Who’s Dawser Al Hadidi ?
Dawser Al Hadidi is a leading expert in online media. Dawser has over 14 years of experience and industry research in online media and web technologies. She has accumulated top academic certifications and awards in web intelligence, web analytics and social media marketing from a number of prestigious institutions. With a proven track record in advising leading businesses on how to succeed online, Dawser has taken leading positions in major corporations, such as EmiratesNBD Bank and Dubai World Trade Center, where she has taken executive roles to lead the online presence and advancement of these companies.
Dawser started her entrepreneurship journey in 2008, when she co-founded stylendubai.com with her sister and partner, Dara. Dawser has also founded beeWeb, a digital media and online publishing company specialized in providing interactive services and producing digital content in areas of lifestyle. Dawser blogs at dawseralhadidi.com, a blog that aims at educating businesses and influencing the direction of new media in the Middle East, to help it reach its full potential. Want to know more about Dawser? Read our full interview here.
1. What is the best thing about living and working in the UAE?
I lived in Dubai for 13 years and seen the changes it went through over the years. There was a serious effort invested into making Dubai a business capital. Dubai is a service-oriented city, from personal to business; the city is equipped with a solid infrastructure allowing sustainable growth and progression.
2. Take us through your average day at work...
I make sure to wake up early. First, I review my to-do list then sort out all my emails before starting off any scheduled meetings, which I make sure to always schedule between 10am and 1pm. I leave the early morning time to clear out communication, and afternoon for operational activities and planning. Being organized is key to handling pressure of work, so I have established this system in order manage my time and deal with the work load. Prioritizing daily tasks and staying away from time wasters is very critical to me.
3. How did you stumble upon your business idea?
At first, my sister and I started our own business by providing interactive services. Later, we launched our project stylendubai.com which provides luxury fashion consumers with a comprehensive online guide for what is latest in stores, trends, news, style advice, etc. Luxury retail has grown massively in the last few years, and Dubai hosts a large amount of international luxury fashion and jewelry brands. We saw the need to provide reliable information to support this growing industry and help shoppers find the brands and items they are looking for.
As for beeWeb, the main company, it came up from my long years of experience in the digital media field. In 14 years I gained the practical and corporate experience, understood clients’ needs and market dynamics, and reached a point where I was fully ready to venture on my own and influence the direction of this emerging industry. I was preparing for this step for a while until the time has come to finally step up and do it. The idea itself is not new, there are plenty of digital agencies out there, but what makes our approach truly unique is the fact that we simplify technology solutions and truly customize web products to meet our clients’ needs. We also make sure clients are aware of the latest technologies and tools available out there.
4. What is the main hurdle you have faced in growing your business?
As any startup, our first hurdle was cash flow. Our business is self-funded, and therefore depends on cash flows. Other challenges include clients in the region who are still not prepared to invest in the latest technologies that can help them automate their business processes, so we spend lots of time and effort in raising awareness among existing and potential clients.
5. What are the three things you think it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?
Patience, Persistence and Perseverance – are really the three main qualities you need to keep up with all the challenges and march steadily through them.
6. What is the one most important thing you look for in new hires?
We look for skilled individuals. We know very well that in our field quality is the most important aspect, so we make sure to look for skilled people. I believe that we live in a fast moving world and the technology is massively changing and growing. Individuals need to be always geared up to learn new skills and sharpen their existing skills. There is a huge responsibility on individuals to develop themselves in order fit in this very competitive environment.
7. What is the biggest challenge you face in hiring talent?
Finding the right qualities and skills in a person is by itself challenging. We can’t afford to go wrong with hiring as it means money for us, so we try hard to evaluate new hirers carefully. It may be easier to evaluate skills – especially technical ones – but personality and competencies are the hard ones; they are only revealed with time and practical situations individuals undergo. You can’t really tell if someone is proactive and committed; you can only judge with time.
8. What is the primary piece of advice you would give aspiring entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship is hard work; it’s no joke. Therefore, it’s important to understand what you need to ensure you are ready for the journey. It’s true that you will have no boss – which is a relief to some extent – but being your own boss can be tougher; your self-critic is always switched on, your expectations of yourself and your product becomes higher and sharper.
Always believe in yourself and your abilities. Entrepreneurship comes with a change of life style; you need to maintain your health and exercise to beat up the pressure and stress coming from work. You also need to know your financials; you have to understand how – regardless of any hardships – you can operate, sustain and grow your business. Finally, surround yourself with positive people! Network with entrepreneurs like yourself and business owners – eventually it will all rub on you.
