Out and About STYLE Magazine Issue 9 Vol. 2

Issue 9 Volume 2 

Oct - Dec 2020 

LET’S TALK 

BEAUTY WITH 

RACHITA 

GEMTU 

TAKING LESSONS FROM 

MARIAM 

FARAG 

MORE THAN BEING INFLUENTIAL, 

JOSH YUGEN ASPIRES TO BE 

ALWAYS INSPIRATIONAL. 

A Rising Movement, 

Hopeful as One: 

THE BLACK ECONOMIC 

COLLECTIVE (BEC) 

Meet Diana Powell, Marcia Mcleod and 

Leanne Brackett, power-trio founders 

of The Black Economic Collective. 

Out and About for 

The Best 

UAE Spas 

1

Change will not come if we wait for some other 

person or some other time. 

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We 

are the change that we seek. 

Barack Obama 

2

Editorial 

Editor in chief 

Marsha Fry 

marsha@outandaboutmag.com 

Editor 

Shella landayan 

info@outandaboutmag.com 

art 

advertising 

Art director 

nakul thanekar 

nakul.thanekar89@gmail.com 

sales & marketing director 

Andre Marshal 

+971 50 127 8820 

sales@outandaboutmag.com 

general enquiries 

On this 

month's 

cover 

Photographer: 

Mykyta Poluliakh 

Styling: Josh Yugen 

hello@outandaboutmag.com 

outandaboumagofficial 


outandaboutmagofficial 

www.outandaboutmag.com 

Outfit: Valentino 

Jewellery: 

Versace Fine Jewellery 

Hair and Makeup: 

Carla Fuentes 

Published by Out and About Style FZE 

(Registered at Fujairah Creative City) 

3

EDITOR’S 

WELCOME 

“ You must be the change you want to see 

in the world. ” 

 

~ Mahatma Gandhi 

Life is a colourful and amazing experience. 

We like to live in constant momentum, 

moving towards betterment. But 

sometimes, our natural instinct to latch 

on to safety and certainty gets the 

better of us: it pulls us down to a quiet 

space where we wish for our own 

selves, people, eventsand even 

moments to stay as they are for as 

long as we wish them to be. 

Change is neither bad nor good. 

How we cope with change 

independent of our doing is 

up to us. In the same vein, 

how and why we choose to 

change can take us either 

to the path of progress or 

to a pool of stagnation. 

One thing that we think is 

very clear: we are looking for 

changes, for answers. And we all 

want the world to be a better place to 

live in for ourselves and our children. 

4 

Together, let’s change for a better world, 

for a better us. As always, we at Out 

and About Magazine aim to inspire 

and encourage for a change that we 

want to see in ourselves and in the 

world.

Features and Highlights 

Wardrobe Essentials Worth Your Investment comprise 

clothing and accessories that every streetsmart man or 

woman should definitely have in their fashion stash. Find 

more about these must-haves that can be worn in almost 

any trend in our Fashion feature. 

Rachita Gemtu, influencer and creator of the raving 

Dramamama lashes, talks with us in our Beauty feature 

and we love her tips and tricks to keeping her beauty glow 

all day. Rachita, also a stunning mother of a beautiful baby 

girl, shares with us her story of success and the challenges 

of being a busy mum. 

Stuck with dark circles and eye bags? Take notes on The 

Best Routines for Getting Rid of Dark Circles and 

Under-Eye Bags, also in our Beauty section. 

Back in 2018, the Arab Fashion Week trended No. 1 on 

Twitter all over the world. Yugen PR, a rising PR firm based 

in Dubai, made it possible to have the first Filipina stride 

the Arab catwalk. Behind the company’s success is the 

impactful Josh Yugen, a multi-awarded Filipino writer, 

self-made entrepreneur and brand influencer who graces 

the cover of this issue. Find out more about Josh and his 

inspiring story of success in an exclusive interview in our 

Behind the Brand feature. 

Taking Lessons from ‘a voice for women’s development 

and leadership’, we learn from Mariam Farag that success 

is all about ‘changing people’s lives, inspiring someone to 

make a change in their life’. Mariam is the Founding Head 

of Corporate Affairs in Brand Protection and Social Impact 

of MBC, and she has also worked with humanitarian 

causes, lifting people up throughout her journey. 

In celebration of the Black History Month in the UK, we 

bring you A Rising Movement aiming to drive equitable 

economic change within the Black communities in the 

EMEAA region, which is The Black Economic Collective 

(BEC). We also have the honour of interviewing its three 

amazing founders, namely Diana Powell, Marcia Mcleod, 

and Leanne Brackett in our Voices feature. 

“I feel like we can form deep bonds with others when we 

prepare food for them.” We heard these beautiful words 

from Chef Richie Richards’, Head Chef of Miss Lily’s 

Restaurant. Meet him in our Talent Pool section. 

This issue is also a treasure trove of many Lifestyle 

articles to encourage you to seek the better change 

you’re looking for. If you’re wondering how to improve 

your team’s productivity, read on The Ergonomist: 

A Guide to Designing Office Spaces to Increase 

Productivity and learn some tips on ergonomic office 

layout designs with a focus on wellness and relaxation. 

Worried about your career in the time of a pandemic? 

Learn how to Future-Proof your Career by Building 

Resilience. Self-care is important, especially nowadays, 

so learn more the answers to the question: What is Your 

Self-Care Language? Manage your finances wisely, and 

add more to your knowledge on Wealth Consciousness. 

We also want to voice out our deep concerns on climate 

change in our message in Getting Warm on Climate 

Action. 

French fries are staples in every fast food restaurant, but 

did you know there are also different versions of this 

addictive snack all over the world? Find these French 

Fries Around The World in our Food feature. After the 

carbo-loading, step up your fitness game with 7 Ways to 

Improve Cardiovascular Fitness in our Fitness section. 

Miss travelling? Check Out and About For The Best UAE 

Spas and the 15 Most Unique Hotels in the World and 

see if you can add it on your bucket list for your next travel 

adventure in our Travel feature. 

Dear Black Women, Your Mental Health Matters: this 

article focuses on the mental health challenges faced by 

Black women all over the world. A bit lost in life? Live your 

life Just as You Like: your decisions, plans and dreams 

are all yours to live with and cherish. Finally, we bring you 

a Book Review on The 5 AM Club authored by Robin 

Sharma, who writes about maximising and improving 

one’s productivity. Read these articles in For the Culture. 

Change for the Better You, A Better Us 

Changing something in our lives is not that easy, but 

remember that improvement and growth start with that 

one step that you might have delayed for too long. Out 

and About Magazine, with the team that made this 

Edition possible, is always behind you, giving you the 

courage, strength and inspiration to be the change we 

want to see in this beautiful world. You can do it! 

outandaboumagofficial outandaboumagofficial outandaboutmagofficial 

5

OCTOBER IS BLACK HISTORY 

MONTH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 

We stand with the Black men and women who, in 

the pursuit of the common good, are marching 

forward to live in a united, progressive world. 

Diversity defines our humanity. In a hopeful 

world, our progress progress as humankind is 

measured by the extent of the convergence 

of our communal human values. To our mind, 

the highest level of progress is achieved when 

there exists no more walls, lines, or divisions 

between races, religions, and nations such that 

any man or woman, regardless of colour and 

gender, will never feel any form of exclusion 

and oppression. 

We are Out and About Magazine, and we stand 

with the people of the world that clamour for 

the monumental change that will dawn upon 

us when there will be no more walls to break 

down, lines to blur, or divisions to take apart. 

We are hopeful as one. And we will carry on. 

6

10 

19 

36 

43 

SECTION 1 

FASHION 

• Wardrobe Essentials Worth Your Investment 

SECTION 2 

BEAUTY 

• Let’s Talk Beauty with Rachita Gemtu 

CONTENTS 

October 2020 

• The Best Routines for Getting Rid of Dark Circles 

and Under-Eye Bags 

SECTION 3 

BEHIND THE BRAND 

• Josh Yugen, More than Influential, JOSH YUGEN Aspires 

to be always Inspirational 

SECTION 4 

TAKING LESSONS 

• Mariam Farag, Founding Head of Corporate Affairs, 

Brand Protection & Social Impact, MBC 

Founder & Host of the Online Talk Show, Milestone 

51 

SECTION 5 

VOICES 

• A Rising Movement, Hopeful as One: 

The Black Economic Collective (BEC), 

Meet Diana Powell, Marcia Mcleod and 

Leanne Brackett, power-trio founders 

of The Black Economic Collective. 

97 

FITNESS 

• 7 Ways to Improve 

Cardiovascular Fitness 

65 

73 

92 

SECTION 6 

TALENT POOL 

• Richie Richards, Head Chef, Miss Lily’s 

Restaurant 

SECTION 7 

LIFESTYLE 

• The Ergonomist: A Guide to Designing Office 

Spaces to Increase Productivity 

• Future-Proof your Career by Building Resilience 

• What is Your Self-Care Language? 

• Wealth Consciousness 

• Getting Warm on Climate Action 

FOOD 

• French Fries Around The World 

101 

110 

SECTION 8 

TRAVEL 

• Out and About For 

The Best UAE Spas 

• 15 Most Unique Hotels 

in the World 

SECTION 9 

FOR THE CULTURE 

• Dear Black Women, Your 

Mental Health Matters 

• Just As You Like 

• Book Review: The 5 AM 

Club by Robin Sharma 

Out and About Magazine tasks no responsibility for unsolicited 

photographs or material. The photographs in this publication 

are for illustration purposes, unless otherwise specified. 

7

8 

Al Huwelat Street, Villa No 15 - 4 

Al Bateen , Al Falah St - Abu Dhabi, Tel: 02 666 0175

9

FASHION 

WARDROBE 

ESSENTIALS 

WORTH YOUR 

INVESTMENT 

One can truly never get enough of buying clothes. 

Our attire is what we use to present ourselves to the 

world; somehow, it displays parts of our personalities. It 

is important to be deliberate in what fashion items we 

spend on. 

Trends are fleeting. These are the timeless fashion pieces 

in your wardrobe that last long and never make you feel 

out-of-style, so why not invest in them? We bring to you 

fashion essentials worth investing in for your dresser! 

10

1. DENIM JACKET 

Everyone needs denim in their wardrobe. A 

denim jacket is what you need to save yourself 

on your indecisive days. You can put it on 

a dress, shirt, tank top, or even your sports 

bra and you’ll still be fashion-street ready! It 

is the perfect item to bring out the most ef 

fortless yet stylish fashion expression. Good 

quality denim is always worth investing in, 

especially for people living in countries like the 

UAE as they cannot wear leather, faux fur, and 

corduroy most of the year. For these jacket-lovers, 

the denim jacket is the one. 

2. WHITE SHIRT 

This is not just a white shirt: it is your blank canvas. 

This dress shirt needs to have clean cut-lines. You 

can pair it with tailored trousers, jeans, and skirts. 

The cotton shirt can even be worn with dresses 

as an over-wear to achieve a feminine yet fun 

and free look. This multi-functional clothing item 

harmonises with every colour on the spectrum 

and helps create versatile fashion looks. It can be 

stylised in any and every way possible. A women’s 

wardrobe is incomplete without a white shirt. This 

classic is eternal in fashion. 

11

3. LITTLE BLACK DRESS 

This is your day-to-night dress. We all already know that one can never go wrong with black. A plain black 

dress is your best friend in your world of dresses. This can be a short or midi dress. You don’t need to go 

over-the-top with the details and silhouette of it. Keeping it classic and minimal is what makes it so special. 

You can pair it with funky over-wear and colourful shoes on a day out with your girls or keep it classy while 

accessorising it with some chic jewellery for a formal dinner. 

4. NUDE POINTED 

HEELS 

After diamonds, shoes are a girl’s best friends. 

Despite having a variety of footwear in the 

wardrobe, every woman needs the ‘perfect’ heels 

she can always turn to. Nude pumps are those 

essential pairs of heels. It can be of the high 

or midi heel. It is advisable to buy these heels 

according to the undertone of your skin shade. 

This way, the pointed heels blend into your skin 

and best create the illusion of a taller stature. 

These shoes not only correspond with almost 

every outfit but also add polish to it. These remain 

classy and versatile. 

12

5. TROUSER SUIT 

A trouser suit is probably the most crucial fashion item; one needs to be mindful in its selection. You 

need to choose the suit that best fits your body shape. Great quality trouser suit is especially a necessary 

investment for working women. It is your saviour for formal days. Nowadays, pastel shades are specifically 

trendy. If you are buying one for the first time, it is best to opt for neutral shades of grey and brown. 

However, ‘formal’ does not mean you cannot play around with your fashion creativity and go wild with a 

trouser suit. The pants and blazer can be worn separately as well to experiment with various looks. 

6. GOLD EARRINGS 

The right jewellery to your outfit is the cherry on the 

cake. Timeless and classic elements in jewellery are 

what make a statement. The two things you need to 

look for in your pair of earrings are gold and pearls. 

These never go out of style. Not only that but gold 

earrings of the right shape and structure can help add 

to the presentation of your outfit and enhance your 

appearance. We suggest you invest in gold earrings 

that are in a hoop or geometric structure. Gold hoops 

with pearls are a great buy too. Contemporary styled 

earrings are more likely to be versatile too. However, 

don’t go overboard with the design and keep it subtle. 

It is the hint of gold that creates the aesthetic. 

13

7. LEATHER HANDBAG 

Any outfit is incomplete without a bag: a great quality leather bag 

that is long-lasting is worth investing in. If you’re looking to splurge 

in one particular bag that compliments almost every garment of 

yourself, then you should go for something classic and timeless. Get 

yourself either black or brown bag with gold metal parts. Find your 

perfect size; neither too small nor too big. Opt for a bag that is for 

both work and play, yet is classy and elegant. The right bag adds luxe 

to your final look. 

14

When it comes to fashion, 

how can we forget our men? 

Presentation is as important to 

men as it is for women. A classy 

man is mindful of what he has 

in his cupboard. The correct 

ensembles keep his collection 

sharp and posh. 

1. CASHMERE KNIT 

Every man needs cashmere knits in his collection of garments. 

These are the fashion pieces that never go out of styles. There 

is something endlessly attractive about cashmere jumpers on 

men. Maybe it’s the elements of power, softness, and warmth 

in it that enhances the elegance and charm of a man. These 

can be worn at home for lazy weekends and over a shirt and 

tie for office at the same time! Whether it is neutral and pastel 

tints or the darker shades, whether it is plain or patterned 

version, cashmere knits make your wardrobe more luxurious 

and handsome. 

2. CORDUROY 

TROUSERS 

Corduroy has more versatility than people imagine it to 

have. Corduroy trousers are the perfect fashion piece to 

add texture to your wardrobe. The cut is everything when 

it comes to these trousers, too. We suggest sticking to 

a slim or straight trouser silhouette in case of doubt. It is 

best to wear them with items of lower body weight (such 

as white T-shirt, simple hoodie, etc) so the fabric nature of 

these trousers is not overshadowed. Even though chestnut 

brown and green are more common, burgundy is the 

perfect shade too. This colour adds some sort of unknown 

charm to the gear. 

15

3. LOAFERS 

Loafers come in different varieties and styles. Originally created as casual footwear, loafers became a part 

of formal fashion over time too and now, these have found their balance and prominent place in the fashion 

world. There are loafers for men of all kinds of fashion sense. They come in almost all colours (and some even 

in prints), mainly in both leather and suede. Regardless of the design, loafers look smart. They’re already on 

their way to becoming one of the most timeless pieces in a man’s wardrobe. Loafers add class and elegance 

to any ensemble. The spice of these shoes is the bare skin between the shoes and pants. The trousers worn 

with loafers should end just above the ankle. That’s how loafers enhance the flair of attire. 

4. PERFECT PAIR 

OF JEANS 

Jeans are one of the most worn items from your 

wardrobe. Consequently, it is preferable to invest in 

high-quality denim and if properly cared for, it will 

stay by your side for a decade altogether. Search 

for a pair of jeans with classic cuts that fit your body 

best. It is best recommended to invest in a pair of 

raw (also known as ‘unwashed’) denim jeans. The 

indigo in it changes over time, and the jeans get 

unique fades. This makes these dark blue jeans 

versatile and exceptional in their process of ageing. 

The perfect pair of jeans shapes the whole look. It 

even makes blue on blue look great! 

16

5. WATCH 

For men, watches have never been just about time. A man’s watch speaks for him. It is a symbol of his 

taste and prestige. The finishing touch of a fine watch polishes the gear. A watch is a serious and longterm 

investment and is worth your expense. The selection of the right watch needs to be meticulous and 

attentive. Keep the design classic and timeless. Your watch needs to be elegant, neat, and ethereal. The 

details matter. This is one fashion item you need to be wearing everywhere. This piece of accessory can be 

worn for decades and even be passed on as a token of legacy. 

