Bahrain Edition BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES www.womanthismonth.com Digital Edition FOOD FIVE-MINUTE HEROES HOMES COOL COASTAL LOOKS WELLBEING TACKLING THE COMMON COLD TALKING TECH WOMEN TO WATCH FASHION PERFECT PACKING June 2019 | Issue 196
June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 4 For subscriptions visit www.womanthismonth.com Advertising rates are available upon request. Please e-mail [email protected]. The publication of any advertisement in woman this month is not necessarily an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised. Although every effort is made to ensure factual information, woman this month cannot be held responsible for errors in contributors’ material, nor do the opinions expressed by individual writers necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Editorial Submission of articles is welcome. Send queries, letters and articles to the editor at [email protected]. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. FASHION 10 Essentials: 10 Things to Try in June 12 Moodboard: Mastering the Headpiece 13 Trend: The Butterfly Effect 14 Get The Look: Travel in Style 15 News: Whispers from around the industry FEATURE WOMEN IN TECH 18-19 Imtiaz For Her Hosts 20 Alaa Abdulraheem: The Inventor 21 Lana Al-Attar: The G-Whiz 22 Dr Sana Farid: The AR/VR Specialist 23 Financial expert Pria Masson Tanwar on the business of technology BEAUTY 24 New Products: The latest goodies on the beauty counters 25 News: Chat and gossip, news and happenings 26 Styling: The best office-ready looks for summer by celeb hairstylist Asgar Saboo PEOPLE 27 Inge Michiels: Time To Step Up LIFESTYLE 28 Wellbeing: Taking Sniffles In Your Stride 29 Wellbeing News: Information on the latest developments 30-31 Homes: Coastal Cool 32 Food: Tasty meals ready in five minutes 34 Opinion: Vegan View 37 Opinion: Ouiam Charkani El Hassani 38 In Her Shoes: Priya Shankar 10 32 JUNE 24 29 Scan the codes for information from our advertisers K Hotel Bahrain Specialist Hospital 26
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www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 6 I love, love, love our cover star this month. She's kinda cool, don't you think? OK, so she's a robot but, well, our main feature is Women in Technology so, it makes perfect sense, no? And, I must say, I'm absolutely delighted to be sharing these stories. It never ceases to amaze me how many incredible, inspiring women there are on this little island and this lot are some of the funkiest yet. Not only are they making an emphatic mark in what is often seen as a man's world, but many of them are using technology to help others while forging their own businesses. I have to admit, as one who is frequently frozen in despair (or outright, destructive fury) as some gadget or other (usually my laptop) refuses to do what I want, I am somewhat in awe of these ladies. They've even got me considering taking a tech course in the hope of holding my own against the machines. Elsewhere this month, Fernanda is thinking holidays and she's come up with the perfect capsule wardrobes for travelling either north or south. Since I have a rather important wedding to attend in a couple of months, I was excited to see her hats page too. I love the superlarge concoctions but I'm not sure I would get one on my head which is, unfortunately, also rather large. Do you have a specific body part that's really hard to shop for? If the answer's yes, I'd be interested to hear how you've coped. For now, I'm resigned to wearing fascinators for the rest of my life, or at least until milliners realise we don't all have tiny, neat heads - or hands or feet for that matter! If you're not planning a holiday, this month's Homes section gives an update on a classical coastal theme, with lovely colours of sea blue and tawny sandy hues. I know we have the sea all around us here but I honestly never get tired of these tones and I'm always happy to see the latest twist on seaside style. As usual, we've got our regular round-ups of news from the world's of fashion and beauty and wise words from our columnists Pria, Ouiam and Lahan. So, happy reading and I really hope you enjoy the issue as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. June 2019, Issue 196 On the cover: Women in Tech EDITOR’S NOTE The only women's magazine distributed with the GDN Liz O’Reilly Editorial Director Philipp Plein’s stuff often has a slightly bonkers edge and, on that level, this overshirt/jacket certainly delivers. It’s reminiscent of glam rock at its best. If you can’t see animals in the wild, then on your finger, in the shape of this gorgeous Doe ring from Boucheron, has to be the next best thing, right? chairman & publisher GEORGE F MIDDLETON editorial director LIZ O'REILLY contributors BEHNAZ SANJANA FERNANDA LANGHAMMER OUIAM CHARKANI EL HASSANI LAHAN SPERINCK PRIA MASSON TANWAR layout & graphics HATEM MONEM media coordinator SARAH ANSARI media manager FARHEEN AHMED print production manager SABU SEBASTIAN photographers RANJITH MOHAN SUBEESH KUMAR NS photography editor MUNA YOUSEF printing press DAR AKHBAR AL KHALEEJ W.L.L., BAHRAIN --------------------- DIGITAL & CONTENT MARKETING TEAM Digital Strategy Director LINI REGUNATH MADHAVAN Art & Animation Director HATEM MONEM Contents copyrighted 2019© Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. ISBN No: 1 899348 11 5. Licensed by the Ministry of Information, Directorate of Publication and Press. Code: SWTM 410 Woman This Month is here for the modern woman of substance and aspiration, embodying a personal style while exploring the best of all worlds: fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Bahrain office address Red House Marketing P. O. Box: 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain telephone: (17) 813-777 fax: (17) 813-700 email: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.womanthismonth.com Published monthly by Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. P. O. Box 641, No. 1 Seaton Place, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8JJ Channel Islands, U.K. in association with Al-Hilal Publishing P. O. Box 1100, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Digital Edition Read Woman This Month in any format convenient to you • Print • Online • Digital • Social media to keep you abreast of everything that’s happening in and about town. You can now read Woman This Month from its Instagram account. Click on the bio-link and it takes you to a curated page where you can tap the images and read the articles. Simple, convenient and easy!! WOMAN THIS MONTH GOES MULTI-PLATFORM womanthismonth Go Published monthly by: Red House Marketing P. O. Box: 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain telephone: (17) 813-777 fax: (17) 813-700 email: [email protected]
