence from a little makeup. • I loved living in Hong Kong for a while and learning a new skill was great but, for me, returning to JJ's has been the high point of 2015. • For the future, I plan to establish myself more as a make-up artist and carry on singing as it's my passion. • It sounds corny but stay true to yourself. Be wary of agents and venues selling bands on the female contingency; don't be told what to wear or how to act. Always be yourself, audiences can tell when something is forced or fake. Make sure you know your rights with regards to contracts and always have a contract in place. Continually work to improve your knowledge and craft. Respect those around you. Finally don't give up! People will tell you to find a 'proper' job. This is my job and I love it! g Paula Boast Josephine Ellul
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