December 2016 24 www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | interview Mona with the Forbes award Charity donation to Al Areen wildlife park in 2015 Family Portrait - Mona, front row, third from left Mona, left, with her sisters Having paved the way for women’s empowerment for decades, managing director of YK Almoayyed & Sons, Mona has been a regular on the Forbes listings. Acknowledging her latest achievement of being number eight on the list this year, she still feels humbled by the whole experience. “For me, it is an honour to be included in the Forbes list,” she says. “I am happy for myself and for women in Bahrain to be exposed to an international and reliable organisation such as Forbes. Although Bahrain is a small country, there are many influential hard-working women.” Talking about what this means to her personally, she adds: “This inclusion, for me, is very important. I’ve always worked hard all my life since I finished university. My father really gave us confidence as women; he educated us the same way as our brothers. He always wanted us to work, and my husband is the same. He really believes in women having a career, so even my daughters are all working. So, to me, being recognised in this influential list, it gives me more enthusiasm to work harder and achieve more.” Coming from a family of business people, it was Setting an example for women all around the Gulf, Mona Almoayyed added another feather to her cap by making the Forbes Middle East List of Most Influential Arab Women, yet again. She talks to Apple Sharma about her recognition and charitable projects. Leading the Way Mona Almoayyed
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