8 June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com SOCIAL BUTTERFLY K Hotel Iftar The K Hotel held a Coporate and Media Iftar at Kolors Restaurant during the Holy Month K Hotel Charity Iftar The K Hotel held an iftar for Al Sanabel Orphan Care Society Ladies Ramadan Majlis The US Embassy hosted a Majlis for ladies to celebrate Ramadan and the friendship between the United States and Bahrain
www.womanthismonth.com 9 June 2019 SOCIAL BUTTERFLY BSH Health Talk Bahrain Specialist Hospital and the Indian Ladies Association held a health talk on the topic of hyperpigmentation by Dr Anitta Sara Thampi, a dermatology specialist The 9TC Ghabga The Nine Training Centre in cooperation with HanVang Education and Training held a Ghabga at ART Rotana Hotel Ritz Media Iftar A media iftar was held at the VIVA Masaya Pavilion, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain for the 2019 Ramadan festivities
June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com FASHION |essentials 10 10 Things to Try This Month En beige. Earthy tones with golden accents are the chicest you can get. Go for camel from head to toe! Cool classic. When we think of waistcoats, an old man might come to mind, however, the piece can become the trendiest element of your wardrobe. Choose a tailored cut for glam workwear. Fluffy flats. A bunch of brands opted to transform fluffy slippers into fashionable footwear. Would you give it a try? Glittery eyes. Are you a fan of all things shiny? Take inspiration from Valentino’s catwalk makeup next time you attend a fancy party. 1 2 5 3 4 10 Extra-large totes for those with a huge essentials list. Are you ready for the heat? Fernanda Langhammer offers monthly tips to help you fully embrace the hot season at your very best! Short suits. If you think suits don’t really work for summer, just pick a combo with tailored shorts. You will have a smart overall look that just needs a basic T-shirt or camisole underneath. 6 7 We choose squaretoed shoes for roomy footwear! Cargo goods. Navigate a comfy pair of cargo pants and pair with killer heels for a chic look or chunky trainers for a swanky twist. 8 LWD. All you need this summer is a ‘little white dress’ as the perfect outfit for your city errands or beachside chilling. 9 Puff sleeves, all over again! Fendi Sergio Rossi Valentino hairy flats Burberry Proenza Schouler Zara Wallis Miss Selfridge Proenza Schouler Valentino M&Co Kate Spade Anna Sui vest
www.womanthismonth.com 11 June 2019 SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Opening of New Nespresso Booth Nespresso opened an additional Nespresso Booth in Seef Mall Muharraq. The new Nespresso Booth offers its guests and all coffee aficionados the opportunity to immerse into a complete journey from the wide range of 28 different coffees to the multiple coffee machine solutions and stylish accessories collections Al Yard Under the patronage of HE Shaikh Hisham bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, Governor of Capital Governorate, the AlYard Event was held in Seef When Imagination needs to be - Limitless The Luxury has to be - Priceless The Design has to be - Timeless And The Coffee - Bottomless Surf... Read... Sip... R Tel: +973 13 666 777 swissbelresidencesjuffair alkhayyallounge
June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 12 FASHION | moodboard It’s that time of the year again, when we dust off our hats for protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays and, of course, to show-off our fashionista status. Last year, the fashion scene was awash with XXL pieces in the summer collections (check Jacquemus SS2018). This time, straw bonnets are still popular, but in regular and more acceptable sizes…sometimes. Valentino was the one to watch for extravagant, outsize chapeaux, and not just with huge brims. The whole piece is structured in such a way that if you didn’t look twice, you could be forgiven for thinking it was made for a giant’s head. However, it does look elegant and well designed. Chanel followed the trend for natural materials and went for an unfinished look to contrast with its chichi, tailored clothing and accessories. Marc Jacobs, Erdem and Simone Rocha added a mysterious touch to their headgear, a delicate veil covering the models’ faces. The concept looks like a stylistic trick (an aesthetic idea created only for the show); however, it would be a practical add-on to keep flies and mosquitoes away from the face during the humid season. MASTERING THE HEADPIECE Moschino Valentino Marc Jacobs Chanel Accessorize Dune London Lipsy M&Co Giorgio Armani Gucci Erdem Simone Rocha
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 13 FASHION | trend Felling edgy? Pick a selection of butterfly brooches and pin them on your plain tee or jacket for an out-of-the-box feel. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT We feel mesmerised by the beauty of nature and designers all over the globe use it to find unlimited inspiration to their creations. Discreet or imposing, butterflies adorn gowns and everyday pieces to help you fly away in style. Must-have: A delicate or bold piece of jewellery to remind you that life can be beautiful, but fragile. Extra point: Sophia Webster is the go-to brand for fascinating footwear inspired by this colourful creature. Invest in jaw-dropping shoes to add a bold element to your look. Folli Follie M&Co Naeem Khan Jasmine Zang Toi Sosandar Stradivarius Joe Browns Laura Ashley brooch Marks & Spencer Sophia Webster Sophia Webster Debenhams fascinator Debenhams
June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 14 FASHION | get the look TRAVEL IN STYLE Summer holidays are just around the corner, a time when we get to take some time off or expats head back home. Fernanda Langhammer has the perfect packing tips for an easy, light-weight yet trendy suitcase. During summer, the island gets quieter as, with no classes for two months at the international schools, people escape from the heat either for the whole period or with a few short trips to chill and relax. If you fly north of the equator, you’ll enjoy the warm (not boiling like here) weather; however, if you head south, as I usually do, it will be cold, with winter marking the calendar. As packing can be a burden, you’ll find here two completely different suitcases to give you ideas on how to put together a practical, compact and fashionable wardrobe on wheels. Wintry Destination Baby it will be cold outside, so pack (or wear) one really warm coat, that you will probably need every day and make sure it’s a solid colour that will match all the other pieces in your luggage. I recommend you take two pairs of trousers. Something casual, such as jeans, and a tailored or fashion-forward option. If you want to play with your looks, leave the colourful and funky patterns for your tops. I wouldn’t take high heels to a city destination, unless you are attending the theatre or going to a party; if not, you will do plenty of walking and comfy shoes are a