Undoubtedly, there is nothing wrong with buying trends, but it is more important to have the essentials around 

you as well. Make sure not to lose sight of the classic for the ever-changing trends. These versatile and timeless 

pieces are a must-have in any wardrobe. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Ayesha AR is a fashion design student, working to fulfil her 

drive for being a part of the creative industry. What began 

as a hobby turned into a passion as she grew up. Preparing 

for medical studies her whole life, this brown girl didn’t want 

to become another involuntary doctor, and so she dropped 

her passed medical entrance examination and pursued 

fashion design. She showcased her skills as a designer in 

the form of her up-cycled, sustainable 3-piece garment in 

FASTE 2019, which won her awards. She continues to learn 

and work hard to achieve her dreams. 

17

18 

Textures 

Model: Renata Hamikus 

Photo: Jozsef Balogh 

Retouch: Anna Petrova 

Hair and makeup: Liv Rideg 

Location: Studio Madison, Budapest, Hungary

BEAUTY 

RACHITA GEMTU 

Company: Sculpt RachitaGemtu RachitaGemtu 

19

20

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I come from a small town in India, and I have 

been living here in Dubai for the past six years. 

I first came here to do my Master’s. After 

completing my Master’s, I met my husband, 

and the rest is history. 

I’m a very ambitious person. I love to take up 

challenges, and I’m a risk-taker. If I were in a 

room with twenty people and no one’s taking 

the risk, I’m the one who jumps in. Most of the 

time, I experience the joys of success through 

hard work and perseverance. 

I’m passionate about what I do. I can only work 

on something if I literally love that thing. I’m not 

someone who works a 9 to 5 job on a routine 

because I don’t want to do that. 

Tell us about your lash line, Sculpt. 

My lash line is special to me. I started working 

on it right after I delivered my daughter as I did 

not have much else to do. That’s when I started 

discovering more things about beauty. Lashes, 

in particular, have always been stood out to me. 

It adds a great deal to my everyday look—a 

complete game-changer. I have tried so many 

brands that are available in this region. There 

was always something that was missing—the 

3D and 4D kind that adds dimension. That was 

my idea. I wanted to have something like that 

in my lash line. I’m sure not everyone would like 

having those types of lashes, but I still wanted it 

in my line, and that’s what I did. 

We started the line two years ago in my husband’s 

country, Macedonia. Two months ago, I started 

the brand here in Dubai. The lash line has three 

types—so far: we have the very natural-looking 

lash extensions, and the second one is called 

Fantasy, which adds more volume to your 

natural lashes and gives a bit more glam. The 

third pair is called Dramamama. Those are for 

people like me—they are insane! They are the 

4D lashes, and I am obsessed with them. A lot 

of people I know are also obsessed with them. 

It’s not something everyone is comfortable with 

wearing right now, but they still love it when I’m 

wearing them. I talk about them and show the 

before and after in my tutorials. I’m sure that 

once people start using them, they are going 

to love it! 

We wanted to have all levels of lash glam, and 

I wanted my brand to focus on Arab women. 

My market studies tell that Arabs do love 

Dramamama. 

What are your top three beauty products? 

It’s very difficult for me to choose just three. If 

there are three products that I can’t do without, 

it would have to be a new lipstick with me at 

all times. I need to have a translucent powder 

too—it’s always handy right before entering a 

meeting. I prefer loose powder because Dubai 

has hot and humid weather. The third product 

is—without a doubt—Dramamama lashes. 

Describe your night-time skin routine. 

Night-time is the best time for you to pamper 

your skin. For someone like me, who wears 

makeup most of the time, the night-time 

routine involves lots of hydration. I prefer 

Korean brands. One of my favourite brands 

is Somebymi, and I use one of their toners. 

After the toner, I apply a serum, and then the 

night mask or a sleeping mask, and a really 

good hydrating moisturiser on top of it. I add 

an under-eye cream, too. Sometimes, I like 

applying an evening oil. 

Describe your everyday makeup look. 

My everyday look must have a super bronzer 

and glow. I prefer to keep my base really light. I 

prefer foundations that are more hydrating but 

are more pigmented with low coverage. I love 

to top them up with a really nice bronzer. I really 

love using bronzers on my eyes, followed by a 

little bit of highlighter on the eyelids to give it 

a glowy kind of finish. Of course, adding on a 

really nice pair of lashes, a bold eyeliner and 

nude lips complete the look. 

21

22

23

What are some of the challenges you face as a 

beauty influencer who is also a mum? 

I’ve taken care of my baby for the past three and 

a half years all by myself. I never hired a nanny. 

I couldn’t find someone who I could trust when 

it comes to my girl. I think that’s a reason why 

she grew up to be a resilient toddler as well. 

She’s super strong and super smart. She is very 

independent, and I’m very proud of her. There 

are good times, and then there are tough ones, 

too. There are times when I have back-to-back 

meetings, and she waits for me in a café or a 

corner table. It becomes challenging because I 

do not want her to suffer with me; I want her to 

be back home, but again, trust issues are there. 

I’ve finally managed to hire a nanny for her. People 

also question me, I get asked ‘why don’t you cook 

for her?’ or ‘you’re always out’. They don’t know 

what I do when I’m out. It does get demotivating 

at times, but I know the struggles I have been 

experiencing as a mom is to give the best to my 

daughter. 

If you weren’t in the beauty industry, what 

would you be doing? 

When I was doing my Master’s, my plan was to 

get a 9 to 5 job to support my family back home. 

I never thought I’d be an entrepreneur one day, 

but I have always been ambitious, and I always 

wanted something different. There was a situation 

back home, which made me think that I must get 

a job and help my family. As soon as I got married, 

I got pregnant, gave birth and was a stay-at-home 

mom. Therefore, I had enough time not to have 

a job and really think about what I wanted to do 

with my life. That’s when I discovered my love 

for beauty and decided I wanted to be a beauty 

influencer. Now, I feel like I couldn’t have ever 

been something else. 

24

25

How important are ethical standards for 

influencers? 

This is an important question for me. Being 

an influencer means influencing people who 

believe in you, who follow you, who look to 

you for recommendations. These people go 

and invest money into something that you are 

recommending, so it is very important to be 

ethical. 

Sometimes, influencers say things like ‘this 

works 100%’. Of course, you can say stuff 

like ‘this works for me, and it may work for 

you or it may not’. Influencers shouldn’t say 

these things because they are not certified to 

say them. According to studies, 54% of the 

population are now looking at influencers 

and their reviews before they go and buy 

something. Some people can’t afford to 

follow what influencers say. Can you imagine 

someone spending a lot of money eating at 

a restaurant that an influencer recommended 

when that restaurant is not good at all? So for 

me, it’s especially important to be honest, to 

be ethical, to follow guidelines: to be true to 

your audience. 

It is also important to love the products you 

are offering to your audience. You should be 

open to your audience about the posts that 

are sponsored, posts that are ads and posts 

that you put up because you love the product. 

26

Social media can be mentally draining; how 

do you look after your mental health while 

maintaining your social media presence? 

Yes, it can be super draining at times and 

can be super demotivating. Right now, 

there’s something happening in Instagram 

that’s really messing with the engagement. 

That’s really demotivating. Sometimes you 

think, ‘Why am I even doing this?’ 

I constantly study social media as to how 

the algorithms work. That keeps me upto-date, 

and I know that these issues are 

not only faced by me. When it comes to 

content creation, you sometimes just don’t 

want to do anything because you can’t see 

any results coming out. So, to calm myself, 

I sometimes go with my daughter for a 

staycation in a hotel near the beach. Even 

then, I try to create content. Keeping myself 

completely away from my phone is not an 

option. I have constant work going on. I still 

try to keep my phone in the hotel room for 

six to seven hours while I’m spending time 

with my family. 

What’s that one quote you live by? 

The quote I live by, which I’ve realised over 

the years, is: 

Live for yourself before anybody else; love 

yourself before anybody else. 

27

28

29

Black Girl Magic 

Model: Solanch Aldazabal 

Photo: Jozsef Balogh 

Retouch: Anna Petrova 

Makeup: Liv Rideg 

Location: Studio Madison, Budapest, Hungary 

30

THE BEST ROUTINES FOR 

GETTING RID OF 

DARK 

CIRCLES 

AND UNDER-EYE BAGS 

Dark circles and under-eye bags can 

be caused by a number of factors, 

like genetics, stress, dehydration, 

and excessive sun exposure. The skin 

around the eyes is thin and vulnerable, 

so a slight change in your lifestyle, diet 

and even your mental health can reflect 

these changes. 

Makeup can definitely help, especially if 

you’re going to a meeting or a special 

occasion and we don’t want ourselves 

to look tired and stressed out. Keep 

this essential advice to mind and stick 

to a healthy everyday routine to get 

rid of those puffiness, redness and skin 

darkening around your eye area. 

• Cold compress almost always works. 

Cold compress may help lessen the swelling and puffiness. You can buy a readymade 

cold compress or a cloth and ice will work, too. Be careful and make sure it is 

not too cold for your skin as you may get ice burn. Other products that work like a 

cold compress include hydrating eye masks and soothing eye gels containing aloe, 

hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and collagen. If you want to go organic or DIY, cucumber, 

which should be freshly cut and kept cold in the refrigerator, also does the trick. 

31

• Adequate hydration is the key. 

Make sure you keep yourself hydrated 

at all times. Puffiness can be caused by 

lack of water so keep in mind to drink at 

least eight glasses of water a day. Skin 

dryness brought about by dehydration 

also makes skin darkening worse. 

• Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol intake. 

Alcohol promotes skin dehydration and will cause discolouration and pigmentations to be more 

noticeable. It will also make you feel more tired, resulting in a dark circle and under-eye bags. 

Smoking, on the other hand, can also contribute to getting those pesky eye bags by making the skin 

age faster. 

32

• Get enough sleep every day and de-stress. 

Sleep is important not only for your overall health 

but also for your skin! Make sure to get enough 

sleep and wake up refreshed and ready for the 

day. Find ways to relax and de-stress whenever 

possible. Most of the time, dark eye circles and 

puffiness in the eye area are caused by water 

retention or the accumulation of fats overtime due 

to unhealthy sleep routines and stress. 

• Wear sunscreen. 

If you need to go out, protect your skin 

by wearing sunscreen. The skin under our 

eyes is thin and sensitive. Sun exposure 

will easily damage it so remember to add 

sunscreen on your daily skincare routine. 

• Reduce salt intake and eat a 

healthy, balanced diet. 

Excessive salt intake can result in 

dehydration. You will feel tired, and 

it may contribute to those daytime 

headaches and even constipation. 

Always add fruits and vegetables in 

your diet as they contain a healthy dose 

of water and are packed with nourishing 

vitamins and minerals. 

If your eye bags and dark circle persist, consult your dermatologist as they may 

suggest treatments and procedures. Always remember to take care of our body 

to stay healthy and beautiful from within! 

33

34

Boutique No.8, Aswaaq Center, 

Al Badaa, Al Wasl Road, 

Dubai. 

Boutique 13, Building 8, 

Golden Mile Galleria, 

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. 

www.mokha1450.com 

35

THE IMPACTFUL 

JOSH 

YUGEN 

MORE THAN BEING INFLUENTIAL, 

JOSH YUGEN ASPIRES TO ALWAYS 

BE INSPIRATIONAL. 

36

FROM PRODUCING THE 

WORLDWIDE TRENDING ARAB 

FASHION WEEK 2018 TO 

BRINGING THE THEN REIGNING 

MISS UNIVERSE CATRIONA 

GRAY TO THE UAE, THE MOST 

FOLLOWED VERIFIED FILIPINO 

PERSONALITY ON INSTAGRAM 

TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO OUT 

AND ABOUT MAGAZINE about 

the challenges of being a Filipino 

in a foreign land, building his 

own businesses from scratch, and 

showing the world the impact of 

perseverance and dedication— 

while shimmering in couture 

OOTDs and trending in social 

media. 

Entrepreneur and multi-awarded 

Filipino writer Josh Yugen is more 

than just an influencer. In 2007, 

Josh came to Dubai not knowing 

what lies ahead of his journey as 

a journalist. Today, his success has 

earned him numerous accolades. 

With 211K followers on Instagram, 

the Filipino influencer is creating 

waves in the international PR scene 

through Xpedition Middle East, 

a Dubai-based luxury travel and 

lifestyle magazine, and Yugen PR, 

one of Dubai’s fastest rising PR 

companies—two companies he 

founded not just on hard grit, but 

through relentless dedication. 

From his humble beginnings in 

a quaint town in the Philippines, 

Josh drew inspiration to tirelessly 

persevere as a passionate writer. At 

23, he started writing freelance for 

different magazines in the UAE. In 

just a few years, he landed editor 

roles in prestigious magazines. In 

2012, the World Media Academy 

in Dubai conferred Yugen with the 

title of ‘Dedicated Journalist of 

the Year’. Three years later, he cofounded 

Xpedition Middle East 

and became its Editor-in-Chief. In 

2016, the Miss European Tourism 

Association dubbed him the ‘Most 

Influential Travel Journalist’. Josh is 

also the first Asian to be awarded 

as the ‘Most Influential Journalist 

of the Year’ in Malta. Middle 

East’s leading Filipino community 

media portal The Filipino Times 

also named him as the ‘Media 

Personality of the Year’. 

In 2017, Josh founded Yugen PR, 

a luxury, lifestyle and celebrity 

PR agency, affiliating himself with 

celebs, companies and socialites. 

To date, he and his firm has worked 

with numerous companies and 

organisations, including the Dubai 

Autism Centre, Smile Train, New 

York Tourism, Philippine Tourism, 

Brand USA, Mandarin Oriental 

Hotel Group, Constance Hotel 

Group, Beachcomber Resorts 

and Hotels, Waldorf Astoria Hotel 

Group, Star Group of Properties, 

Qatar Airways, Air France, Amato 

Couture, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Miss 

Universe Organization, and many 

more. In 2018, the Arab Fashion 

Week trended No. 1 on Twitter in 

the UAE, Philippines and several 

countries, as Yugen PR presented 

the country’s most prestigious 

fashion event with the first Filipina 

to ever walk on the Dubai runway. 

37

1. TELL US A BIT ABOUT 

YOURSELF. 

Impactful. I might be guilty or 

innocent on many things but this 

is me in one word: this is my past, 

my present and my future. 

I have always strived to do 

something impactful since I was 

young. My current goal is to stay 

impactful for everything that I am 

doing, and in the future hopefully 

my legacy will always be impactful. 

I am also an entrepreneur, social 

media influencer, philanthropist, 

and a very social person. 

One of my dominant personalities 

is being personable. I love 

speaking to people as well as 

listening to their stories. I love 

writing and reading at the same 

time. I started my career as a 

journalist. Later on, I took on 

a role as a marketing manager 

before I started my own business, 

XPEDITION, which is a luxury 

lifestyle and fashion magazine. 

After a couple of years, I have 

opened my own PR, Marketing 

and Events company, YUGEN 

PR. I work closely with many 

celebrities and VIPs in the region, 

as well as internationally famous 

personalities. 

38

2. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN 

BUSINESS? 

As a kid who was diagnosed with verbal apraxia, 

I never uttered a word until I was six. Growing 

up, I have always treasured the importance 

of having my own voice, empowering myself 

through my writing. My pen has always been my 

greatest armour. 

When I was a teenager, I have always thought that 

I would like to do something huge, something 

extraordinary, something inspirational. I do not 

aspire for fame, but I know that I had to be 

impactful. Many people call me The Impactful 

Josh Yugen, and it tickles me pink that I am 

reaching a place that I can only dream of when 

I was young. However, I always tell myself that I 

am still—and always—a work-in-progress. 

During my stint in Dubai Festivals and Retail 

Establishment (DFRE) under Dubai Tourism, it 

might have been destiny when I met my Emirati 

partner who helped me set up XPEDITION 

Magazine in 2014. Now, XPEDITION is one of the 

most luxurious travel and fashion publications 

in the Middle East. It is pure hard work and 

dedication that kept me going—and passion— 

to keep going even further. I made sure that I 

can use my voice this time to spread messages 

of hope, resilience, and empowerment. 

In 2017, I founded YUGEN PR, a luxury 

lifestyle and celebrity agency trusted by the 

biggest fashion brands, real estate companies, 

celebrities, and even charities. 

3. HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON WHAT 

BUSINESSES TO GO INTO? 

I believe that having a life without a story is worse 

than death. This is one of the major reasons why 

I started a publication and a PR agency because 

we do not just sell couture clothes or luxury 

properties—we sell stories: beautiful stories 

that capture the relevance of the moment, 

empowering stories that inspire people to be 

better, and riveting stories that touch the human 

soul. 

