Hadi Taher, a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and Mills College, is one of the most successful Saudi businesswomen today. She is also one of the first women to be elected onto the board of directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Not only has she redefined the role of a businesswoman in Jeddah but is a source of inspiration to many budding female entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. In an interview with Saudi Gazette, she talks about how she got so far. How did you enter this field? After I finished university, I started with simple clerical work. I then worked for my family's company. I later set up my own company with my husband and my sons. We began importing products, starting with just one product which has now expanded to more than 80, distributed at supermarkets and other stores. We also have our own restaurant, Villagio, for which we received an award from the Italian government as “The Finest Italian Restaurant in the Middle East”. When I work, I aim high. You need to aim for something higher, be something extraordinary. You put the bar up and you jump higher. What is the Chamber of Commerce all about? The Chamber of Commerce is not a government body but is a link between the private sector and the government. We have different centers and committees for various sectors. Each committee has a board of about 10 to 12 members working on solving problems with a (particular industry) sector. They meet and set up recommendations to solve problems of their respective sectors. What role do women play in the Chamber of Commerce? Earlier, the Chamber of Commerce was only for men and women were not even allowed to enter. In 2000, Saudi businesswomen had a meeting with Prince Abdul Majeed, to talk about the obstacles facing women in business and how hard it was for them to continue. Then, a committee of 12 businesswomen was formed to talk about hindrances and to find solutions to the problems. Later, they set up a center called the Khadijah Bin Khuwaylid Center at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce with 24 members and Prince Saad Bin Abdullah as the chairman of the center. From then onwards we were allowed to run for elections alongside men in Jeddah. How does it feel to be the first woman to be elected onto the board? I wasn't exactly the first lady. Dr. Lama Sulaiman is the first lady elected to the board of directors. We were scared in the beginning because it was a new experience but it was also very challenging. We learned a lot from the men and they were very supportive and stood by us. A lot of doors (have) opened for women, that had not been open earlier and we took advantage of that. What do you think about the youth of today? Today's youth face a lot of challenges but that's a good thing. They have to support each other, especially women. They need to stand together to build a strategy to work together and to move ahead. Women working in all sectors need to be working on a single strategy to get to where they want. The youth today have a lot of potential, energy, dreams and are very passionate about their work. But they need to take things more (slowly) and not to be hasty or hesitate in their decisions; they have to be more proactive. You must be aware of Princess Basma's Breast Cancer Campaign. If you were given a chance, what kind of campaign would you initiate? I would like to initiate awareness of a woman's (role) in development. We've been talking about this for a long time in the Chamber of Commerce. There is a need for awareness about women's importance and the importance of their involvement, even in government bodies. And we need that support from the government. There should be more exposure for the women here. What are the changes you have seen in the past few years, with more women being employed and their working conditions? A lot of women are now working compared to before and there are more Saudis working. We now even have women cashiers in supermarkets and saleswomen in department stores. The Minister of Trade has also given permission to open commercial registrations, even in construction, real estate and services which weren't allowed earlier. Women are also allowed to be working as board members of a company. Things are beginning to change. Even though the younger generation feels that the change is slow and not as fast as it should be, as long as we are going in the right direction, it's good. If we go too fast, it will be too fast for the society to absorb. How do you tackle arguments, if any, during discussions and meetings with other board members about being a woman? Tackle it, just go for it. If you have an argument, statistics, research, then you have to find a way to present yourself in a respectful way. You have to sit and talk in a wise and logical manner. You will win in the end. And I have done it, many times. It's easy as long as you have the faith and confidence. You need to have faith in yourself. What have been the hardest times you've faced while working? Well, there (have been) lots of hard times but the hardest times were during the beginning, I was very nervous and scared to speak on stage and it was very hard to assess the person I'd be talking to but through experience I've gained a lot of confidence. During all the hard times, Dr. Lama has been such great support and I thank her for that.