must. And last, but not least, pack a warm scarf, it can save you on freezing nights or be a light layer over your longsleeved blouse. General Tips • Don’t over pack, try to remember that last trip when you used only half the things you took. • You can always (and probably will) buy new items. • Pick interchangeable pieces, this way you have different looks, but not too much to carry. • Take two pairs of shoes, one might get wet for some reason and you won’t have footwear! • Don’t take fancy clothes, unless you have a special function happening, otherwise take one special dress and that’s it! • Remember that low-cost airlines are charging for extra weight, so choose well. Sultry Paradise Yellow is the colour to look for, so pick one sun-kissed item and work around it. A pair of shorts is essential and easy to combine with different top options. Take at least one long-sleeved shirt to fight evening breezes and bugs and choose a nice-looking swimsuit, this way you have another top option and beachwear in one. The summer dress makes a statement, wear it for a special dinner by the shore or on top of your bikini to go from sand, straight to the city streets. Bucket hats are super trendy this season and they are the perfect travelling companion, easy to fold and carry everywhere you go. Stradivarius Next Zara Dune London Zara River Island Dune London Cath Kidston Lipsy Miss Selfridge Roberto Cavalli TUMI Tory Burch Next Accessorize River Island Zara Tory Burch Polo Ralph Lauren Massimo Dutti Stradivarius H&M
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 news 15 Celeb Fave Heads East Celebrity-loved LA jewellery brand, The Last Line, has launched an exclusive Middle East Collection. Taking Inspiration from and capturing the essence of the region in The Last Line’s whimsical style, the range presents an inspired symphony of the brand’s playful style with regional references. The Last Line founder and jewellery veteran, Shelley Sanders, designed the one-of-a-kind collection with a kaleidoscope of diamonds, emeralds and precious gems. A play between delicate details that make a statement and pieces that are versatile enough to wear every day, the Middle East Collection features emeralds, hearts and the ‘evil eye’ as its muse. Music Meets Fashion The House of Givenchy has revealed its new face. In its own words: “A strong, independent woman of refreshing character and style: the multi-talented Ariana Grande.” With her multiple music hits and muchimitated personal style, Ariana has emerged as one of the most influential forces in popculture today. A Grammy award-winning performer, songwriter and singer, the brand says she naturally embodies the spirit of the Givenchy woman with impertinence, generosity and a lightning wit — all cloaked in a touch of mystery. “I am so proud to be the new face of Givenchy. I love this clothing and the confidence and joy it brings to the people wearing it. Not only is the clothing timeless and beautiful but I'm proud to work with a brand that makes people feel celebrated for who they are, and unapologetic about whatever they want to be,” says the artist. Supply Chain Tracking The fashion industry is notorious, not only for some very questionable labour conditions on its production line but also for being incredibly wasteful in material consumption. Now Stella McCartney and, tech giant, Google Cloud have teamed up to tackle the issue. Google announced, at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, that it is building a Google Cloud data analytics and machine learning service that will “give brands a more comprehensive view into their supply chain,” particularly at the level of raw production. The company is working with various fashion brands, experts and other industry insiders to create the tool and its first named partner is Stella McCartney’s eponymous brand. Rihanna Makes History Singer, and all-round mogul, Rihanna has become the first black woman to create an original brand with the French luxury conglomerate LVMH. Launching the fashion label, simply known as Fenty (the artist’s surname), at a pop-up boutique in Paris, Rihanna shared a statement saying: “Designing a line like this with LVMH is an incredibly special moment for us. Mr Arnault [LVMH chairman and chief executive] has given me a unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits. I couldn’t imagine a better partner both creatively and business-wise, and I’m ready for the world to see what we have built together.” No stranger to the world of fashion, Rihanna also works with Puma and has modelled for the likes of Emporio Armani and Gucci. She also has her own lingerie line and an everevolving beauty brand. Bag Rap Design duo Dolce&Gabbana have attracted controversy again over a bag which bears the statement “I am thin and gorgeous”. The graffiti-embellished clutch was spotted in a UK high street discount store, where its price had been substantially reduced. But the bargain price didn’t impress shoppers who branded the message a “trigger” for eating disorders. The bag is from the design duo’s AW17 collection and the statement is actually a line from TV show Absolutely Fabulous. But this is just the latest in a long line of gaffes including a campaign which was branded racist in China and led to a call to boycott the brand. Shoes bearing the same message also came under fire at the time of the collection’s release. GOSS
16 June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Toni & Guy Opening Joz Group launched its second Toni&Guy branch in Bahrain with a grand opening ceremony held at its premises in City Centre Bahrain. The event was inaugurated by British Ambassador, HE Simon Martin, and his wife Sophie together with Joz Group’s chairman, Mohammed Joz, and managing director, Nawal Joz The Grove Hotel Pre-Ramadan Iftar The Grove Hotel and Conference Centre held a pre-Ramadan gathering at 25N 50Eatery Restaurant