39

40

4. WHAT ARE THE PROS OF OWNING MORE 

THAN ONE BUSINESS? 

Having one more business is like having more than one 

kid. Having one kid is completely a person’s preference 

and prerogative. For me, though, I would love to have 

more than ten kids—and I mean that I would love to 

have more than ten companies under one family— 

under one umbrella—because when the going gets 

tough and the tough gets going, a team, which works 

by benefiting each other, will always be tougher, braver 

and stronger—like a family. 

5. DESCRIBE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE 

YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME, HOW IT 

IMPACTED YOUR BUSINESS, AND HOW IT 

IMPACTED YOU PERSONALLY. 

The allure of comfort zones is like gazing on the sunken 

beauty of the lakes, and you can never cross the oceans 

unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. 

Challenges are the most stunning part of the story. I will 

never ever skip it. 

6. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR 

RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY? 

It is absolutely a love and hate relationship! I would love 

to let it go, but I hate not keeping it to myself. Seriously, 

money should be controlled, it should never control you. 

7. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? 

Do everything that you have to do, but don’t be so hard 

on yourself. Cry, be angry, be sad, make mistakes and 

fall down even—because eventually you will stand up, 

dust it all off, and someday everything will make sense. 

8. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT 

WORKING WITH PEOPLE? 

I only work for three reasons: to be happy, to make 

people happy, and to enjoy everything in between. 

9. WHEN SCALING A COMPANY, WHAT DO 

YOU FOCUS ON FIRST, AND WHY? 

I focus on things that I can control; the rest is destiny. 

10. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU ENTREPRENEURS 

ON MOVING BEYOND FAILURE? 

Be thankful: pain is the greatest teacher. 

11. IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A BOOK, WHAT 

WOULD YOU NAME IT, AND WHY? 

The Impactful: Josh Yugen 

41

12. WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE? 

Nature—it is so captivating yet so mysterious; it is so giving yet 

it can be so dangerous; it can be so breathtaking, but it can also 

take your breath away; it celebrates your birth, but it also awaits 

for your death. 

13. HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? 

Prayers. 

14. WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? 

“Everything is just an illusion; the best thing you have done is 

imagination.” 

42

Taking Lessons 

MARIAM 

FARAG 

Founding Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand Protection & Social Impact, MBC 

Founder & Host of the Online Talk Show, Milestone 

Senior Consultant, UN Women 

mariam-farag-1473289 

43

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. 

I’m a proud mother of two boys. I am an Egyptian 

by origin, but I consider myself a global citizen. 

It gives me pride and great joy looking back on 

the work that I’ve done in the region and the 

world when it comes to the humanitarian field 

and sustainability. 

Advocating for youth empowerment is one 

of my passions. Being a voice for women’s 

development and leadership is also one of my 

lifelong vocations. I’m also a true believer of 

humanising brands—brands with purpose. 

I’ve been lucky enough to join different sectors. 

I have 20 years of experience in sustainable 

development, humanitarian communication, 

and brand protection. I also have experience 

working with the United Nations for supporting 

women, working with small NGOs in Egypt, and 

U.N. High Commissioner for refugees where 

I worked on refugee protection and asylum 

seekers. From there, I joined the PR Agency 

world where I worked with Weber Shandwick and 

companies in the private sector who needed a 

little bit of guidance when it came to their public 

affairs and communication with purpose. 

I worked with Nescafe, Proctor and Gamble, 

Majid Al Futtaim, Coke Cola, Sony, and many 

more. I had the honour of joining the Dubai 

Government Community Development 

Authority, where I worked alongside brilliant 

Emiratis, both young and seniors who are very 

compassionate and yet are very serious and 

knowledgeable. 

From there, I went into academia, which is where 

I found my passion for being with students. 

I discovered my passion for mentorship, for 

talent development, youth empowerment and 

development. Being with the youth of today 

really brings out the best in me. They inspire me 

so much. I feel like it’s a never-ending cycle of 

learning. The exchange between us is contagious. 

It’s almost magical. Working with the youth is 

a crossover between youth development and 

advocating for the private sector’s and brand’s 

role in sustainable development and particularly 

developing their communities. Creating jobs, 

empowering women, giving women a voice and 

a platform to be financially independent, to lead 

their own lives, to create their own futures and 

to have a say in what is going on in the world. 

44

WHEN DID YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A 

SUCCESS? 

Success for me means changing people’s lives, inspiring 

someone to make a change in their life. Clicking with 

someone and giving them that Aha! moment. I consider 

myself a success every time I communicate with another 

human being, regardless of age, gender, background and 

culture. 

When I connect with someone on a soul and heart 

level—on an inspirational level—and I inspire someone 

to take on their path and really find their purpose, find 

and pursue their whys, start taking action, start taking 

hold of their future and bettering their situation, this is 

when I consider myself a success: when I actually help 

someone make a change and inspire someone to take 

on that change for a better future. 

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT? 

I’m most passionate about really helping people achieve 

their dreams. Be it women, youth, children having 

access to school and quality education, brands willing to 

humanise their business and align their business goals with 

a purpose and impact on humanity. I work a lot with NGOs, 

board of directors for non-profit organisations, and among 

other private sector leaders and high net worth individual 

people and philanthropists. I do a lot of pro bono work. 

I pride myself in rubbing shoulders and working side by 

side with these amazing inspirational leaders that never 

tire of making a difference. I’m passionate about creating 

a better place for the youth, and for my sons. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 

20-YEAR-OLD SELF? 

Travel the world: experience different cultures and different 

backgrounds. I travelled, but I didn’t travel enough. I was 

in a hurry. When I was in high school, I was in a hurry to 

graduate and get to university. When I was in university, 

I was in a hurry to volunteer, do part-time work and gain 

the experience I needed to get the job that I wanted. 

When I graduated, I was in a hurry to pursue my Master’s. 

I went to London University of Westminster and finished 

my Master’s in International Relations and Political Theory. 

After that, I was in a hurry to get the job of my dreams. 

I joined the United Nations literally three weeks after I 

finished university. 

I was constantly running, constantly in a hurry. I was scared 

to lose that right on the train. Throughout that journey 

(which I am grateful for) I forgot to travel. I have a passion 

for travelling and experiencing different cultures, different 

cuisines and meeting different people. Sitting with them, 

talking about different ideologies, exchanging different 

beliefs, debating different issues, learning from each other 

and inspiring one another. I forgot to do that because I was 

in a hurry. If you’re listening to me, then stop, take a break, 

travel, learn, take a moment to breathe and then come 

back. The choices you feel are important, but they can wait. 

45

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO 

THE NEXT GENERATION OF 

FEMALE LEADERS? 

My advice is, know your value. 

Never ever compromise on your 

worth. The problem with women 

globally, not just in the region but 

the world, is that we compromise— 

we tend to doubt ourselves, which 

often leaves us compromising on 

our worth. We do not negotiate 

our salaries, we don’t negotiate 

our packages, and we don’t ask for 

more. We settle for what they give 

us. We don’t go for what we think 

we deserve. 

To all those about to embark 

on your professional journey, 

know your value, and never ever 

compromise on your worth. If 

they don’t offer you a seat on the 

decision-making table, then bring 

a chair. If they don’t ask for your 

46 

opinion, make sure you give it 

anyway. Work hard and develop 

yourself. Don’t be afraid to be 

human. Don’t be afraid to be a 

woman in a man’s world. Right now, 

we need to create our own future. 

We should complement each other 

and not take away from each other. 

Embrace your femininity but never 

compromise on your worth. 

WHAT KEY ACTIVITIES 

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND 

ENTREPRENEURS TO INVEST 

THEIR TIME IN? 

They should focus on how to make 

a difference in bettering the world. 

They should research more on the 

Sustainable Development Goals 

and find a way to align themselves 

with these humanitarian objectives 

for them to make an impact the 

world that they thrive in and for the 

communities they profit from. This 

is the only way they’ll be respected 

and gain customer loyalty and 

thrive in a business environment. 

It’s not just about profit. It’s about 

profit, planet and people. If you 

invest in your people and invest in 

our planet, the profit will come. 

WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO 

YOU HAVE IN PRACTISING 

AND REFINING YOUR PITCH? 

We really need to know our purpose 

and our whys very well. We need 

to understand our brand and be 

very passionate about it. If we have 

an elevator pitch and we don’t 

understand our brand and purpose, 

what kind of impact we’re bringing 

to this world and to customers, 

we will lose the investor. If the 

investor feels we don’t understand 

the brand and the product, we will 

lose the opportunity. Focus on the 

purpose and the product.

TELL US ABOUT A TIME YOU 

HAD TO DEAL WITH FAILURE 

AND HOW YOU OVERCAME IT. 

It was when I got married and moved 

with my husband to Paris. At the time, 

I had a great position at the United 

Nations. I had just started being on the 

international roster, and things were 

looking great. 

When I met my husband, I decided to 

give that all up and move to Paris, where 

he was located. When I got there, it 

was a difficult first two years. I couldn’t 

find a job and looked everywhere. I 

was crushed. I felt like a failure. Even 

a volunteering job wouldn’t take me 

in. I’m a very active person, and I had 

nothing to do. I decided to learn French. 

I made a few friends and life was a little 

bit more bearable. However, I still felt 

like a failure, but I didn’t give in. I tried 

to put myself back together every day. 

To come out of the difficult situation, which 

was affecting my marriage, I decided to 

move elsewhere. I came to Dubai and 

found a job here. My husband followed 

after he found a job here. Fifteen years 

later, here we are. We needed to find a 

place where we both could co-exist, and 

Paris was not one of them. 

IF WE’RE SITTING HERE A YEAR 

FROM NOW CELEBRATING 

WHAT A GREAT 12 MONTHS IT’S 

BEEN FOR YOU, WHAT DID WE 

ACHIEVE TOGETHER? 

I would be celebrating my company. 

We would be celebrating the launching 

of my social enterprise and focusing 

more on humanising brands, working 

with companies who are looking to 

humanise their product, looking to dig 

deep into their business with purpose 

and to align their business goals with 

their sustainable development goals of 

2030. My expertise is to connect the 

dots between brands, NPO and the 

media. It’s an important milestone as I’m 

going from being part of a big network 

and conglomerate to helping many 

others launch their social enterprise 

and mentoring youth and leaders on 

how to partner. That is a win-win. 

47

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU 

HAVE BEEN GIVEN? 

Move forward. Look at the past and learn from our 

mistakes but move forward and keep going. Don’t 

look right or left, just look ahead. In my life, I’ve met 

many people who have helped me, but in any journey, 

there will be people who will put you down. Those 

people are going through their own issues. Perhaps 

they want to achieve what you have, but don’t have 

the power to get to that level. I wish these people 

well. I pray for their internal peace. I don’t hold any 

grudges. What I try to do is keep my eye on the prize. 

NAME 2 BOOKS YOU RECOMMEND AND 

WHY 

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Empowering 

Women by Louise L. Hay. 

WHAT PODCASTS DO YOU LISTEN TO 

INSPIRE OR LEARN FROM? 

This is Netflix and TEDx. 

48

WHO INSPIRES YOU WITH AWE, AND 

WHY? 

My mother is my true inspiration with all the 

awe in the world. My mother had two strokes. 

The first one left her with brain damage, and 

she was unaware of anything for a few months. 

It also made her entire left side paralysed, but 

my mother is a warrior. She inspired me all my 

life. She was a single mother of three wonderful 

children. She worked harder than anyone I know 

to raise, educate and give us a life that was 

blessed, happy and motivating. She worked 48 

hours in 24 hours to provide a good life for us. 

Was she always there—no—but she was always 

there. The time she did spend with me was 

quality time. 

She loved life. She did Zumba classes at the age 

of 82 till the day she had the stroke. Although 

now she’s broken, she’s still full of life. She’s 

still dancing with one hand, one arm, one leg. 

She smiles, laughs, and she makes jokes. Now, 

her brain is functioning normally. She’s still so 

inspirational, the way she picked up herself. She 

was a divorcee in the 60s, which was very taboo 

in Egypt. She then started a business to support 

her family. That was unheard of at the time. 

That was a difficult career shift. She was a TV 

presenter and rowing and swimming champion 

for Egypt. She had to give all that up because 

it didn’t pay the bills, so she started with real 

estate. For me, she is my warrior. My mother was 

an entrepreneur in the 70s when things that we 

have today didn’t exist. She did it all by herself 

with dignity on one shoulder and resilience and 

grit on the other with love for her children in her 

heart. 

HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR 

MENTAL HEALTH? 

I look after it by exercising and watching sitcoms 

I really like. I do pilates three times a week and 

walk every single day. This is how I get the stress 

out and look after my mental health. This time 

to myself is precious. I need it to continue taking 

care of everything around me. I like to end my day 

with sitcoms. I love Friends. I’ve been watching it 

since 1994 and will never stop. I also like Modern 

Family and other sitcoms. I like to laugh. I don’t 

like to watch movies or shows that would bring 

me sadness or would scare me. Something else I 

do is to be surrounded by friends. The lockdown 

was very hard on me because I needed people 

around me. I also use the app Headspace, which 

helps with my anxiety. 

WHAT’S THAT ONE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? 

“Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life.” 

- Naguib Mahfouz 

49

SAVE 

THE 

DATE 

Out and About 

Magazine presents 

BLACK 

EXCELLENCE 

GALA AND AWARDS 

7 pm | May 21st 2021 

Theme: 

I am Black Excellence 

50

VOICES 

A RISING MOVEMENT, 

HOPEFUL AS ONE: 

THE BLACK 

ECONOMIC 

COLLECTIVE 

(BEC) 

Company: Black Economic Collective EMEAA blackeconomiccollective blackeconomiccollective.com 

51

52

Out and About Magazine lauds the 

efforts and draws inspiration from 

the founders of a truly remarkable 

initiative that highlights economic 

change within the Black communities 

of the EMEAA region. Meet Diana 

Powell, Marcia Mcleod and Leanne 

Brackett, power-trio founders of The 

Black Economic Collective. 

“We believe real wealth comes from 

building an economic family and 

community, mixed in with a real sense 

of moral cohesion topped off with a 

dash of empathetic care. If an active 

effort is made by each and every 

person to create the positive change 

we want in life, to be supported by 

people of the same vision and heart, 

the byproduct of this will surely be 

both spiritual and material wealth”. 

Founders Diana, Marcia and Leanne 

53

An African Diaspora Economic Movement 

Black Economic Collective EMEAA 

(BEC) is a solution-based business 

networking initiative based in Dubai, 

UAE, founded by the desire to see 

equitable economic change within 

communities. BEC was launched in 

June 2020, as a direct response to the 

global protest, highlighting the realities 

of the systematic racism and disparity 

experienced by Black communities on 

a worldwide scale. 

Founders Diana Powell, Marcia 

Mcleod and Leanne Brackett, coming 

from the African Diaspora, noted 

that many aspects of the Black Lives 

Matter movement resonate with 

them through their own experiences 

and the experiences of others. They 

wanted to see and spark change—to 

do something—being the women that 

they are. When asked if we want to 

see and experience real change within 

Black communities, these courageous 

women replied with a striking quote 

from Dr Claud Anderson: “We needed 

to have a new way of seeing, thinking 

and behaving.” 

The idea of BEC was developed 

on the premise that sustainable, 

equitable economic solutions could 

be achieved through the development 

and nurturing of Black businesses 

and entrepreneurs. The vision is 

to create a collective economic 

ecosystem that will ensure the 

collective economic success of likeminded 

people who truly want to see 

and experience change throughout 

the African Diaspora. The founders 

of BEC believe that the nurturing 

of Black businesses must be part of 

the solution that nurtures financial 

growth, job creation, community 

development, and empowerment of 

Black communities, leaving a legacy 

for the next generation. 

The aim of this economic movement 

is to target like-minded microbusinesses 

and entrepreneurs of 

the Black African Diaspora located 

primarily within the EMEAA regions 

(Europe, Middle East Africa and 

Americas) who share the vision of 

these brave women founders. They, 

as one, see themselves as facilitators 

focused on connecting and cultivating 

their members by working together to 

promote a more equitable economy. 

54

DIANA POWELL 

is an International Development 

Consultant and businesswoman born 

in London, UK. She lived and worked 

in Saudi Arabia and now resides in the 

UAE. With over 20 years of experience 

in education, youth, business and 

community development both within 

the UK, Middle East, Africa and the 

Caribbean, she has supported hundreds 

to realise their passions and aspirations. As 

the founder and former CEO of the Global 

Institute for Entrepreneurship, she has 

provided consultative support and training 

for a number of UK private, local and 

central government organisations, as well as 

international agencies located within the UK. 

