Fawzia Zainal: The Secret Behind Sucess

Power. Inspiration. Excellence. Fawzia Zainal is a paragon of female ambition. Elected Speaker of the Council of Representatives in 2018, Ms Zainal has taken confident strides towards shattering the “glass ceiling” as the first woman to lead Bahrain’s parliament, and only the second woman to lead a Gulf-Arab parliament. When asked how she maintained her resilience during the challenging 2018 elections, Zainal eloquently commented “I am quite certain that the ‘challenge’ is an accelerator for success, and the greater the challenge gets, the more beautiful the success becomes.” Evidently, her thriving wisdom and admirable successes are what make her a role model and example for all.

A common notion surrounding the Kingdom of Bahrain’s parliamentary practices hints to whether or not women are in an environment which will allow them to succeed. Zainal explains that “Women are provided with all the appropriate circumstances for providing and presenting their actual capabilities in order to be a genuine and effective partner in building the nation and its prosperity.” In regards to obstacles which may present themselves only for women, Zainal inspiringly notes that “Perhaps the only barrier that a woman must overcome...is absence of self-confidence, and that she must overcome hesitation in order to become more convinced of her abilities and strive to harness opportunities.” It therefore seems to be an evident misconception that Bahraini society takes a conservative stance in relation to women. To anyone who wishes to further indulge in this idea, Fawzia Zainal clearly states that they “should read carefully and more in-depth about the Kingdom of Bahrain to realize that it was one of the first countries in the region that gave women their political right to vote and to run in elections.” Ergo, the prosperous kingdom does not fail to be an ally in guiding women who wish to pursue politics, into a successful future.

While Bahrain’s style of parliamentary diplomacy can be noted for its inclusivity in politics, Fawzia Zainal explains that the success of the underlying system which supports such a diverse government is based on holistic principles. Zainal profoundly notes that “Bahrain adopts a message of peace, stability, and security. Thus, we are keen to strengthen it and make the world aware of this noble Bahraini message.” Moreover, Bahrain’s loyalty to patriotism is not a factor to be ignored when considering the success of this country’s government. Zainal explains that “It is a successful approach, because it is based on presenting facts and highlighting the national achievements that the Kingdom has achieved under the leadership of His Majesty the King.”

Fawzia Zainal is not a stranger to activism and leadership. Having been a director in the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation for twenty five years she has been able to refine her communication skills; ultimately aiding her success within Bahrain’s parliament. Additionally, she has worked as a journalist and is currently a media and social activist. Zainal described that “the media opens broader prospects of knowledge, education, human experience and communication. My experience has certainly allowed for me to perform my parliamentary role more effectively.” As a prominent member of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, Zainal strives for equality daily. An important concept Zainal brought up regards how women should always strive for high achievement. She carefully mentions that “Women in general, not just business owners, should continue to develop themselves and upgrade their capabilities through proper planning, studying and anticipating the future, as these are the success factors that help them break all barriers.”

As a generation of aspiration, we can all hope to learn and follow the esteemed example of Fawzia Zainal. Breaking barriers is not easy, but to conquer obstacles with such power and determination takes hard work and dedication. To conclude on what will be the final wise words of Fawzia Zainal in this article, but definitely not for this world, let us ponder this thought. “As in all nations, there are some who doubt the ability of women. However, in Bahrain, with thanks to the support from the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, women have the opportunity to excel in all fields.”

Advice from Fawzia Zainal for those wishing to follow in her footsteps:

“I would like to advise them as a mother, an educator, and a media person, before being a parliamentarian, to first believe in their own capabilities and to work on refining their skills with knowledge, diligence and determination to achieve their goals.”

-Article written by Charlotte Rodney 12E

-Interview by Yusuf Kamran, Aditya Arun, Leenah Asim, Anoushka Subin, Kaviesh Kinger