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 17 FEATURE | women in technology FEATURE | women in tech June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 17 There’s no doubt about it, technology is making sweeping changes in every area of our lives and, if you’ve ever found yourself sitting staring at a frozen computer screen and threatening to throw it out of the window for the 10th time before lunch, you might reckon that’s not such a good thing. You also might, mistakenly, believe that tech is a territory dominated by men and boys, with a token representation of very geeky girls. And, of course, you’d be wrong. Wrong. Wrong! Last year, a national assessment of engineering and technology skills in the US found that eighth-grade girls outperformed boys in all six areas tested — countering the long-held stereotype that boys have a more natural aptitude for these technical fields. And even history bears witness to the fact that women, on the whole, are far from tech shy. More than 80 years ago, Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr became an overnight sensation for the Oscar-nominated film, Algiers. But, she also had a surprising double life as a pioneer in the field of wireless communications. Along with co-inventor George Anthiel, she developed a "Secret Communications System" to help combat the Nazis in World War II. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel. It went on to become the technical backbone of later cell phones and wireless operations. In World War II, it was a team of, mostly, women at the UK’s Bletchley Park that cracked the Enigma code which was hugely important in the allied victory. And, sticking with matters military, US Navy Rear Admiral, Grace Murray Hopper, was responsible for developing the first compiler for a computer programming language. In 1973 she became the first person from the USA, and the first woman ever, to be made a Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society. Fast forward to today and it’s really no surprise that women are at the vanguard of technological development. Take, for example, Del Harvey, VP Trust and Safety, Twitter; Ginni Rometty, CEO, IBM; and Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, to name just a few. For sure, females as still pretty heavily outnumbered but the times they are a-changin’ and over the following pages, you’ll meet some of the young women making their mark in this exciting field. Jobs For The Girls
June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 18 showcase IMTIAZ FOR HER HOSTS WOMEN IN TECH AND EMERGING GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES Hosts Please explain what your company does? At the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), we provide high-quality data, analysis and expertise on internal displacement with the aim of informing policy and operational decisions that can reduce the risk of future displacement and improve the lives of internally displaced people (IDP) worldwide. To demystify the tech angle, what is the role of technology in your business? Our tools are mostly based on natural language processing and predictive analytics. Since the volume of data in our sector is growing exponentially, we need to constantly update and build tools that allow us to monitor this data worldwide. We adopt transparent methodologies and provide opportunities to present our technology to experts and the general public through workshops, events and trainings. We also try to avoid tech jargon as much as possible! Since this is a relatively new field, do you find male/female breakdown is roughly equal or is there a majority of one gender? When I started, I was the only woman in the Data and Analysis department. Today, four years later, our department has a 50-50 gender balance. This is a good improvement which I have observed in other organisations. However, I have also realised that the majority of the management and leadership roles are occupied by men, while the less senior ones are all occupied by women. I don’t think this is due to the lack of expertise but, very often, it is due to the lack of a strong network that can advocate for a woman to get a certain role. How did you become involved in this area of business, and why? Technology and innovation applied to the social and humanitarian sector was my interest on the side. I helped establish the first humanitarian hackathon at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and ultimately had the right skills to work on data for the humanitarian sector. What have you found the most challenging aspect, and the most rewarding? The most challenging aspect for me is to plan for the long-term, because the landscape of technology is an ever evolving one and it is important to stay open and flexible enough to adapt the course of action to whatever becomes more relevant to the job. The most rewarding aspect is to witness the results of our work when LUISA MENEGHETTI Internal Displacement Monitoring Expert
showcase www.womanthismonth.com For inquiries please contact the brand managers via email: [email protected] or on whatsapp 34 422-227 / 33 282-228 supported by the right technology. How do you stay up to date with the latest developments? I like to source my ideas from many different disciplines. I deeply enjoy listening to and talking with people working with technology, but in sectors that are completely different from my own, to learn new ways of coping with challenges or simply get inspired. Events like the Women Power Summit are the best place to do it! I believe that innovation is born in diversity and that’s how I like to stay up to date. Do you do any work towards encouraging other women and young girls into this field? I regularly provide mentoring to students and I support my female colleagues along the way, because I acknowledge that everything I do today is only possible thanks to the support I received from exceptional women who believed in me from the very beginning. Please explain what your company does? We are a game development company with a purpose to create games for impact. We do this in two ways: by creating games about real-world causes to bring awareness to these causes, and by giving back a portion of our sales revenue to important causes. Our aim is to raise awareness, empathy and positive action through our video games. To demystify the tech angle, what is the role of technology in your business? Well, video games require all kinds of tech to create and to play. We use game engines, sound and music technology and consoles and devices for video games. What is really cool is that a lot of new tech that is developed for the video game industry is then used in other industries such as training, medicine etc. Since this is a relatively new field, do you find male/female breakdown is roughly equal or is there a majority of one gender? When it comes to game players, there is really almost an equal percentage of males to females, but in the game creation industry we still need more female contributors. The number of females in the industry is definitely increasing and we are seeing this result in the varied content of video games, especially in the indie game industry. How did you become involved in this area of business, and why? To be honest, I became involved with my passion. I have been playing video games since I was a little girl, and have always been moved by the immersiveness of storytelling through video games. I finally decided in 2018 to pursue my passion of creating these experiences for others. Since Bahrain does not really have a game industry, apart from a very active game development community, I decided to create my own studio. Together with other members of the community we are creating a game development industry in the Kingdom. What have you found the most challenging aspect, and the most rewarding? The most challenging aspect has definitely been