With her extensive knowledge in supporting 

and developing social enterprises and 

businesses primarily targeting African and 

Caribbean communities, she has developed 

a number of programmes specifically for 

this group including developing community 

projects, and supporting groups to access 

funding in order to develop a number heritage 

and social business initiatives. She is also a 

presenter on Ari Ma’at on GKTV, Black Group 

Economic Show showcasing and interviewing 

entrepreneurs, alongside conversations on 

topical business current affairs affecting Black 

communities. She has participated in a number 

of events including the World Entrepreneurship 

Forums and African and Arabian International 

Women Business Conferences. 

55

MARCIA MCLEOD 

is an inspirational speaker and 

life coach who works with people, 

particularly women, to find the inner 

gems that will help them live the life of 

their dreams. She is the creator of the 

Powerful Purpose Philosophy, a lifechanging 

self-development programme. 

The Powerful Purpose Philosophy was 

developed following years of finding herself 

emotionally, mentally, and physically stuck, 

and after embarking on a mission to uncover 

the deep-rooted source of her insecure, 

negative, and self-limiting beliefs. While born 

in London, UK, she now resides in the UAE 

and helps women globally to discover their 

purpose. 

With over 15 years of experience in education 

and business, she equips women with tools 

and strategies that help them realise their own 

amazing story of self-discovery, and cultivate 

empowerment for their greater good. Marcia is 

also the co-founder and co-host of Mind Over 

Matter Talks, a weekly podcast which focuses 

on mental health while challenging some of the 

taboos within the Black community. She is also 

an author, mentor and mother to three amazing 

children. 

56

LEANNE 

BRACKETT 

is a creative entrepreneur, host, 

entertainer and motivational author 

of self-help workbook, I Am What I 

Say I Am. Through her own personal 

journey of self-discovery, evolution 

and experience in business and 

music as a Black female, she uses 

her voice to serve the world and 

empower people to show up as their 

true selves as a proclaimed self-love 

advocate. As part of the UN’s decade 

initiative to recognise people from the 

African Diaspora from 2015 - 2024, she 

was nominated for the Top 100 Most 

Influential People of African Descent in 

2020. 

Born and raised in West London, she 

found her passion and gift for connecting 

with people through her vocals and writing 

early on as an independent artist by the 

stage name Kai in the UK. Now based in 

Dubai, her contagious aura and business 

acumen can be seen both on and off the 

stage, serving her purpose to help women 

discover the best version of themselves, 

or empowering the Black community and 

businesses through the platform, Black Girl in 

Dubai. 

57

Interview with the founders 

We spoke with Diana, Marcia and Leanne 

regarding their take on different issues, and 

how The Black Economic Collective could help 

the Black community in the EMEAA region. 

Has the rise in social injustice against 

African-Americans influenced your business 

decisions? If so, how? 

The social injustices that we have witnessed 

in the mass media over previous months are 

only the tip of the iceberg. If we are to use 

the iceberg metaphor, we will understand that 

there are different elements—from the visible 

to the explicit, to the hidden and unseen. The 

African American experience is happening 

throughout the African Diaspora on a global 

scale. The media focus was ignited within the 

USA; however, we also saw protests globally 

highlighting the social injustices happening to 

other Black communities. Drawing from this, we 

initially thought about developing our network 

within the UAE. With a deeper understanding 

of the issues affecting our communities along 

with our own journeys and experiences as 

expats, we wanted to develop an initiative that 

would be more inclusive of our shared heritage 

and experiences—our common bond—rather 

than the country of birth. We decided that this 

“bond” would be nurtured with like-minded 

individuals who could connect with the Black 

African Diaspora experience within Europe, 

Middle East, Africa and the Americas. 

The amalgamation of the global lockdown 

and global protests has enabled many people 

to rethink their lives, their purpose and what 

really matters to them. Only a few months 

ago, the conversation of racism, for many, 

was an uncomfortable reality. Today, those 

realities have “hit home” as truths for so 

many of us. As with the iceberg metaphor, 

many of those realities are hidden and 

unseen; we experience them but do not 

clearly understand them. We have had many 

conversations with businessmen and women 

who have had many challenges over the 

years and have struggled to find solutions— 

with many in silence—to their problems. So 

many Black businesses have come up against 

challenges and obstacles that are not always 

visual to the eye. 

We are not saying that BEC has the answers 

to everything. What we want is for this 

understanding to sink in: that we are now 

moving into a “New World”, a “New Normal” 

and a “different way of thinking”. BEC is 

creating a shift and new narrative, for those 

who are looking for a change. We are very 

ambitious in our ideas and thinking. We see 

ourselves as connectors and pioneers. We want 

to see Black businesses survive and thrive by 

providing solutions and making a contribution 

to collective liberation globally: a Black 

economic ecosystem which is the “blackprint” 

of group economics. 

What is your take on the Black Lives Matter 

(BLM) movement? 

For us, simply posting a black screen on 

Instagram or spending a few moments 

parading a Black Lives Matter sign probably 

won’t help improve the lives of Black people! 

BLM seeks to expose long-standing racial 

inequality for Black people globally and spark 

efforts to address it. Sadly, at times, it seems 

the movement has descended into partisan 

finger-pointing that labels everyone who 

doesn’t publicly express complete support as 

part of the problem. In our humble opinion, 

fundamentally little is achieved this way. 

These cultural displays, be they posting on 

social media, aren’t what the Black people 

actually need to evoke change. Black people 

need to take actionable steps that will hopefully 

have long-term benefits. There is tangible 

work that needs to be done. Actually helping 

people is what supporting BLM means to us. 

The more recent Black Lives Matter protests 

have led to increased support for Black-owned 

businesses on a global scale. One of the many 

ways that BEC is translating our support for 

Black Lives Matter into meaningful action is by 

highlighting and championing the success of 

Black-owned businesses through our flagship 

initiative called the BEC Booster. 

58

59

60

What are the major challenges that Black businesses 

face? 

As mentioned, there has been much support and interest 

in Black-owned businesses. However, the pandemic has 

also hurt, and some could say magnified, other existing 

challenges experienced by Black businesses. Facing racism 

and discrimination, whether overt or subtle, is very real 

for Black businesses. A recent study by Groupon and the 

National Black Chamber of Commerce highlighted that 

80% of Black businesses face significantly more challenges 

getting their business off the ground due to race, while 85% 

said they had to overcome more obstacles than non-Black 

business owners. 59% reported being victims of racism or 

bias when starting their business. 

UK research has also shown that almost a third of Black 

people in England want to start their own business, 

compared with just 9% of the white population. However, 

only 4% of Black people do manage to launch a start-up—a 

level lower than any other ethnic group. Accessing finance 

and advice are the key challenges for would-be Black 

entrepreneurs. According to one study, Black entrepreneurs 

are four times more likely to be denied a bank loan outright 

than white entrepreneurs, while the UK Survey of Small and 

Medium Enterprises shows that as many as a quarter of 

Black entrepreneurs report problems in accessing finance. 

In terms of support, the study by Groupon and the National 

Black Chambers of Commerce also highlighted that half of 

the Black Businesses studied had a hard time building a 

support network while a further 27% struggled with owning 

their accomplishments which their non-Black businesses 

counterparts didn’t necessarily have to overcome when 

creating a successful business. Other challenges include 

securing funding and capital investment, access to various 

government and non-government programmes and access 

capacitive and growth initiatives. 

How do you support Black businesses in the region? 

Our two-step approach begins by facilitating a relationship 

network of our members, and secondly, raising the profile 

of members by developing strategies that promote their 

economic growth. As mentioned, research has highlighted 

many of the challenges businesses experience daily. So 

many of us feel that we don’t have the answers, but the 

truth is we already have many of the answers, and the key is 

to join the dots. Many amazing Black men and women are 

developing and growing fantastic brands by doing all the 

right things. We aim to leverage these talents within BEC. 

We now live within a truly global community. Many Black 

businesses have been forced to rethink their business 

61

models and strategies. The pandemic has 

created many challenges, and yet it has also 

opened many doors for Black businesses—as 

we would say, “made the impossible possible”. 

More than anything, Black businesses have 

been forced to reevaluate their relationships 

on many levels. BEC is about developing and 

nurturing those relationships and raising the 

profile amongst its members. 

By listening and understanding the concerns of 

Black businesses, we aim to create a sustainable 

economic environment that will develop 

growth and wealth opportunities for members, 

creating an environment for collaboration and 

knowledge-sharing opportunities to evoke 

camaraderie and unity which may include 

fostering job creation. 

During the last quarter of 2020 into 2021, 

we will be launching a number of initiatives, 

particularly targeting Black micro businesses, 

entrepreneurs and business start-ups within 

the EMEAA regions. 

Online bespoke and sector-specific business 

training workshops catering to both 

established and new business start-ups. 

These workshops will allow our members 

to access quality workshops throughout the 

EMEAA regions and beyond. 

Black Business Conference EMEAA, our 

annual flagship event. The theme for this year 

which will be held on Saturday 14th November 

“The New Normal - Surviving COVID 19 

and Beyond” Black businesses. Due to the 

restrictions of social distancing, this event will 

be an online event. Bookings can be made via 

the BEC website. 

BEC Booster will aim to create innovative 

BEC Booster campaigns, particularly amongst 

smaller unknown brands that just need that 

extra “boost” of exposure 

International networking opportunities 

amongst our members within the EMEAA 

regions providing opportunities for its 

members to reach wider markets and tap into 

investment opportunities 

Ujima Mentoring Programme, where member 

mentees gain access to knowledge and 

experience of business people who value the 

meaning of Ujima 

We are currently refining our new membership 

programme to provide our members with 

more offers and opportunities. 

We are always exploring new opportunities 

and developing affiliations with businesses 

and brands within the EMEAA regions, who 

also share our vision and can also add value to 

our BEC family. 

How can we better support Black businesses 

individually and collectively? 

There are many ways to support Black 

businesses. Aside from shopping or using 

products and services, when you find a good 

one, share your positive experience with others 

on and offline. Tag your photos and check-in 

your visits to their locations. Like, comment 

and share their content and promotions on 

social media. Collectively, hold meetings, 

networking, celebrations and other events in 

Black-owned venues and spaces. In any case, 

give feedback to the business so that they can 

grow and improve with customer reviews. 

Tell us about a few stand-out Black businesses 

in the region. 

Here are notable Black-owned businesses in 

the region: 

Mokha 1450 is the Heart of Coffee in the UAE, 

a beautiful coffeehouse for serious coffee 

connoisseurs where you can even enjoy unique 

and exotic Caribbean flavours such as the 

famed Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. The 

place is very relaxed and warmly uplifting. Visit 

one of the two locations in Palm Jumeirah or 

Al Wasl. 

Finchitua is an edgy modern streetwear brand 

with origins in tribal Ethiopia, winner of the 

62

2020 Streetwear Brand of the Year. The 

brand is known for its unique apparel 

line, which also provides sustainable work 

for dozens of skilled Habesha weavers in 

rural Ethiopia. We love the fact that each 

purchase made means you support African 

tribal fashion while helping preserve the 

traditional Habesha art form. To check 

them out, Finchitua is based in The Westin 

Mina Seyahi, Dubai. 

Scintillia Skincare is a luxury skincare facility 

based in the capital which prides itself on 

offering effective beauty treatments using 

a specific selection of some of the best 

luxury products. Natural ingredients and 

wellbeing are at the core of what they do. 

Boasting two branches across Abu Dhabi, 

you are sure to feel fabulous after a trip to 

Scintillia. Branches are located in Amaya 

Towers 2 Reem Island and Muroor Road. 

Garvin Reid is an amazing photopreneur 

hailing from the Bronx currently based 

in Abu Dhabi known for depicting the 

world through his Galaxy and Canon, one 

to definitely check out if you are looking 

to create some photographic memories 

in the sandpit. You can find him at @ 

reidtweendaline on Instagram. 

What advice would you give to a Black 

person starting in business? 

Starting a business can be an amazing yet 

overwhelming experience, but it doesn’t 

have to be. There are many areas to focus 

on and we would advise writing your ideas 

down and always asking for help and 

support at every stage! Two important 

areas we think need highlighting: 

Collaborate, join forces; we are stronger 

together. Find your tribe. 

Learn the numbers, get help if you don’t 

know, we must do better with economic 

power. 

63

Tell us about your recent event, The 

BEC Booster. 

The concept behind the BEC Booster 

is to encourage business owners and 

consumers to be part of a movement 

that has economic solidarity across the 

globe. 

On a specific day of the month (e.g. 

1st Saturday), a business is spotlighted 

to give them mass exposure driven 

to all their on and offline locations to 

raise awareness and increase sales 

within the Black community. On this 

day, the business will create a limited 

exclusive promotion for customers 

who shop with them as a result of the 

BEC Booster promotion. This will help 

to increase the buzz. 

We were super excited to have officially 

launched recently in conjunction 

with UK Black History Month, where 

we went live with our media partner 

gotKushTV to introduce ourselves to 

the world and showcased our inaugural 

exclusive BEC Booster offer. 

64

TALENT POOL 

Richie Richards 

Head Chef 

Company: Miss Lily’s Restaurant Chefrichierichards Richie Richards 

65

66

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I was born in Old Harbour, St. Catherine. 

I’m a proud Jamaican national. My 

professional culinary journey started at 

the Runaway Bay College of Hospitality 

in Jamaica. I furthered my studies 

at the Culinary Institute of America, 

where I was awarded accreditation as 

a Certified Executive Chef and Chef 

de Cuisine. I have over fifteen years of 

experience as a professional chef. 

Since 2016, I have been here in Dubai, 

working relentlessly to showcase 

my culinary skills and my Jamaican 

upbringing—being an ambassador to 

my country of birth. 

When did you know you wanted to 

become a chef? 

My dad was a mechanical engineer 

during weekdays and a farmer on 

the weekends. As a child, I would go 

to the farm with him and help tend 

to the crops and livestock. At first, I 

thought it was punishment because on 

weekends all my friends would watch 

cartoons and play, while I had to be 

doing chores with my dad. I found a 

new appreciation for farming, planting 

crops and tending to them, reaping 

and cooking fresh vegetables from 

the farm with my mother—and that 

sparked my interest in the culinary arts. 

67

68

69

70

Describe one of your earliest food memories. 

As a child, every Christmas, my mom would bake cakes 

and puddings to be sold in our community and church. 

I would always be there and help her. My favourite part 

then—until now—is tasting the cake batter before she 

puts it in the oven. 

What brought you to Dubai? 

Dubai was always on my bucket list of places to visit, so 

when I got the opportunity to work as a Sous Chef to 

the first Jamaican restaurant in Dubai, Ting Irie, I was 

ecstatic. I was excited not just to be here but to be an 

ambassador to my country as well. 

If you are given the freedom to prepare a meal for 

someone, what would you cook and why? 

I would love to cook for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid 

Al Maktoum. I would love to prepare Jamaica’s national 

dish—ackee and saltfish with fried plantain and johnny 

cakes for him. 

How do you feel about being able to share your 

culture through food? 

I love it. I think it’s one of the most effective ways of sharing 

one’s culture with other people. I feel like we can form 

deep bonds with others when we prepare food for them. I 

can also tell a lot about a person through their food. 

Describe dining at Miss Lily’s. 

Dining at Miss Lily’s is an experience on its own. You 

enter the venue, and it’s like you’re no longer in Dubai. 

It feels like you are back to Jamaica with the ambience: 

the décor, the hospitality of the Jamaican staff, and of 

course—the food. There is something on our menu for 

everyone no matter what your dietary needs are. 

Who inspires you with awe, and why? 

I take inspiration from many great chefs, but it is my 

mentor Executive Chef Karl Thomas who inspires me 

most. It is because of his passion, drive, knowledge of 

the culinary arts, personality, and work ethic. 

What is your guilty food pleasure? 

To be honest, it is sushi. 

What has been the most memorable part of your 

career so far? 

I’ve had so many memorable moments in my career, so 

it’s hard to pick just one. One of my proudest moments 

was training a steward to become a chef. He was then 

promoted to my position as Sous Chef after I resigned. 

What advice would you give to aspiring chefs? 

Go out to eat, try new things. If possible, travel for food, 

read a lot, challenge yourself every day, and remember 

that recipes are just guidelines—always cook from the 

heart. 

What do you do outside of being a chef? 

I am just an ordinary person who loves nature, and 

surprisingly, anything dangerous! 

How do you look after your mental health? 

I exercise a lot. I do things that make me happy like 

hanging out with friends, listening to music, watching 

nature programmes, and playing online games. 

What’s that one quote you live by? 

The quote I live by is: “I’m driven by faith and not by 

sight.” 

71

72

Lifestyle 

THE ERGONOMIST: 

A GUIDE TO DESIGNING OFFICE SPACES TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY 

As a small business owner who constantly juggles between 

work and family pressure, I was truly challenged when 

resuming to outside meetings in client’s offices which are 

often messy and cluttered. That made me reflect if returning 

employees would feel easy and comfortable adapting back 

into their workspace and routines. 

It is vital for businesses to take care of their employees the 

same way that they care for their customers. Businesses 

should look into different ways to create a wellness 

sanctuary within the confines of the office and discover an 

oasis for creativity and resourcefulness. 

I remember back in my time when corporate offices 

rarely reflected a space of mindfulness and productivity; 

employees were squeezed into utilised corners, sometimes 

in basements or back of houses areas with no light and 

fresh air. Being affected myself of not having the power 

to get into my zone at my workspace, I like to draw your 

attention to the following tips on how to design a healthy 

wellness office that boost the productivity and brain work of 

your employees with little or no budget at all. 

“The single overriding objective 

in wellness is creating constant 

personal renewal where we 

recognize and act on the truth 

that each day is a miraculous gift, 

and our job is to untie the ribbons. 

That’s the Law of Esprit: living life 

with joy.” 

 

—Greg Anderson 

73

Use minimalistic design 

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, 

of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” — Albert 

Einstein. 

When designing or setting your office arena, 

allow spaces for improved mobility by introducing 

minimalistic design. Configure your office space 

without many distractions that will encourage your 

personnel to get up and move accomplishing 

tasks. That enhances the wellbeing by bringing 

more oxygen to the brain. 

Researchers at New Mexico Highlands University 

(NMHU) found that the foot’s impact during 

walking sends pressure waves through the arteries 

that significantly modify and can increase the 

supply of blood to the brain. Activities such as 

pedalling, walking and running may optimise the 

brain’s function and process and overall sense of 

wellbeing during the exercise. 

Another great tip to create a dynamic environment 

will be to invest in standing desks. That is a 

workplace wonder for your employees! If you 

don’t have the budget for it, introduce one or two 

standing desks where your employees go and 

accomplish tasks while standing 

74

Number two: Introduce natural light where possible 

“Light attracts light.”—Warsan Shire 

Let the sunshine in! 

Working in a windowless environment is detrimental for 

human health, and unfortunately, today, it is a universal 

phenomenon. A new study titled, “Impact of Workplace 

Daylight Exposure on Sleep, Physical Activity, and Quality 

of Life” concludes that there is a strong relationship 

between workplace daylight exposure and employees’ 

sleep, activity and quality of life. The research abstract 

was published recently in an online supplement of the 

journal SLEEP. 

“Day-shift office workers’ quality of life and sleep may be 

improved via emphasis on light exposure and lighting 

levels in current offices as well as in the design of future 

offices,” said Cheung, study co-author and a doctoral 

candidate in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience 

program at Northwestern University in Chicago. 

Compared to workers in offices without windows, those 

with windows in the workplace received 173 percent 

more white light exposure during work hours and slept 

an average of 46 minutes more per night. 

Another study shows that exposure to light turns the 

genes that control an organism’s internal clocks “on” 

and “off.” Your circadian rhythms dictate your sleepwake 

cycles, hormone release, body temperature and 

other important bodily functions. 

By introducing more light into your offices and task 

light on each desk, as well on each lounging and sitting 

area, performance and concentration abilities will be 

enhanced. Wherever natural light is not possible, use 

glass dividers between desks that will amplify the light 

travelling from outside to create a brighter space indoors. 

Remove or minimise the fluorescent light and use LED 

tubes, bulbs, halogen or ceramic metal halide (CMH) 

lighting that are proven to be less energy-consuming, 

last longer, as well have a better impact on human 

health. The most important tool to improve productivity, 

stay focused and not have your eyes feel strained in the 

office is to have a desk lamp that provides high-quality 

warm LED light that will create the perfect environment 

to concentrate and zoom in. 

75

Number three: Create a biophilic design 

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature, it 

will never fail you.” —Frank Lloyd Wright 

Biophilic design incorporates elements from 

nature, such as plants, water features and 

anything that mimics natural environment 

into the workplace. Although this approach is 

still new, many experts believe by delivering 

many businesses immense benefits, it will soon 

become mainstream. Placing natural plants at the 

workplace will improve the air quality significantly 

as the greenery absorbs pollutants, toxins, 

airborne microbes, and bacteria. 

Research by Norway’s Agricultural University in 

Oslo indicates that plants remove harmful volatile 

organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and 

benzene, found in paint, carpet and furniture of 

most buildings. Plants will help remove the toxins 

produced by printers, photocopiers and other 

office equipment as well as add moisture to the air, 

which inside offices is naturally dry. Incorporating 

other natural elements, such as an indoor water 

feature and wooden furniture, or paintings with 

a beautiful landscape, can help to create a more 

positive and joyful workplace ambience. 

More greenery in your office will create a sense 

of connection to nature. Perhaps place an 

aquarium or a beautiful flower art designing 

a mindfulness zone to reduce the stress and 

enhance concentration. According to the Human 

Spaces Report 2015, which studied over 7,600 

office workers in 16 countries, nearly two-thirds of 

workers have no live plants in their workspaces. 

The study also found that those whose 

environments have natural elements reported 

a 15% higher wellbeing score and a 6% higher 

productivity score than employees whose offices 

didn’t include such elements. 

76

Number five: Be creative use colours in your office 

“Mere colour, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied 

with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand 

different ways. ” —Oscar Wilde 

The brain remembers information better when it’s 

presented in colour. Science has proven that images are 

most memorable when presented in a palette of colours 

derived from the natural world. When stimulated by 

colour, the brain has an increased capacity to transfer 

the visual image to the memory, and when scenes are 

presented in colour, the brain organises, compares and 

recalls information more efficiently than black and white 

scenes. The colour science is used now widely in visual 

arts to create a specific effect on the viewer. The idea 

of using colours to elicit certain emotion and mood 

goes beyond art and can be easily implemented at your 

business to strategically influence the behaviour of your 

employees. 

How do different colours influence the nature of the brain? 

These are the top colours you can use to improve the 

Red: Red shades are used to catch people’s attention. 

An experiment performed on students showed they 

scored higher on memory tasks when completing them 

on a red background. However, this finding depends on 

where you live and work. In North America, for example, 

red is aligned with danger or stopping, which increases 

the natural response of fight or flight that can cause the 

contrary effect at work. 

Blue: Blue is proven to increase calmness and boost 

productivity. It is well-known as a calming colour that 

can slow breathing and lower blood pressure. 

Yellow: This tone will get people easily energised, joyful 

and collaborating. Yellow is possibly the most inviting 

and uplifting colour in the rainbow. No matter what 

shade it is, yellow reflects vibrancy and excitement. 

Green: The shade of green brings people to a very calm 

and relaxed state of mind at work. Colour specialists and 

psychologists note that green is found frequently out in 

nature, and therefore promotes the welfare and peace 

of mind and happiness. 

Orange: Orange can be utilised to raise the activity and 

productivity levels of your employees. Some research 

suggests orange may be the best colour to use around 

the office to boost productivity as it originates from 

mixing the shades of red and yellow together. Orange 

conveys enthusiasm and endurance. 

77

Number six: Convert unused spaces into 

a wellness room 

“Please leave your shoes, stress, anxiety, worries, gossip, 

and cares at the door. Namaste.” —Unknown 

Have a walk around in your building and identify any 

unused space such as a rooftop, a balcony or a meeting 

ground that can potentially be a wellness zone. Place 

some yoga mats and perhaps a massage chair for stress 

relief, stretching, and meditating. If you don’t have the 

budget for a fitness trainer, let the employees chip in 

and deliver every week 30 minutes to one hour of their 

favourite exercise. The great team spirit, along with the 

positive mental health effects of the exercise, will keep 

your employee wellness at the maximum levels at their 

private life and business. 

A wellness room is a designated quiet area where 

employees can escape to when feeling the pressure of a 

fast-paced work environment and take some quiet time 

when they’re not feeling well. 

Wellness rooms can serve numerous functions and 

should be customised to meet the unique needs of 

employees. For example, a company’s wellness space 

might provide a private area for aroma, sound and light 

therapy (using different methods as natural lightboxes, 

soothing music and rejuvenating essential oil infusions 

to ease depression, relieve stress and uplift spirits). 

Number seven: Grow a community by introducing workplace wellness committee 

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone 

across the waters to create many ripples.” —Mother 

Teresa 

As we grow older, we recognise the importance of having a 

good community and authentic genuine people we share 

our values with and feel respected and supported by. 

Having a wellness committee at your work will generate 

that strong sense of community. You can set up an internal 

wellness committee for your employees and assign tasks 

to produce monthly calendar visits of recognised experts, 

artists, healers, and coaches delivering a variety of creative 

workshops. That will give exposure to your employees as 

well as provide some valuable content. This can be set on 

a complimentary or minimum fee basis and linked to the 

company perks. 

78

Employee satisfaction and engagement ensures the 

success of the programme. In turn, the employees will 

ensure programmes are always well-visited and promoted 

as well as guarantee success of the initiative in the future. 

The key here is to remain humble and open to feedback, 

constantly engage with the employees, ask for their 

opinion on what will make sense to them. 

Another important factor is the representation of all 

the departments and positions in your company, so 

the wellness committee acts as the chair of a wellness 

program and provides from their respective areas on 

wellness objectives and initiatives. 

The main objective of a wellness committee would be: 

• Create a healthy worksite culture 

• Foster collaboration between employees 

• Provides a communication link between employees 

and management 

Organisations and businesses that create wellness 

environments and workplace wellness initiatives benefit 

greatly in several ways. The wellness environments are 

helping on: 

• Employee’s productivity: The energy promoting 

office space will correlate to increased productivity. 

• Less office stress: By becoming a healthy 

workplace, you reduce the probability of an 

employee coming back home stressed and the 

chances of him/her being in a better mental and 

physical shape next day when reporting back to 

work. 

• Fewer illnesses, better health: Healthy practices 

introduced at the office will encourage more 

employees to take part in, consequently boosting 

immunity and reducing absenteeism and sickness. 

• Happier employees: Offering a wellness sanctuary 

at work will promote and encourage a positive 

work environment. 

• Better company culture: Reshape the company’s 

culture to promote healthy living. 

By creating a peaceful, restorative and inspiring place to 

walk into every day, you allow for creative and inspired 

employees to deliver their fruits of innovation and 

inspiration. 


VYARA TOSHEVA 

Wellness, Spa and Retreats Business Consultant 

In over 19 years, Vyara Tosheva has gained professional 

experience in hospitality, leisure and wellbeing. Vyara 

graduated in Tourism Management and holds a Master’s 

Degree in Psychology and Sociology. She also holds a 

Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, as well as internationallyaccredited 

certification courses in Hospitality and Spa 

Management. She travels the world to enhance her 

expertise through further certifications in Ayurveda, 

Wellness and Fitness Consultancy, Coaching and 

Psychology. 

She is a certified NLP and EFT master coach and Reiki 

practitioner. She also led the opening of The Retreat 

Palm Dubai, the first wellness retreat resort in the UAE 

and GCC, as well as the Rayya Wellness and Poli-clinic 

Centre. She created and managed the first holistic 

retreats in a hotel environment where in-house and 

visiting master practitioners, energy workers and doctors 

combine their knowledge with fitness, spa and beauty 

professionals to deliver transformational retreats. 

As a consultant, she advises and consults hospitality and 

spa executives on the creation of wellness projects and 

their execution. 

Vyara’s mission is to empower busy executives to create 

or enhance their business models geared toward a 

wellness lifestyle on both professional and personal 

levels. Her vision, on the other hand, is to create 

worldwide wellness and health retreat centres that 

provide premium services for its employees, guests 

and visitors. 

79

FUTURE-PROOF 

YOUR CAREER BY 

BUILDING 

RESILIENCE 

On an individual level, the current situation has affected 

us all—in different ways. Whichever way you look at 

this current situation, the fact is that it affects everyone 

differently. For some, the level of resilience and 

previous life experiences is not as sizable as for others. 

Understandably, we all have different levels of stamina 

when it comes to uncertainties in life and overcoming 

struggles. We can either take this opportunity to discover 

our deeper strengths we each have within us and power 

through this, build our resilience and leverage the new 

reality for our own benefit. 

Actually, I am not giving you another choice. Being 

a realistic optimist, I am not denying the challenges 

that what we are facing, but I believe focusing on the 

outcomes and what we WANT to see in our futures 

versus dreading on the current present, reflecting on 

this and using this space and mindset to discover our 

true potential is going to bring us more positive result 

than merely dwelling on the temporary situation we 

have found ourselves in. 

Let us explore ways we can build up our resilience in 

these times of uncertainties—or, in fact, in any difficult 

situation, we can apply these strategies and become 

stronger. 

Resilience in the Remote Era 

The ability to cope with unexpected challenges and 

changes in life is referred to as resilience. Stress and 

disappointment are inevitable and are not always 

possible to prevent adverse situations. Health issues, 

financial stress, sorrow and relationship problems—it 

could be one of the many traumas in life. The current 

pandemic is definitely a situation where many of us are 

facing uncertainties in our careers and lives; the thought 

process alone can drive us to be paralysed in our next 

move or even in simple day to day tasks. The way to 

get through this in a positive way is to understand and 

implement the power of resilience. 

To be able to live a satisfied and peaceful life, resilience 

is one of the keys. It can enhance relationships and 

80

prevent depression. It safeguards us against any longterm 

difficulties and provides the strength to deal with 

unexpected changes and the one we anticipated but could 

not avoid. Resilience is a quality which is not limited to 

some. It can be developed by anyone to face any situation 

with determination and not see themselves as a victim. 

Strategies to Build Resilience 

1. Live to Learn 

Take challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. The 

more you take challenges in a positive way, the more 

you will evolve and the more resilient you will be. Pain 

is inevitable, and everyone has to go through it at some 

point in time in their life. Look at it as an opportunity to 

solve the problem and learn in the process. Try to build 

a positive attitude and confidence in moving towards the 

pain, instead of avoiding it. This will take you a long way 

in building resilience. Write down what are the learnings 

for you from this pandemic. What positive outcomes can 

arise as a result of this current situation? 

2. Be Hopeful and Focus on Gratitude 

Hopelessness is the worst possible choice anyone can 

make. We all feel hopeless periodically, but it should 

be avoided at best. People who have the trait of being 

resilient in themselves, do not define themselves by their 

fleeting emotions. Be hopeful, as it gives meaning and 

strength to survive. In addition to this, always be grateful 

for what you have. Take things positively and always see 

the glass as half full and not as half empty. Write down a 

list of things you are grateful for each morning. It can be 

as simple as working from home, having quality time with 

loved ones, finally setting up a home office for remote 

work in this situation, a good cup of coffee, enjoying 

breakfast with loved ones when working from home, etc. 

3. Meditate 

Most of the painful thoughts that we have are in some 

ways related to our past and future. We regret the things 

which went wrong and feel anxious about the one which 

will. It is important to let go of what you cannot control, 

which is the past and the future and is more important 

to live in the present. This is where you will find things to 

be okay and normal, even when you are having trouble 

with something. Meditate as much as you can, because it 

will calm your mind from wandering either about the past 

or the future and will help you to live in the present. You 

can start with simply taking a moment to just breathe and 

quiet the mind for 3-5 minutes each day. Do this every 

day until it becomes a habit, then increase the minutes as 

you wish. Join the numerous free meditations available 

online, such as Deepak Chopra and others. 

81

4. Learn to Forgive 

Most of the time, holding grudges will be the reason 

to hold you back and probably the reason for your 

disappointment. If this is the case with you, learn to 

forgive, because your own mental and physical wellness 

is more important than holding grudges against each 

other. Let go of what happened for your own peace. 

It doesn’t mean that you are reconciling with the other 

person, it just means that you are letting the issue go, 

so it doesn’t affect you. Write down things that have 

been weighing you down and empty your mind from 

them. Pick up the phone and have a conversation with 

someone you have been avoiding due to old conflicts, 

talk, forgive. Forgiveness also starts with us, write down 

things you want to forgive yourself for and start there. 


ELENA AGARAGIMOVA 

Managing Partner at Bessern and Talent Development Specialist 

Elena is an entrepreneur, talent development specialist, and education advocate 

with a deep interest in neuro and behavioural sciences. She is known for her 

ability to drive change within individuals and organisations that are looking to 

reach their potential and maintain their competitive edge in the business world. 

She has started her career in higher education, having worked across various 

institutions, departments and regions. In her recent years, she dove into business 

and joined Bessern, as well as founded a learning and developing consultancy, 

as well as several other projects within the talent development arena. 

She is an engaging skilled trainer and talent development specialist, credited 

with combining operations, education, and international expertise to design 

and deliver programs for diverse audiences. Elena has a strong passion for 

L&D, promoting creative and engaging workplaces and all about optimising 

performance through the development of others. As a career coach, Elena has 

over ten years of experience working individuals across different generations, 

supporting them in achieving their professional and personal goals. 