navigating the landscape. The industry is so huge with so many different types of business models available. It is also one of the most competitive creative industries out there. And our main challenge was not in development but in distribution of our games. To overcome this, we are working with global publishers to bring our products to the world and to focus on what we do best, which is the creation aspect of video games. How do you stay up to date with the latest developments? We have relationships with multiple mobile game publishers along with whom we stay up to date with the latest mobile gaming trends. We also follow industry experts, websites and channels to keep us updated. Furthermore, there are many game-centric events around the world that we keep up with remotely and hope to attend these events soon too. Do you do any work towards encouraging other women and young girls into this field? I think one of the best things that any woman can do is to share her story. I take every opportunity I get to talk about my story, because it is stories that really move us, motivate us, and inspire us. I think sharing my story shows other young girls what is possible if they allow themselves to dream, and believe in themselves. SABA SALEEM Founder of The Stories Studio, Bahrain-based indie game development studio June 2019 19
FEATURE | women in tech TALKING TECH Technology is all around, improving our lives with new developments daily. We caught up with three innovative women who are putting it to work. June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 20 Briefly, what does Butterfly Technology do? Butterfly Technology is a Bahraini company that specialises in manufacturing new innovative technological ideas that are not available in the market yet and developing software applications. In addition, the company incubates fresh innovative ideas and provides full technical support which includes consultation, support in the planning, implementation and providing guidance throughout the process. Add to that, supporting creative minds with opportunities such as attending competitions, exhibitions and more. What we do: - Manufacturing innovative products - Turning ideas to inventions - Building invention prototypes -Doing scientific researches and studies -Consultations -Training and courses -Events and speeches How did you become involved in the technology sector? I have loved science and technology since I was a kid. My parents did science projects with us at home. Then they registered me at the Science Center when I was in primary school. I started taking courses in Science and programming, attending scientific affairs and conferences in and out of Bahrain and planning and managing scientific events. When I graduated [high school], I got a scholarship in computer engineering at the University of Bahrain. And, for my graduation project, I decided to do something new – something that did not exist, something for ladies and something useful for the public. So, I invented a machine that can [mix and] produce any colour of nail polish in less than 60 seconds, controlled by a mobile App to allow the user to choose the colour and the type of mixer. This machine won the Best Graduation Project Award in the college. Moreover, it won first place in a Microsoft competition locally, first place in the pan-Arab semi-final of the same competition and third place globally – Bahrain was the first Arab country to win a prize since the competition started in 2003. There were also many other global awards. Because of all the hard work, I received the Efficacy Honour from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Bahrain National Day that year. After graduation, I decided to start a Bahraini company, Butterfly Technology, that turns great ideas into inventions and then to final products that are ‘made in Bahrain’. Also, we help anyone who has an idea offering courses and consultation sessions to teach people and students how to develop their own inventions. What is the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it? Well, in each phase there are many challenges. For example, the first challenge I had was in building a full invention by myself, learning how to do it, searching for the necessary components et cetera. Then, after graduation, the financial challenge came to find capital for my business. Actually, the challenges never stop, they become bigger and bigger. But this is how you jump to the next level in your game. What’s your proudest achievement to date? Definitely receiving the Efficacy Honour from HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Any advice for other women interested in joining the industry? If you have a dream, go and fight for it. Set out a plan with small steps to reach it and never stop trying. I know it is not an easy path, but achieving your dream is worth it! Alaa Abdulraheem is the founder and GM of Butterfly Technology. Her mission is making inventors’ dreams a reality. THE INVENTOR
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 21 Lana Al-Attar is the founder of digital agency Gudjuju.com and also founder and lead of Google Developer Group (GDG) Manama. Please give us a little bit of your own tech background. How did you get started and how does tech help in your daily business life? I have a BSc. in computer science which I got at the age of 19; I got into university at 16. Interestingly enough, I don’t use much of anything I learned in university and all my success in both Gudjuju.com and GDG Manama I owe to YouTube tutorials and online courses. Technology in this century needs to be humancentric, its role is to enhance and assist humans and not replace them altogether. This helps with efficiency, better economy and ultimately makes more time for deeper offline human connections and wonderful online experiences. We craft these every day at my digital agency. What led you to establish the GDG Manama? GDG stands for Google Developers Groups and is a platform offered by Google Developers to support community-run developer groups. The programme was brought to my attention by StartUp Bahrain – I applied online and went through an application and interview process with the Google Developers Groups regional lead. There was so much synergy and many things we saw eye to eye on. What I love about GDG Manama is that it is easily one of the few groups that are not afraid of teaching ALL technologies and not just Google technologies. Also, the community, support and access to resources we get is amazing. We even had the honour of going to Google IO last year and this year, where we got to experience all the new technologies first-hand! Currently we have over 1,600 members, and, in just over a year we have trained over 3,000 attendees on various topics such as web, mobile, blockchain, data science, nano tech, devops, security, iot, machine learning, selfdriving cars, cloud and digital