82

WHAT IS YOUR 

SELF-CARE 

LANGUAGE? 

83

2020 has been a year of hardships with the pandemic 

and its effects that have left so many without jobs. 

This has created an environment of uncertainty in so 

many people’s lives. Many of us have found ourselves 

getting panic or anxiety attacks. More than ever, it 

is important for us to learn our self-care language 

to ensure that we are in the best state physically, 

mentally and emotionally. 

What is self-care? 

Self-care are activities that we take part in to help 

take care of our physical, mental and emotional 

health and overall wellbeing as individuals. Self-care 

presents itself in six different ways. 

1. Emotional Self-care 

These are activities that help you enhance and 

learn how to navigate your emotions as a person. 

Emotional self-care includes talking to a therapist, 

journaling, painting and meditation- all of which aim 

to help you feel happier. 

2. Physical Sel-fcare 

These activities help improve your physical health. 

Working out, going for walks, practising healthy 

eating habits, getting enough sleep and staying 

hydrated. 

3. Practical Self-care 

These are activities that are really important in your 

life and if not done can lead to so much stress. 

Examples of practical self care are creating a budget, 

opening up a savings account, taking classes to 

improve your career, and paying your bills on time. 

4. Spiritual Self-care 

These are activities that feed your spirit and develop 

your spiritual awareness, for example: meditating, 

going for a yoga class, going to your place of worship 

and praying. 

5. Social Self-care 

These are activities that help you strengthen your 

relationships with your loved ones. Having your loved 

ones around you gives you a sense of belongingness 

and makes you feel safe. Examples include: going for 

a walk with your family members, going for brunch 

with your friends or even calling your aunties and 

uncles. 

6. Mental Self-care 

These are activities that help stimulate your mind. 

Examples include: playing a board game such as 

chess or monopoly, reading a book or even solving 

a puzzle. 

84 

Love Languages 

Our self-care language is greatly influenced by our love 

languages. Love Languages are the ways we like to feel 

loved. Understanding our love languages will make it 

easier for us to discover our self-care languages. There 

are five love languages: 

1. Touch 

If this is your love language, you enjoy being physically 

affectionate. You like holding hands or hugging. 

2. Quality Time 

This love language means that when you are with your 

loved ones, you want their undivided attention. You love 

creating memories and enjoy going on dates, road trips, 

or even just being next to the ones you love without 

necessarily doing anything. 

3. Words of Affirmation 

This love language means you like affirmation or praise. 

You like it when your loved words are constantly telling 

you of how much they love you and are proud of you. 

4. Gifts 

This love language doesn’t necessarily mean that you are 

materialistic but rather means that you like receiving well 

thought-out gifts. For example, paying for a class your 

loved one has wanted to take for a while.

help you feel better about yourself. 

4. Gifts 

With gifts as your love language for your self-care 

language, you are drawn towards activities that 

allow you to satisfy your own desires. In other words, 

you love rewarding yourself by taking yourself 

on a vacation or staycation, buying yourself your 

favourite dessert, buying yourself a new outfit or 

even some flowers. 

5. Acts of Service 

If your love language comprise acts of service, 

your self-care language draws you to activities 

that actually require you to do something. Your 

personal motto may as well be that actions speak 

louder than words so you can do activities such 

as gardening, baking, or even redecorating your 

house for self-care. 

It is important for us to part in self-care activities 

as they help improve control stress, improve our 

overall well being and health. 

5. Acts of Service 

This love language means you like it when your loved 

ones do things for you, such as cooking because they 

know it will make you happy. 

Self-care is a way of showing love to yourself. If 

you can not love yourself, there is no way you can 

love others around you. It’s important to prioritise 

yourself mentally, emotionally and physically that 

way you can be there for others. Practising your selfcare 

might be something as simple as taking a fiveminute 

power nap during your lunch break at work. 

Once you have figured out how you want others to 

love you, Its easier for you to determine your self-care 

language works best for you. 

How does your love language influence your self-care 

language? 

1. Touch 

You are drawn to activities that are physical. Massages, 

getting a manicure or pedicure for yourself or cuddling 

with your pet, 

2. Quality Time 

You like activities that require you to be present. Reading 

a book, going for a date with your friends or partner, 

meditating, journaling or even something as simple as 

taking a bath. 

3. Words of Affirmation 

You are drawn to activities that help improve your mental 

state. Saying your affirmations to yourself, writing letters 

to yourself, making a list of things you are grateful for, 

reading your favourite quotes that keep you inspired and 


Mutazindwa N. Amirah, a budding writer and blogger, 

currently studies at the Amity University Dubai. She 

is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass 

Communication. She is interested in fashion, food 

and travel and dreams of being a news anchor in the 

future. She believes in sharing the wonderful and 

diverse stories of people, and this led her to choose 

a career path of a writer and a journalist. 

85

WEALTH 

CONSCIOUSNESS 

86

How many times have you heard that rich 

people aren’t to be trusted, are dishonest, 

greedy and steal money? Or that thay can’t 

be spritual? Some people also say that you 

can’t follow your passion or purpose and 

be rich at the same time. Some say that 

successful lpeople are also just plain lucky. 

A couple of years ago, I was sitting in my 

home office reading the Secrets of the 

Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker. When I 

finished the book, the first thought that 

came up was how so many successful 

people write books describing their journey, 

and generously sharing all their insights and 

wisdom. Aren’t they worried that if people 

know their secrets, their piece of the pie 

might get less? 

My question clashed with so many beliefs 

that had been planted deep within my 

subconscious mind-beliefs that were either 

created as a result of hearing some of 

those statements or as a result of making 

my own childhood deductions based on 

what I would see. I didn’t understand it 

fully at the time, but looking back, I can 

now understand why some patterns kept 

showing up in my life. Many of the actions 

I was taking and my decisions were being 

impacted by those beliefs, without me even 

realising it. 

Our experience of reality is based on our 

beliefs, thoughts, opinions and perceptions. 

Which brings me to wealth consciousnesswhat 

is it all about? It’s about shifting away 

from a scarcity mindset and cultivating an 

abundance mindset. It’s about realising that 

the supply of abundance is unlimited, and 

that tapping into that flow of abundance is 

every single person’s birthright. 

Why is creating this mindset shift important? 

It is because all these limiting beliefs 

that have been placed in our mind are 

preventing us from acquiring the material 

wealth that is meant for us because we’ve 

created resistance to it, we’ve created a 

block. We are standing in the way of our 

own flow of abundance! 

You might be thinking, “Why would I want 

to self sabotage myself?” Sometimes, it’s 

easier to place blame on external factors 

than take accountability for our own role in 

the situation. Sometimes, it’s not something 

we do intentionally. It’s our mind working on 

autopilot. We’ve heard these statements so 

much that we’ve started to mistake them for 

the objective truth. 

Let’s bust some of these myths right now. 

Myth 1: In order for a person to acquire a 

lot of business, they need to be trustworthy. 

Why? It is because you’re definitely not 

going to be doing business with someone 

who is not trustworthy, so rich people can 

be trustworthy. 

Myth 2: All these successful people share 

their tips through speaking at seminars 

and writing books bust another myth that 

they aren’t generous. Generosity is about 

sharing your blessings, whether it’s sharing 

money or experiences so rich people are 

generous. 

Myth 3: Successful people are lucky. Did 

you know that Milton Hershey started three 

candy companies before Hershey’s? Arianna 

Huffington got rejected by 36 publishers. 

Sir James Dyson failed 5,126 times over 

the course of 15 years before creating the 

eponymous best-selling bagless vacuum 

cleaner. Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first 

TV job as an anchor in Baltimore. Stephen 

King had his first book Carrie rejected 30 

times. It’s definitely not about luck. 

87

Imagine abundance as a never ending river. It is always 

flowing and there is an unlimited supply of it. Every limiting 

belief that we have is like placing a brick in the river. The 

more limiting beliefs we have, the taller the brick wall gets, 

until it eventually starts to block the flow of water from 

passing through, thus blocking abundance all together. 

The first step is acknowledging the limiting beliefs and the 

impact it has on our life. 

The second step is to get intentional and take action. 

To remove the limiting beliefs, and replace them with 

empowering beliefs such as I can follow my life purpose 

and be successful, I can have success and meaning, I can 

tap into the supply of abundance, and I am worthy and 

deserving of abundance. 

Lastly, whenever we see rich people, let us bless them. 

When we see someone have a nice house, let us bless 

them and their house. When we see someone have a 

nice car, let us bless them and their car. Comparison and 

jealousy are both limiting beliefs as they focus on lack, on 

what is missing, rather than the potential of what could be. 

This practice of sending blessings to those who have what 

we desire, allows us to focus on abundance rather than 

scarcity. Remember, what you focus on expands. 

About the author 

Tannaz Hosseinpour, founder of Minutes on Growth Coaching, is a Dubai-based certified 

life coach specialising in mindset and relationships. She helps millennials manifest 

and cultivate empowered lives through one-on-one coaching, online programs, 

podcast episodes and social media content. She is the host of her self-improvement 

podcast, Minutes on Growth, available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcast. She 

holds a Masters of Law degree in alternative dispute resolution, specialising in family 

mediation. Since 2017, she is also the CEO and founder of TP Education Consultants, 

an educational consultancy firm based in Toronto, Tehran and Dubai. 

Website: www.minutesongrowth.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/minutesongrowth 

88

GETTING 

WARM ON 

CLIMATE 

ACTION 

This is a call to action to all businesses to learn from 

the global pandemic of 2020 when it comes to their 

contribution to the climate crisis. 

Last year, it seemed as if the climate crisis was the most 

pressing issue faced by the world at large. Around 

the globe, younger citizens went to the streets to 

voice their concerns for the environment they would 

grow up in. Older generations took note and began 

to tackle the issue with a never-before-seen sense of 

urgency. Businesses also noticed, and those pivoting 

to sustainable practices rose in favour. Reusable goods 

took over from their disposable counterparts and the 

war on plastic kicked into high gear. 

This year, the climate crisis appears to have taken a 

backseat, and the pandemic ripped through the globe 

and upended our daily lives in a matter of weeks. An 

unprecedented incident, it forced us out of our bubble 

of complacency and into a new existence where safety 

was not an afterthought. Though our attention has been 

diverted, the climate crisis is still existent, and these 

issues should remain front and centre. 

89

While COVID-19 has proved to be a major thorn in the 

sides for businesses worldwide, it has also revealed our 

collective capacity to adapt and innovate in very trying 

circumstances in the face of imminent danger. The forced 

slowdown in economic activity caused global emissions 

to experience the largest single-year reduction since 

the end of World War II. The overall lesson here is that 

effective change is not only possible, it is possible right 

now. The same urgency can be applied to the climate 

crisis, without waiting for the situation to reach breaking 

point. 

How should businesses approach their individual energy 

policies in response to this looming threat? Whether you 

acknowledge it or not, the climate crisis is here to stay. 

There is no vaccine. A lot of irreparable damage has 

already been done, and now it is a matter of using all 

our available resources to at least prevent further harm. 

I work with SMEs in the country, primarily in 

understanding their level of awareness of the UN SDGs. 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known 

as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations 

Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end 

poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people 

enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. (There are 17 goals 

in all with Goal No. 13 dedicated to climate action). 

What I’ve noticed is that even with multiple industries 

and country-specific initiatives running parallel to global 

efforts, there is a major gap in awareness among SMEs 

in the country. Ignorance breeds inaction, and that is 

the single largest deterrent to any ground being made 

towards this pressing issue. 

Here are three steps that all UAE companies can put in 

place to do their part in tackling global warming and 

climate change immediately. 

STAY INFORMED AND BUILD A CULTURE OF 

AWARENESS 

1. Visit the official UAE SDG portal for information 

on all the 17 SDGs as well as the various initiatives 

and projects underway. This way, you are aware of 

the progress the UAE is making, and your business 

has the opportunity to take part in these initiatives 

as well. 

2. Make these initiatives a part of your company’s 

mission statement and cascade updates to your 

employees regularly. 

3. Publicise your company’s effort in tackling these 

issues and your contributions. This will solidify 

brand loyalty with your customers. 

4. Wherever possible raise awareness among your 

employees, stakeholders and clients. 

MONITOR AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION 

With the lockdown, you’ve likely already witnessed a 

reduction in your company’s energy bill, and know that 

your workforce is slowly gearing towards returning to 

their offices, it’s time to keep that momentum going. 

1. Turning off the lights in the office in the evening, 

slightly lowering the heating or the air conditioning or 

taking devices off the plugs when it’s not needed are 

some good actions companies can implement. 

2. If your offices have elaborate water features, 

regularly check to make sure there are no leaks 

and unnecessary water wastage. Remember, that 

2.2 million people around the world lack access to 

safe, clean drinking water. 

3. Switch to solar-powered lighting options in spaces 

like hallways and car parks. 

4. Invest in smart monitoring solutions that can give you 

the most energy-efficient use of your office spaces. 

90

MONITOR WASTE 

Whether it is the industrial waste of a large company 

or the paper waste of an SME of the tertiary sector, all 

companies produce waste. When developing wastereduction 

strategies, focus your efforts on reducing, 

reusing and recycling—in that order 

1. Strive to go 100% percent paperless, reducing 

the number of prints, reusing papers as drafts, 

sort waste for recycling correctly (Refer the Dubai 

Paperless Strategy) 

2. Donate old electronics and office furniture, and use 

packaging material that is reusable, compostable 

or recyclable. 

3. Use mugs and other kitchen crockery in your 

pantry spaces, as opposed to disposable cups, 

plates, stirrers and coffee capsules. 

4. Choose suppliers that are committed to, and 

publicise their environment-friendly efforts in 

delivering services to your business. 

5. Optimise employee transport, encouraging public 

transport or carpooling options. 

The planet and capitalism don’t have to be at odds. 

By minimising the carbon footprint of your business, 

you can cut energy costs, improve employee 

morale, build your brand’s reputation as a leader in 

sustainability and even increase your bottom line—all 

while protecting the resources and planet we need to 

operate and thrive. 

About the Author 

MOHAMED ISMAIL FARAH 

Artist, content creator 

and consultant 

Mohamed is a creative, driven and articulate individual with 10 years of work 

experience, primarily in Finance and International Trade and Development, 

having previously worked in roles in Marketing, Sales, Project Management, 

Process Management, Customer Experience and Retail Banking for HSBC Middle 

East. 

On a personal level, Mohamed cares deeply and passionately about art, 

artistic expression and especially art education. He paints, illustrates, sketches, 

designs and sculpts. Mohamed is also very big on sustainable development and 

corporate sustainability, having taken part and spearheaded a range of initiatives 

aiming to contribute to the SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development 

Goals), a universal call adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, 

to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and 

prosperity by 2030. 

Mohamed is currently engaged in supporting innovative enterprises to expand 

their brand’s footprint to the UAE. 

91

FOOD 

FRENCH 

FRIES 

AROUND 

THE WORLD 

French fries, also known as chips in some 

countries, are among the most cherished 

foods across the globe. Who would’ve 

thought that a humble potato dish hailing 

from Belgium could etch such a lasting 

impression in modern culture? It is said that 

the average person can consume up to 30 

pounds (13 kg) of fries in a single year! 

Whilst this may be a French dish by name, 

French fries date back to the late 1600s to 

a quaint village in Meuse Valley, Belgium. 

This delectable food was created by the 

genius of the local fishers who would 

substitute potatoes for fish when rivers 

were frozen over during winter. Just as 

they would fry their fish, so they did their 

potatoes; and this was just the beginning 

of a tasty crusade. 

As the French fry has touched most, if not all, 

parts of the world with its savouring flavour, 

the renditions that have come about are 

nothing short of a palatal sensation. From 

Masala to honey, to mayonnaise, plain fries 

have become a canvas, open to a variety of 

tinctures and tastes. What follows are some 

displays of how people around the world 

enjoy their French fries. 

92

1. Kenya - Masala Chips 

Masala Chips are a savoured food for Kenyans, and they 

pack quite the punch! These fries are usually coated in 

a piquant mix of spices such as; chilli powder, ground 

cumin and coriander, and they are generously fried in an 

oil infused with ginger and garlic paste. Best eaten hot, 

they serve a spicy bite. 

2. South Africa - Slap Chips 

Slap (pronounced “slup”) is an Afrikaans word that 

means soft, so describing the delicate taste of these 

fries. South African slap chips are thickly cut, twice-fried 

and dressed lavishly in vinegar and salt. The simplicity of 

these fries allow them to be accompanied by a variety of 

relishes and sandwiches, but as they are often served in 

generous portions, they are gladly enjoyed alone. 