marketing. How long has the group been running and how does it work? The group has been running now for a little over a year, it’s free and open to everyone. We have attendees from 12 years to 60-plus, from all backgrounds. We list the workshops on Meetup, you just register on Meetup.com/ GDG-Manama and attend the topics you like. So far, all our events are for free and even the pizza is on us! What has been the reaction in Bahrain? Phenomenal. Many people have learned many skills, some have won hackathons as a direct result of our training. Some have opened businesses and some even got career promotions as a result of the networking and new skills they’ve acquired. This is made possible because GDG Manama is a safe place for all backgrounds and all diversities to come and learn. We make that clear and try to be as approachable as possible. Most of our sessions have hands-on training for all different levels – we do our best to make it as easy as possible for someone to get started. Do you find the membership has more of one gender than the other, or is it pretty equal? When we started it was very male dominated, but month after month that has changed, to the extent we had a new member say: “I thought this was a tech event, how come there are so many women?” That made my day. Do you think the group can help encourage more women into the tech arena and specifically the development side? Bahrain already has many women developers graduating universities, it’s about giving them the platform to show what they can do and welcoming them to join an active tech community. How do you see the group progressing into the future? This year we will be releasing session tracks for each subject, if you are interested in mobile development or Artificial Intelligence, you now will have more sessions arranged in tracks that you can attend. THE G-WHIZ FEATURE | women in tech
FEATURE | women in tech THE AR/VR SPECIALIST June 2019 www.womanthismonth.com 22 Dr Sana Farid is a pioneer ARVR (augmented reality/virtual reality) strategist in the MENA region, and the co-founder and CEO of Munfarid, a MENA-based innovation firm focusing on immersive technologies and the fourth industrial revolution. She’s also a surgeon, qualified from the RCSI Bahrain. Dr Sana is currently serving as copresident for VRARA Association MENA region, the world’s largest community of innovators and experts working on VR/AR and Artificial Intelligence (AI). How did you go from being a qualified general surgeon to the field of VR and AI? Entering a professional career in medicine, I realised that this field requires extensive training, a lot of practise and proficiency to interact with patients. I soon understood that we, as a society on the whole, need to go further than implementing what is already known. The medical profession is life-changing; we welcome our patients and devote our energies to create a healthier society. I wished to discover potential methodologies that seemed promising to improve the training and development. Immersive learning was a technology that instantly interested me. I learned how AR and VR could improve the retention rates, enable better engagement, provide more chances for practice in safe environments. As a medical intern or fresh graduate, immersive environments increase confidence by [allowing] working in the virtual field with virtual bodies. I kept researching, in a quest for more pragmatic solutions, interrogating the scope of XR [cross reality]. It turned out, that it could reduce the nervousness of confronting real patients, an inevitable phase during the training. Through my experience of the field, I yearn to enhance the training system, education and practices in XR. What is the idea behind Munfarid, and how long did it take to reach where you are now? Munfarid is a notion of dedicated endeavor, passion to empower and disrupt through intelligence. Technology has brought us closer and helped us perform tedious tasks smoothly. The idea behind Munfarid was to reach even beyond physical limitations; to make learning more productive. Learning is precisely empowering and igniting others to reach and help more people. Munfarid envisions to prepare tomorrow’s generation to be work-ready, enabling them to reach the developing nations and rise as a community. We take pride in running the biggest immersive learning programme across the region. ARVR has been instrumental in advancing the educational and medical field and has helped bring a positive change in the lives of many. In our journey, we work closely with several governments to strategise innovation programmes and conduct multiple impact programmes in developing countries catering to the most sensitive issues such as infant resuscitation and nonformal education. We look forward to helping as many people as possible, empowering them to live the life of their dreams. What do you see as the future of this and any coming technology in both education and the realm of wider daily life? Industrial revolutions revamp the way things work. With the inception of immersive technologies aiding the fourth industrial revolution, today, healthcare professionals are able to help patients with better treatment outcomes during painful and/or anxious situations. This approach enables them to improve the overall patient experience and better quality of life. In the education sector, immersive learning tools are proven to increase engagement to 100 per cent, improve knowledge retention to 90 per cent and results to 86 per cent, ARVR has enabled learners to bring lessons to life and learn-by-doing. As a woman, did you face any genderspecific challenges? On the contrary, being a woman is a privilege in our country. The government has initiated several programmes to increase women‘s economic participation through small businesses. The Bahrain Development Bank offers both microcredit and larger loans, with 73 per cent of beneficiaries being women. In the educational sector, Bahraini women constituted 72 per cent of students enrolled at the Arabian Gulf University and 67 per cent of those enrolled at the University of Bahrain; the two largest post-secondary education institutions in Bahrain. Bahrain has an excellent ecosystem for startups. We have substantial government support, significant events and meet-ups happening everywhere. In fact, leading organisations such as Tamkeen provide assistance and training to private-sector businesses and individuals. In addition we have an active Economic Development Board that encourages investment in Bahrain, thus extending support, collaboration and growth opportunities for innovative ideas. Such initiatives help us grow the businesses, boost entrepreneurs’ morale and encourage them to ideate creatively. This is In line with HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa’s vision, we —the Bahraini women— are proud to lead on many fronts, both explored and unexplored.
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 23 I’ve been reading this fabulous book based on a Japanese concept called “ikigai” – which is the common ground between what the world needs, what you can do, what you can get paid for and what you love. It’s the sweet spot that allows your mission, passion, vocation and profession to merge into one. Something that’s mostly elusive to the vast majority. But I think technology provides unique hope. “Girls don’t like maths as much as boys”, “girls don’t like to build”, “girls are more suited to the softer professions” – all awful stereotypes that girls and women have endured for generations. Yes, there are women who break each stereotype [for those coming after] and forge ahead despite the odds; but these are outliers. With every wave that’s come, the learning curve has been steep and slow. But technology eliminates all that in a relative sense. Specifically, there are three characteristics of technology that make it a fabulous space for women to find their “ikigai”. First, technology is flexible. It can be moulded into any field be it science, art, culture, health, banking and, of course, shopping. This means, anyone with a mind for logical thinking and the ability to spot a need gap, can find a way for technology to work for them. This can, and does, level a significantly tilted playing field between men and women. In fact, the flexibility that technology provides is probably the hidden ticket that women have needed all along to get them into the arena as serious players. Second, technology can mould perspective and experience into logic and sequence. There are so many ventures that have been established here in the region which are spearheaded by women in areas that are relatively untouched and unseen by men. To mention a few, we have Mathaqi, a Saudi-based platform for on-demand delivery of home- cooked meals; Annada, a cultural initiative that uses technology to market art to a larger audience in unique forms and also ventures like Telp and Daresini that focus on bringing tutoring services into a comprehensive and accessible marketspace. These are spaces that have always existed, but it takes a unique female experience to realise the potential and convert it into a business. The last, and my favourite, is that the learning curve is gender neutral. Technology, as we know it today, has been developed in an age that, at least on the surface, gives equal opportunities. That means, all women can get the education they need. Its also a self-learning tool. Hence, technology itself can fill a learning gap through learning platforms. Women who need flexibility can access this learning. Women who don’t have enough money can access this learning. Women who don’t have enough time can access this learning. And from learning to implementation requires knowledge, not a degree. That’s a game changer. Before technology, businesses were all about things one could touch and feel. Now businesses are about what you can feel or perceive, how far and how wide an audience you can reach and how many smaller gaps can be identified and filled. All of these require deep intuition, solid logic and the ability to look at things from varied perspectives. These skills are not unique to women, however, the applicability to women’s issues has been limited. With more women being able to enter the field as relative equals, a large untapped market is waiting to be explored. Women can now get their surfboards and keyboards out and enjoy this wave to their own full potential. You can follow Pria at her Instagram handle money_cues or know more about her professional experience at http://www. i2d-consulting.com FINANCIAL EXPERT PRIA MASSON TANWAR GIVES US A MONTHLY DOSE OF ECONOMIC WISDOM. A Unique Opportunity LIFESTYLE | opinion
Our favourite new products to hit the shelves COLOUR AND COMFORT COMBINED Givenchy is breaking with tradition with its one-ofa-kind new eye and lip products. Ombre Interdite and Encre Interdite combine long hold and comfort: they both provide intense smudge-proof colour for 24 hours, while offering sensory appeal. For daring lips, imagine the powerful colour and comfort of a liquid lipstick combined with the faultless hold of a tint. Encre Interdite takes lip make-up to a whole new level with a water-based formula that gives flawless matte coverage in eight shades. Ombre Interdit Cream Eyeshadow promises maximum colour, maximum coverage and maximum comfort. Upon contact with the skin, it becomes a full-coverage cream, saturated with pigments that's virtually indestructible. It comes in four metallic shades as well as two radiant matte tones. Available at leading retailers. REVOLUTIONARY LAUNCH Swedish beauty tech brand Foreo’s latest launch is a smart facial cleansing brush, Luna fofo – the world’s smartest and smallest beauty coach which comes in the form of a smart facial cleansing device and is the latest addition to the Luna range. The bespoke and personalised smart device cleanses your skin with its super hygienic silicone bristles, it also reads your skin’s moisture levels and gives you all the knowledge you need to achieve a healthy glow through skin analysis carried out on a connected app. It’s also capable of self-learning and is differentiated from other skincare products by its ability to advance day after day. And an enhanced silicone facial massager has a two-zone cleansing surface which makes it perfect for every skin type. Available at namshi.com and foreo.com PARTY PEOPLE Inglot has launched the limited edition ‘Partylicious’ creamy pigment eye shadow collection, a pretty and convenient palette filled with 10 glam Freedom System creamy pigment eye shadows. The formula consists of pure pigment and diamond dust for richly hued