3. India - Finger Chips 

Truth be told, with India in the mix, flavours are 

innumerable; hence why their finger chips are a great 

example of flavour assortment. If a crispier bite is 

preferred, there are recipes that call for a wheat flour 

coating to ensure just that. If a spicy taste is desired, 

a dash of chaat masala and chilli powder can do all 

the work, all that’s next is coupling the fries with either 

ketchup, chutney, mayonnaise, or all of the above! 

4. Russia - Kartofel Fri 

This Russian take on French fries, takes the original fry 

and combines it with the tanginess of chopped onion 

by cooking the two together. That way the sharpness of 

the onion is mellowed down by the satiating starch of 

the fry, proves it to be a delectable combo worth trying. 

93

5. Bulgaria - Kartofi Sus Sirene 

Kartofi sus Sirene is translated from Bulgarian to mean 

“chips with cheese”. Despite it not being a tourist staple, 

it is cherished throughout the country. Simplicity is the 

ultimate sophistication manifested in the assembling of 

these fries; seasoned with salt and pepper and topped 

with an extravagant helping of Sirene cheese, which has 

been likened to the salty-lemony taste of Feta. 

6. South Korea - Honey butter fries 

A famous fast food restaurant in South Korea launched 

its honey butter fries which got immense attention from 

the public. Eventually, the skinny fries covered in butter 

and honey, garnered so much attention that South 

Korean youth would order massive amounts and come 

together for honey butter fry parties. 

7. Japan - Furaido Potato 

Japanese French fries enjoy an easy seasoning of 

seaweed, sesame seeds and Katsuobushi; also known 

as, Bonito flakes, which is a dried, smoked Skipjack tuna 

that has been fermented and exudes a salty and garlic 

taste. 

8. Vietnam - Khoai Tay Chien 

While Vietnam boasts an array of French fry recipes 

such as; french fries with milk and/or butter, their most 

renowned one is their fry combination with butter and 

sugar. Here is another sweet spin-off to a popularly salty 

dish; almost making French fries viable for dessert! 

94

9. Spain - Patatas Bravas 

After ticking off tapas and drinks on the list of things 

to eat in Spain, be sure to feast on these chunky fries. 

Patatas Bravas is a common Spanish delicacy that 

contrasts the familiar slim and long french fry; instead, 

they are bite-sized cubes of deliciousness. They are 

drizzled with a spicy sauce along with garlic aioli and 

topped with smoked paprika and green herbs such as 

chives. 

10. Belgium - Frites 

As Belgium is the birthplace of the French fry, its current 

way of eating fries gives insight into the rich history of 

this remarkable food. Also known as frites, these thick, 

double-fried bites of salted potato glory are served 

hot, normally in a cone and popularly topped with a 

generous dollop of mayonnaise. 

11. Netherlands - Patatje Oorlog 

Patatje Oorlog is Dutch that translates to mean “chips 

at war”. Indeed, there is a battle of flavours taking place 

in this Dutch classic; fries are topped with mayonnaise, 

chopped raw onion and a peanut sauce. While this may 

seem like a peculiar combination, it is very much dear to 

the palates that enjoy it. 

12. France - Pommes Frites 

While there’s a bit of banter going on behind the scenes 

between the French and the Belgians, over the origin 

of French fries, the French pride themselves in a more 

chic version of the recipe. Pomme Frites are known to 

be much thinner and longer, keeping strictly to size 

uniformity. The precision in the method creates evenly 

and equally browned fries ready to be tossed in sea salt 

and freshly ground pepper. 

95

13. United Kingdom - Fish & Chips 

Fish and chips have proved to be an iconic duo that 

goes hand-in-hand; what was once a staple in the UK 

alone has spread far and wide. These fries are much 

thicker with a softer inside encased by a crispy layer. 

Simply salted and spared some vinegar and one can dig 

in! 

14. Ireland - Curry Chips 

Ireland has taken French fries and turned into a staple 

for avid pub-goers, mostly because of its generous 

helping of sauce over some freshly served fries. Albeit, 

the curry that drips off the fries isn’t the typical spicy 

curry, it makes a great companion for some sharp 

cheddar cheese which is popularly grated over the hot 

sauce, creating an even richer portion of fries, be sure to 

bring a serviette. 

15. Canada - Poutine 

Aside from maple leaves, Poutine is the ultimate 

Canadian trademark; a feast for the eyes first, then for 

the tongue as it experiences its flavours. Some good ol’ 

fries blanketed by a savoury gravy sprinkled with cheese 

curds, indulgent, comforting and filling. 

16. United States - French Fries 

While the US boasts that President Thomas Jefferson 

brought French fry into worldwide popularity, they 

enjoy a batch of fries that are far from the norm. Double 

fried skinny fries are smothered in a deluge of American 

cheese, caramelised onion and thousand islands 

dressing sauce. How’s that for untamed? 

The eminence of French fries in the modern diet continues to grow, and it is quite interesting to see how people around 

the world are diversifying the once ‘only-salty’ dish into something that gives hints of their culture and tastes. 

96

FITNESS 

7 Ways to 

Improve 

Cardiovascular 

Fitness 

The cardiovascular system, also known 

as the circulatory system, is made up 

of the heart and the blood vessels. Its 

main job is to pump and circulate blood 

throughout the body. More specifically, 

the cardiovascular system is responsible 

for delivering nutrients and essential 

materials to sustain life, namely oxygen, 

to the cells in your body. It is also 

responsible for removing waste materials 

from the body. 

The cardiovascular system has three 

primary functions: transportation of 

materials, protection from pathogens, 

and regulation of the body’s 

homeostasis. Learning more about how 

the cardiovascular system functions will 

help us understand how to maintain our 

overall health and fitness. 

97

Transportation 

The cardiovascular system 

transports blood to almost all 

of the body’s tissues. The blood 

delivers essential nutrients and 

oxygen and removes wastes and 

carbon dioxide to be processed or 

removed from the body. Hormones 

are transported throughout the 

body via the blood’s liquid plasma. 

Protection 

The cardiovascular system protects 

the body through its white blood 

cells. White blood cells clean up 

cellular debris and fight pathogens 

that have entered the body. 

Platelets and red blood cells form 

scabs to seal wounds and prevent 

pathogens from entering the body 

and liquids from leaking out. Blood 

also carries antibodies that provide 

specific immunity to pathogens 

that the body has previously been 

exposed to or has been vaccinated 

against. 

Regulation 

The cardiovascular system is 

instrumental in the body’s ability 

to maintain homeostatic control of 

several internal conditions. Blood 

vessels help maintain a stable body 

temperature by controlling the 

blood flow to the surface of the skin. 

Blood vessels near the skin’s surface 

open during times of overheating 

to allow hot blood to dump its 

heat into the body’s surroundings. 

In the case of hypothermia, these 

blood vessels constrict to keep 

blood flowing only to vital organs 

in the body’s core. Blood also helps 

balance the body’s pH due to the 

presence of bicarbonate ions, which 

act as a buffer solution. Finally, the 

albumins in blood plasma help to 

balance the osmotic concentration 

of the body’s cells by maintaining 

an isotonic environment. 

Why Do You Need Cardio in the 

First Place? 

• Ward off heart disease 

• Manage your weight 

• Mood improvement 

• Live longer 

When most people think of 

cardiovascular (cardio) exercises, 

the first activities that come to 

mind are running, cycling, or 

swimming. Yes, these are great 

ways to get your heart rate up, but 

not everyone enjoys them. Cardio 

should be a key part of your healthy 

lifestyle. Luckily, there’s no “onesize-fits-all” 

approach. 

If you’re looking to incorporate 

more cardio into your exercise 

routine, don’t be intimidated by 

the seasoned marathon runners 

you see around you. Heart-healthy 

workouts don’t have to involve 

spending hours on the treadmill 

or running marathons. There are 

plenty of fun and creative ways 

to get your cardio in and actually 

enjoy it. Here are 7 ways: 

98

1. Skipping 

Skipping is great for your overall fitness, whether it’s part 

of a warm-up or included in your main exercise session. 

Skipping has to be one of the cheapest exercises available. 

You need minimal equipment, minimal space and you can 

practise just about anywhere — indoors or out. Skipping 

not only supports cardiovascular fitness but also leg 

strength, stamina, coordination, bone strength, balance, 

agility, flexibility and endurance. 

2. Dancing 

There’s something about grooving to the sound of music 

that seems to take all of our cares away. Maybe it’s the beat 

of your favourite tunes or the heart-pumping workout that 

gets you up and off the couch. Or perhaps it’s the challenge 

of mastering the more complicated moves that brings you 

so much joy. Regardless of your reasons, one thing’s for 

sure: the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits 

of dancing are endless. Dancing can help you lose weight, 

stay flexible, reduce stress, make friends and more. 

3. Power walking/Speed walking 

Power walking is known to lower your risk for diabetes and 

high blood pressure. It is a great way to stay fit, improve your 

heart and joint health, and boost your mental wellbeing. 

4. Boxing 

Boxing is one of the best cardio-respiratory workouts you 

can do. The fitness of a boxer is often unparalleled in sports. 

Boxing is also a great way to improve bone strength, relieve 

stress, improve balance, hand-eye coordination and body 

composition. 

5. Hula Hooping 

Hula hooping exercises can be so much fun. They are a 

great way to burn calories, build strength, get rid of the 

belly fat, and also fight mental illnesses like depression. 

All you need is a hula hoop, comfortable clothes and 30 

minutes of your time. 

6. Jumping Jacks 

There is no doubt that one of the best parts of doing 

jumping jacks on a regular basis is that they are great for 

your cardiovascular health. They are also free. 

7. Stairs 

While most exercises might not seem like your cup of tea, 

there’s one type of exercise which is highly beneficial and 

requires you to do very little: climbing stairs. 

When compared to running and walking, climbing stairs 

burns a lot more calories. It engages all the abdominal 

muscles, stimulates organs, activates the spine and reduces 

the risk of knee, leg and ankle injuries. What’s more, 

climbing stairs is something that can be done no matter 

the season. 

99

100 

SAADIYAT ROTANA RESORT & VILLAS 

SAADIYAT ISLAND, ABU DHABI 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 

T: +971 2 697 0000 | F: +971 2 697 0123

TRAVEL 

OUT AND ABOUT FOR 

THE BEST UAE SPAS 

2020 has been both a mentally and physically 

draining year for all of us. That’s why we 

all need a spa day or vacation to help us 

recharge and reconnect. We are listing the 

best award-winning spas in the United Arab 

Emirates that will help you relax and forget 

the troubles of the world with their carefully 

crafted treatments and relaxing ambience 

that will leave you feeling pampered like the 

royalty you are. 

Talise Ottoman Spa 

For the Ottoman Experience. 

The Talise Ottoman Spa, one of the ultimate luxury spas in 

the world, is located at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The spa has 

an ethereal Ottoman ambience, and offers services such as 

cryotherapy, signature treatments, organic treatments and 

a variety of ultra-relaxing massages. Choose from an exotic 

Thai massage, reflexology treatments, Ancient Hot Stone, 

Balinese massage, Mother-to-be-Massage for mothers 

expecting little bundles of joy, and a Couples Experience 

Side-by-Side massage for you and your partner. 

This globally acclaimed award-winning spa will treat 

you to a range of luxury amenities, with notable ones 

popular for tourists and bloggers such as the Turkish 

Hammam, Thalassotherapy Pools and Snow Room. The 

staff are extremely attentive, leaving you feeling like a 

princess or prince. 

What do we recommend? 

The Sultan’s Massage, which is a Talise Signature. 

101

Armani SPA 

A Giorgio Armani design. 

In the heart of Dubai at 12,000 ft is the Armani Spa 

labelled as the World’s Best Hotel Spa of 2019. The spa 

is located at the Armani Hotel in Dubai and is designed 

to create an environment of peace and tranquillity. Each 

guest to the spa has a specially designed experience 

by Armani after consultation with a Spa Professional. 

The spa also offers outstanding services in sequential 

thermal bathing, personal fitness for those looking to 

feel and look their best and also provides private areas 

for its exclusive customers to relax. 

If you are looking for a good deal, the Armani Spa offers 

complimentary sequential thermal bathing, access to its 

swimming pool with a panoramic view of the city plus a 

relaxation lounge experience for the customer that uses 

any of the Spa Collections. 


For a full day of relaxation, we recommend the Full Day 

Armani/Spa Classic Collection that comes with a body 

massage, facial, body treatments of your choice, a 

manicure and pedicure with SPA lunch and dinner. 

ShuiQi Spa 

For The Best Spa Service 

Situated in the heart of Atlantis The Palm is the 

luxury ShuiQi Spa. It is the place for you to relax and 

rejuvenate and gives you the freedom to discover 

yourself. The treatments at this luxurious spa are 

designed for both men and women. Choose from 

the Arabian Rose Ritual, Atlantis Legend, Sublime 

Illumination, Salt and Crystal, ESPa energy Balancing 

Treatment and so many others. The staff are very 

friendly and provide excellent service to the guests, 

helping them feel calm and relaxed. 


Yoga at the lost chambers to help you reconnect with 

your mind, body and soul while being surrounded 

by over 65,000 marine animals. Now that’s an 

experience of a lifetime. 

102

Nurai Spa at Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi 

For your Private Island Getaway 

The Nurai Spa is located on the private island Zaya Nurai 

Island in Abu Dhabi. It is the perfect place for a spa 

guest looking to relax and manage stress. The treatment 

rooms have beautiful views of the sea, making your spa 

experience luxurious. 

The Nurai Spa was designed with the relaxation and 

wellbeing of the customer in mind. The spa offers 

beauty and body treatments that include massages, 

scrubs and wraps, facials, waxing and threading, and so 

much more. A visit to the Nurai Spa will rebalance one’s 

mind, body and spirit. 


The Ayurveda Abhyanga Massage that will help improve 

blood circulation in your body and will leave your skin 

feeling soft and smooth. 

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai 

For You and Your Needs 

Overlooking the waters of the Arabian Gulf is the spa 

at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah. It is designed to cater 

to your needs as a customer by putting your physical, 

mental and emotional wellbeing at the centre of your 

spa visit. The treatments at the spa are influenced by 

the spa’s oriental heritage and UAE culture, creating 

an experience like no other. This spa offers treatments 

such as the Royal Saffron, Oriental Harmony, Blissful 

Marma and The signature VitaDrip all of which are 

tailored to improve your overall well being. 


The Nomadic Sensory Journey has elements of 

Emirati drumming with soothing herbs that will help 

firm your skin and improve blood circulation in your 

body. 

103

MOST 

UNIQUE 

HOTELS 

IN THE 

15WORLD 

We travel to explore new locations and discover cultures 

that will surely fulfil us. If you’re one that’s also looking for 

not just a relaxing but a memorable stay in your chosen 

destination, you must check out these 15 most unique 

hotels in the world. 

1. Bed Bookstore (Japan) 

The Bed Bookstore is a paradise for book lovers! 

This hotel looks like a used bookstore – with 

surprises. Wait until you slide open a bookshelf 

that will lead you to a nook design with a reading 

light. You can stay in one of the stacked cubbies; 

each is sufficient to accommodate one person. Just 

behind the bookshelves are books of up to 3,000 

titles. Outside the shelves is a common gathering 

and reading area. 

104

2. Dromen Aan Zee 

(Netherlands) 

This hotel celebrates the seafaring 

culture of Harlingen. Its guests 

can stay in a harbour crane 56 feet 

above the ground. The control 

rooms and machines of the harbour 

crane are now apartments offering 

guests with a fantastic view of the 

sea. Here, the guests can also enjoy 

the sight of the harbour’s daily 

routine while enjoying their meals. 

3. Golden Crown Levin Iglut 

(Finland) 

Looking for a unique hotel? The 

Golden Crown Levin Iglut hotel 

might be just for you! It offers a 

panoramic and cosy ambience that 

fits a king. Especially if you love the 

northern lights, you should check-in 

in one of the igloo accommodations 

for families or couples. Every igloo 

is with a double bed, kitchenette, a 

full bath and what else not? It also 

offers you the perfect view of the 

aurora-like nowhere else can give. 

4. Palacio de Sal (Bolivia) 

When looking for a unique hotel, there is 

no doubt that the Palacio de Sal, which is 

built almost only in salt, is on the list. There 

is nothing more unique than the idea of 

using salt to create a luxury hotel in the 

middle of the desert. You can just imagine 

how it came to be that almost most of this 

48,500 sq. ft. creation was made using salt. 

That’s not all because even the furniture is. 

Each room is climate-controlled and with a 

private-tiled bath. Besides the uniqueness 

and remoteness of this hotel, other draws 

include its amazing star-filled sky and large 

salt flats. 

105

5. Hotel Costa Verde (Costa Rica) 

Costa Verde has been designed and refined 

from time to time to offer guests a unique taste 

of what they call tropical luxury, featuring a 

jungle oasis for groups and families. This hotel 

offers a wide range of options, including on-site 

spa services or a vacation living. Guests can 

also choose from four different restaurants, each 

with a menu to cater to everyone’s unique taste. 

Costa Verde also features three luxurious cliffside 

pools with spacious rooms, bungalows, 

studios, and sundecks. All the rooms are with 

a balcony that provides guests with a rainforest 

canopy and long coastline view. 

6. Happy Nomads Village 

(Kyrgyzstan) 

Do you want to immerse in the culture 

and life of the Kyrgyz? You might want 

to check into the Happy Nomads 

Village that features three yurts and 

that’s surrounded by amazing flower 

gardens. Every yurt or bozui is with 

heated floors and twin beds in which 

five people can be accommodated. Its 

interiors are simple with wall designs 

and lovely, colourful rugs. You can 

enjoy different activities, including a 

horseback ride into the countryside 

in the warm weather or skiing in the 

winter. 

7. Santos Express, Mossel Bay (South 

Africa) 

This hotel, which is remarkable for its 1902 

passenger train design, is only 100 feet 

away from Santos Beach and a few minutes 

of walk to the harbour, downtown and 

Dias Museum complex. It has two royal 

suite cars, which are ideal for couples and 

families looking to have the entire car for 

themselves. Santos Beach also is known 

for activities, such as boardwalk shopping 

and whale-watching. 

106

8. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah (Dubai) 

A definition of luxury, the iconic 

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, is one of the 

world’s most renowned hotels. One 

of its primary draws is its sail-shaped 

structure and an underwater restaurant. 

It also has the very expensive $23,000 

per night royal suite. 

9. Treehouse Lodge Resort (Peru) 

Do you want to sleep with the sound 

of the Amazon rainforest? Check out 

the Treehouse Lodge Resort. You 

can only reach this place after an 

hour-long boat ride before climbing 

between 34 and 67 feet to one of the 

treehouses positioned right above the 

rich canopy. Many animals, including 

sloths, macaws, and monkeys, often 

also frequent this resort, making the 

experience more interesting. 

10. Jumbo Stay (Sweden) 

The Jumbo Stay offers guests a unique 

experience of staying in a converted 747- 

212B jumbo jet, literally. This hotel offers 

a memorable stay to guests, including 

families with children and business people. 

It is also popular because it’s in the Arlanda 

airport’s entrance. 

107

11. Manta Resort (Zanzibar) 

The hotel is famous for its location on a remote 

island, which is surrounded by majestic waters, 

offering visitors a unique stay. If you want to 

make your experience more memorable, you 

might want to book it’s underwater room, giving 

you a sight of marine life. The spotlights can be 

switched on at night to attract octopuses and 

fishes, too. 

12. No Man’s Fort (UK) 

No Man’s Fort is one of the largest 

artificial forts built as a defence line 

versus enemies attacking Portsmouth 

and Solent. This hotel boasts 22 

different luxurious suites and rooms. 

The primary draws also include its 

wide range of activities and facilities. 

13. Giraffe Manor (Kenya) 

This boutique hotel has an elegant interior, 

lovely courtyards, and verdant green 

gardens. Some guests are reminded of the 

film Out of Africa; however, that’s not all 

because this place boasts its Rothschild 

giraffes that visit it every morning and 

evening. They used to poke their necks 

into the windows to greet guests and hope 

for some treats. 

108

14. Sun Cruise Resort (South 

Korea) 

This tourist destination hotel is famous 

not only for its astounding sunrise view 

but also for its amazing cruise ship 

on land design. You will be amazed 

by its position, being constructed on 

the mountain edge. You will feel as if 

you’re out at sea but without leaving 

your room. This resort offers guests 

with 211 rooms to choose from, hotelstyle 

and condominium-style. 

15. Conrad Maldives (Maldives) 

Have an adventure both above and below the Indian Ocean’s surface. This hotel, which is 

developed and built through the fusion of technology and modern design, offers guests with 

the Muraka, the world’s first underwater hotel villa. 

There you have the most unique hotels in the world that you must not miss if you’re looking 

for memorable accommodation and vacation. Which among them would you choose for your 

next getaway? 

109

FOR THE CULTURE 

DEAR 

BLACK 

WOMEN, 

YOUR MENTAL 

HEALTH MATTERS 

Now more than ever, we must focus on 

our mental health. 

As a Black woman, the pandemic, self-isolation, 

and racism have left me feeling mentally and 

emotionally drained. While adapting to a new way 

of life and routine working from home this year, I 

found myself focusing more on my mental health. 

I had fallen victim to own my thoughts, reflecting 

on my life while trying to stay strong. Productivity 

was being shoved down our throats, and I hated 

it. Productivity memes were shared across social 

media shunning anyone who wasn’t working on 

a newfound hobby like reading a novel a day, 

starting a new business, baking banana bread, or 

working out constantly. There was pressure to stay 

productive, strong, and resilient when honestly 

the world as a whole was in shambles. 

Protests erupted around the world, and 

conversations about systemic racism and racial bias 

against marginalised groups began. There was an 

ongoing dialogue that racism exists in all countries 

in one way or another, and the marginalisation 

and/or oppression of people of colour based 

on socially constructed racial hierarchy happens 

across most societies. 

110

I found myself triggered by the thought 

of police brutality against a Black woman 

remembering the trauma I experienced when 

the police pulled me over during the summer 

of 2015. I was driving to Atlanta from Virginia 

and was pulled over in South Carolina by a 

state trooper, harassed for over 2 hours, and 

searched for drugs. Thankfully I made it out 

alive and unharmed physically, but during that 

moment of interrogation and harassment, I was 

made to feel lower than I’ve ever felt before. 

The more I was harassed by the police, the 

more I realised that this wasn’t just a routine 

traffic stop but that the police pulled me over 

because I was simply driving while Black. The 

assumption that I had firearms or drugs in my 

possession baffled me. The disrespect I felt by 

authorities who were supposed to protect and 

serve, broke me down. I internalised the trauma 

so that I could remain strong not knowing that 

the death of Breonna Taylor years later would 

be the breaking point for my mental health as 

a Black woman. 

I was mentally exhausted, living in a world 

where I was simply judged by my skin colour. I 

was exhausted from carrying the burden of my 

ancestors who were beaten, raped, enslaved, 

and forced to live in a country that didn’t even 

consider them to be human. I was constantly 

feeling weighed down by the pain of other Black 

women around the world who were fighting 

to end systemic racism in their countries. 

The domestic workers in Lebanon demand 

accommodation, food, healthcare, and other 

support during an economic crisis. The women 

in Zimbabwe who were sexually assaulted by 

police and soldiers. The woman in America who 

demanded that major companies release their 

total number of Black employees for consumers 

to see. We constantly have to fight twice as hard 

to get even half of the respect we deserve. But 

I knew in order to survive this fight I had to put 

my self-care first. I immediately found a holistic 

therapist and started the journey of healing 

from my traumatic experiences. I realised I 

suppressed my feelings of anger and sadness 

for years, and the events of this past year 

had brought those feelings to the forefront. I 

was able to address my issues head-on with 

my therapist through a holistic approach that 

included spiritual counselling, meditation, and 

journaling. Throughout my sessions with my 

therapist, I was vulnerable able to release the 

burdens that I held on to for so long. I felt like a 

weight was lifted from my shoulders. 

111

No matter how big or small, we all have our own stories 

or experiences of racism that we tucked away and 

internalised to remain strong. Black women are forced 

to be strong, so we can fight to exist in a world that is 

constantly trying to dehumanise us. Systemic racism 

not only puts a strain on our wellbeing, finances, and 

physical safety, but it also drains our mental health. 

But for us to remain healthy emotionally, we must 

make our mental health a priority. 

Black women, it’s time for us to stop, take a breath, 

and release the burdens of this world. It’s okay to 

give yourself permission to turn off the news and 

unplug from social media when you feel anxious 

and overwhelmed. Do the things that bring you the 

balance you need to have a full cup to pour from. Pray, 

meditate, exercise, or seek therapy when you feel 

like the burdens of life are getting too heavy. You’re 

only human, and it’s okay to not feel okay. Taking a 

break doesn’t mean that you are weak, ignoring your 

responsibilities and don’t care, it means that you are 

putting your self-care and mental health first. 


MONIQUE L. SPEARMAN is a freelance multi-faceted writer, curator and creator. 

Blending a passion for content creating, social media marketing, photography 

and travel, Monique created her blog website RaineyAmore.com in the spring 

of 2017 as a hobby. Raineyamore.com is a lifestyle, fashion, beauty and travel 

brand that encourages men and women from around the world to live their best 

lives, out-loud. Inspired by the aesthetics of different cultures, Monique wants 

to show the world, "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it!" 

112

JUST 

AS 

YOU 

LIKE 

William Shakespeare wrote plays like As you like 

it and The Merchant of Venice. These worldrenowned 

plays revolve on love and life. In the 

play As you like it, the main character Rosalind 

camouflaged herself as a boy shepherd to find and 

save her love, Antonio. 

Today, the world is full of people like Rosalind. 

People will do anything to secure their jobs, 

marriage, friendships and social status. There are 

people who are disguising their true self and forced 

to live by the idea of just as they would like it. This 

toxic way of life, unlike Rosalind’s, might not end 

us in a happy ending since our lives are not written 

and framed by the ink and paper of a play. 

113

YOUR JOB AND 

YOURSELF 

Your job is important to your 

development as a person. You 

should work hard whatever 

position you have; however, it 

shouldn’t define what you are. 

Working in an organisation can 

be an intimidating process, so 

many people spend so much time 

fitting in rather than focusing on 

standing out and being the best 

version of themselves. There’s 

no right or wrong on showcasing 

your personality and beliefs while 

doing your job, but you need to 

make sure that you’re not breaking 

any of your company’s rules. Be 

yourself while standing out to fit 

into your role. Define your job as 

you would like. 

YOUR RELATIONSHIP 

AND YOURSELF 

Your approach with love and 

relationship must be just as you 

like. Pretending to be someone 

that is not you will never work. The 

constant anxiety and covering up 

will only hurt you and the people 

around you. If you fail to be 

yourself, no one else will not be 

genuinely happy to be with you. Be 

true to yourself and to everyone, 

and eventually, you will find the 

right people who will accept and 

treasure the real you. 

114

YOUR SOCIAL STATUS AND YOURSELF 

Building and maintaining your social status is difficult, 

especially if you keep on pretending like someone else. 

Modern technology, especially social media, is forcing 

people to fit themselves into the crowd. People are spending 

time on doing things they don’t normally do just to be 

accepted by their friends. One thing you should remember 

is if your friends don’t love you as you are, then they are not 

your real friends, and you shouldn’t be with them. You are 

the best when you are true to yourself and people who will 

like that are those you need to be in your life. 

There should be nothing to stop you from living the best of 

yourself. Every one of us has our own purpose and don’t force 

yourself to fit into a crowd that refuses to accept the real you. 

Don’t worry about things that you can’t change. Always keep in 

mind about what is right and fix the things you can. Seek the 

true wisdom and apply it to your life. It’s your own life: your own 

decision, mistakes, plans and dreams. We only have one life to 

live so cherish and get the best out of it by living just as you like. 


JEROME DOUGLAS 

Jerome Douglas is a 27-year old trained teacher, 

poet and writer from the beautiful island of 

Jamaica. His personal philosophy is “If it is for me 

to be, then it is up to me.” He attended the Catholic 

College of Mandeville in Jamaica. Additionally, 

he is a community builder and humanitarian who 

volunteers his time to help with the academic and 

social well-being of people in his Central Jamaica 

community and surrounding areas. 

115

BOOK REVIEW 

THE 5 AM CLUB 

Take excellent care of the front end of your day, and the rest of your day will 

pretty much take care of itself. Own your morning. Elevate your life. 

116

Ever wondered how best you can achieve maximum 

productivity? The 5 AM Club might be just what you 

need to start your journey to effectively utilise the 

time you have during the day in order to guarantee 

success for yourself. 

The 5 AM Club was published in November of 2018 

by Robin Sharma. It was written over a period of four 

years and is both a work of fiction and a self-help 

book. The book’s tagline means the way you spend 

your mornings sets the pace for the rest of the day. 

SUMMARY OF THE BOOK 

The book begins with an entrepreneur whose 

business is in jeopardy, and so she decides to 

attend a self-help conference by the famous 

Spellbinder who is known for sharing success 

tips. The entrepreneur meets an artist who is also 

attending the same conference to learn ways in 

which he can fuel his creativity. They are approached 

by a homeless-looking man who turns out to be a 

billionaire and reveals that he was able to create his 

wealth because of the teachings he received from 

the Spellbinder. 

The billionaire offered to mentor both the 

entrepreneur and the artist, just like the Spellbinder 

did for him. In order for them to create a better 

future for themselves, he shared a very important 

tip: create a good morning routine. They decided 

to meet the following day at 5 AM. The journey to 

self-improvement and realisation begins. 

This book asserts the saying that the early bird 

catches the worm. The billionaire revealed to his 

new mentees that the secret to his success was, 

in fact, waking up at 5:00 AM every day. The most 

successful people in the world wake up at 5:00 AM 

as it gives them a competitive advantage over the 

rest of us who find it difficult to wake up really early 

in the morning. 

A common mistake in this modern age is the 

moment we wake up we get on our phones and 

start scrolling through social media which in the long 

run has negative effects such as anxiety and stress. 

This is so because we are immediately bombarded 

with other people’s requests and to-do lists. The first 

hour when you get up from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM 

gives you some alone time to take care of yourself 

and align your thoughts, do some exercises both 

physically and mentally which help ensure good 

health in the long run. This one hour will keep you 

both happy and peaceful throughout the day. 

LESSONS TAUGHT IN THE BOOK 

• 20/20/20 Formula 

The 20/20 rule says when you wake up at 5:00 AM in 

the morning, you should divide your first hour from 

5:00 AM - 6:00 PM with 20 minutes to move, 20 

minutes to reflect and 20 minutes to grow. 

For the MOVE pocket, you are supposed to take part 

in exercises that will result in the rise of dopamine in 

your body leading to an increase in energy levels, 

less stress and overall focus and productivity through 

your day. 

The REFLECT pocket is where you meditate, write in 

your journal and pray, which will result in you being 

happy and more aware leading to an increase in 

your creativity, positivity and even performance. 

The GROW pocket is where you develop your mind 

by reading books or listening to podcasts so as to 

deepen your knowledge and improve your mindset 

leading to personal growth and gaining inspiration 

from others. 

• Pre Sleep Ritual 

Early to bed early to rise is a statement we have all 

been told at least once in our lifetimes. It applies 

greatly in this scenario. In order for you to wake up 

early, you need to create a good sleep ritual so as 

to get a good night’s rest before the following day. 

Between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM is when you are 

supposed to have your dinner which is then followed 

by switching off any gadgets such as phones, 

laptops and even tablets because if they are used 

our bodies are unable to melatonin which is the 

sleep-inducing hormone. 

Between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, you are supposed 

to catch up with your family, take a relaxing birth, 

meditate or even read a book. Then between 9:00 

PM and 10:00 PM you prepare to sleep. Practising 

a pre-sleep ritual will help you sleep wonderfully 

so that you don’t get sleep deprived for waking up 

early the following day. 

• Praise and Critique 

I think the writer delivered in terms of the topic he 

was writing about the importance of waking up 

early. I personally found the book to be a little wordy 

in terms of the storyline, which at times felt like a 

distraction from the main points of the book. This is 

definitely not a book for everyone; it requires you to 

be patient, and you might need to read it more than 

once to fully understand it. 

Although I know and believe there is not only one 

route to success, I am inclined to join The 5 AM 

Club. Plus Robin Sharma’s clients are owners of 100 

companies, professional athletes and billionaires, so 

if it worked for them with some hard work persistence 

and commitment, it might work for you and me. 

“Anyway, let me simply say that the place where 

your greatest discomfort lies is also the spot where 

your largest opportunity lives.” 

117

118 

For more information and reservations, visit Jumeirah Zabeel Saray or call +971 4 453 0000.

Can’t wait for 

the next issue? 

Follow us on 

social media 



outandaboutmagofficial 

119

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in Out and About Magazine does not constitute a replacement for financial, health, legal, or other professional 

advice and is instead general in its nature. We do not take into account your specific needs or circumstance and you should not act upon any advice 

without fully understanding your current legal, health, financial or other situations. Although we always do our best to bring high-quality information to 

our readers, we reserve the right to augment or delete information in any way and at any time. Out and About Magazine accepts no liability for any loss 

or damage that may arise from the use of any element of our website or magazine. 

120

Out and About STYLE Magazine Issue 9 Vol. 2

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?