eyeshadows that ensure a duo sparkle effect; the colour depends on the angle of the light – how cool is that?! The eyeshadows are also available individually so you can create your own Freedom System. Available at Inglot. BOSSY BOOTS We’re loving the name of the latest product from uber beauty blogger Huda Katan – her first ever setting spray, Resting Boss Face. The lady herself says: “I’m so excited to finally show you guys our first ever setting spray, Resting Boss Face! Whenever I do my make-up I never touch up, and this has become my secret weapon for keeping my make-up set all day – I literally use it in so many ways! The formula is unlike anything else (it took us three years to create), and I love how it just helps make-up melt and blend into the skin.” Available at shophudabeauty.com COLLAGEN ADDICT French brand Vichy has extended its face care line with the all-new Liftactiv Collagen Range. It boasts a powerful mixture of natural active ingredients that provide your skin with an intense boost to rejuvenate and plump, including peptides that simulate natural collagen production and hyaluronic acid, the moisture-binding secret behind skin’s plumpness and freshness. The new range includes three boosting solutions to fuel your skin’s health – LiftActiv Specialist cream, which is proven to improve skin freshness; LiftActiv Hyalu Mask, to help skin recover from tiredness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and even out skin tone; and the LiftActiv Micro Hyalu Patch is to be used overnight to work on the delicate under-eye skin. Available at pharmacies and leading retailers. June 2019 24 BEAUTY | new products www.womanthismonth.com
www.womanthismonth.com June 2019 news 25 Vegan Lips Vegan brand FRUU Cosmetics has introduced the world’s first vegan lip balm line made from upcycled fruit extracts. The brand won health food chain Holland & Barrett‘s Innovation Pitch which enabled it to develop the new line of Fruitilicious lip balms that contain up to 60-per-cent moisturising upcycled fruit-based ingredients including mango butter, avocado cold pressed oil, watermelon seed oil and lemon seed oil. All fruit-based ingredients are extracted from damaged fruits and unused fruit seeds and kernels. FRUU founder, Dr Terence Chung, told Vegan World News that he was inspired after seeing the products his students were using. “I noticed that all of them were made from petrochemicals or natural materials that are water/land/fossil-fuel intensive.” Started with a minimal budget of around BD950, the brand was developed in Dr Chung and co-founder Kelly Yee’s spare room. Aside from the new balms, the brand also has a range of other products. Alpine Beauty Beauty brand Clarins has unveiled Le Domaine Clarins, a 200,000-acre private farm and open lab in the Alps, to sustainably source, grow and observe plant ingredients. The brand has always said its success is due to the plants that produce its precious, effective ingredients and products. "Above all, it's the quality of the raw materials that make quality products," says Christian Courtin-Clarins, president of the Supervisory Board, Groupe Clarins. This long-term project, directly inspired by permaculture, brings together all the advantages of a virtuous and quality production: plants which grow as the seasons unfold, in pollution-free soil, at a higher altitude and according to organic farming criteria. Directly connected to the Clarins laboratory outside of Paris, Le Domaine Clarins is a vast study field and an immense source of quality raw materials. A part of Le Domaine Clarins, The Collection Garden, is dedicated to new plant experimentation in this harsh but pure mountain environment. The long-term ambition for Clarins is an owned 100-per-cent field to jar production. Amandla Stenberg Teams With Rihanna Singer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line has announced 20-year-old actress Amandla Stenberg as its first ever brand ambassador. The actress is already a big fan of the products sharing that her favourites are Match Stix Matte and Shimmer Skinsticks, and saying: "They’re wonderful for on-the-go highlighting and bronzing, and I’m always about having a lil glow going. Plus, they stick together with magnets, which ensure they’ll never break apart in your bag.” As the new face of Fenty Beauty, Stenberg will participate in social media content for the brand and will be seen in campaign imagery around the world in 2019. Sister Act Following in her sister’s footsteps, it looks as though Kendall Jenner may also have a new beauty line up her ever-fashionable sleeve. It’s been reporter that Kendall recently filed papers with the US Patent and Trademark Office to try and trademark "Kendall" and "Kendall Jenner" for a beauty brand. The filing also had a long list of products that would be covered by the patent, including beauty masks, body scrubs, facial scrubs, body oils, fragrances and perfumes, bath and shower gels, cosmetics and nail polish. So far, Kendall is keeping mum on the matter. More From Kylie The youngest Jenner is at it again with another new make-up launch that will doubtless send her popularity soaring ever higher. Having teased the news with a series of bare-faced selfies on social media, Kylie Skin was launched on May 22 debuting a range of cleanser, scrub, toner, serum, eye cream and moisturiser – as well as an allinclusive set – which are all cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, vegan and dermatologist tested. Fans have gone wild for the new products calling them “a whole different level of skincare”. And, not surprisingly, the line sold out in hours. Restocking at kylieskin.com is due on June 5, but you’d better be quick! GOSS
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