It's easy these days to find the same, carbon copy fashionista, digital influencer self-proclaimed entrepreneurs on social media with a legion of followers. Yeah, they look glamorous, their photos are professional, their captions might be inspirational, funny in a mediocre way, but after a while they all start to look and sound the same. Despite our hunger for interesting people or fun social media influencers, we get bored quickly if there is one key factor missing. Substance. And we are talking real substance here.
This is the reason we have fallen in love with Shereen Mitwalli. There's a reason why she has over 72,000 followers and it has more to do with her infectious smile, motivational quotes and yummy food photos. It's hard not to take notice of what Shereen has to say and how she's saying it.
"My public title is International presenter- that's how most people, brands and businesses know me," she told us. "On the other hand, I'm a business owner. And to be quite frank, I see myself as a business owner first and foremost! I was very young when I set up my first business, only about 25 years old. I honestly haven't looked back since, I registered my business as soon as I got to Dubai because of the ample opportunity I saw."
Shereen is the perfect example of where the right attitude and mindset can take you a long way. The Australian born and raised Egyptian is a presenter, entrepreneur and has represented numerous brands as an ambassador and speaker within the lifestyle and business genres. With a great sense of style and charisma to boot, Shereen hasn't gone unnoticed being nominated as 'Best Personality' by Ahlan for 2012, 2013 & 2014 and featured in the 'HOT 100' list twice. Shereen is also passionate about women and is the founder & CEO of an expansive female community in the Middle East region known as 'The Female Network', an online business platform bringing together women of the Middle East.
"It's definitely the diversity that drives me! I deal with so many different people, so many brands, all with different standards and various requirements! It's so refreshing when no two projects are the same, because I love to be challenged, so it works well for me that my days are never mundane."
City Times caught up with Shereen to pick her brains about women in the Middle East, social media and what she loves about Dubai.
Positive Passion
I was very fortunate that I got to do a lot of Personal Development in my 20s. I've literally travelled the world to learn from so many great teachers about motivation and the importance of a high Emotional Intelligence. I can tell you with certainty that my Personal Development Education has had more of a play in shaping me into the person I am today than my university education. It taught me about me, about what it takes to be truly successful, and about understanding the people around you.
The Female Network
The Female Network (TFN) is quite simply, an online platform for successful women, where we aim to connect, inspire and educate women in the Middle East Region. Back in Australia, I was part of this amazing group of women similar to what TFN is all about. And when I moved to Dubai, the idea just popped up when I realised that there wasn't any platform here to connect businesswomen together in a fun and trendy way.
Women Changing the World
You see it everywhere. Let's look at consumer spend for instance- women control 90% of consumer spend in their households. They control the purchasing power! This means such a great deal from a marketing perspective. Let's look at family, I believe women truly understand different aspects of so many things, raising a family and providing for and appreciating family. Women communicate better! Just look at the rise of women CEO's in the last 10 years, they're so much more active in corporate world now. We are natural communicators, natural marketers and naturally empathise more.
Connecting Women
It's important for women to have each other's support. When we know that we've got the support of our peers, then we will be motivated to do more. It's important to connect.
We've had various events where we had so many different entrepreneurs in a room and I couldn't tell you the amount of transactions we've had after that! I believe that women entrepreneurs empathise a lot more with other women entrepreneurs because they know how tough it was for them to have started, so already they have that common ground. Women need the support and acceptance of other businesswomen to really help them go even further.
Arab Female Icons
One is definitely Queen Rania. I think she's a great example of someone who is intelligent, elegant, eloquent. she's a mother, she's a wife, she's just a great role model of someone who is fashionable yet conservative and is setting a great example for other women in the region. You only have to hear her speak to see all the initiatives she's involved in to really respect what she's trying to do. Second, I would say Joelle Mardinian. What I love about Joelle's story is that it's completely self-made. She built everything that she has right now off her own back, and that is something that I think everyone needs to admire.
Fashion Style
I would say it's very simple. Clean lines, is something that definitely resonates to me. I don't like to do too much, though sometimes of course I know that in the Arab world maybe people would say that I'm too simple.
But I was born and raised in Australia, so I wasn't really raised with fashion style and that everything needs to be overtly glamorous and sparkling.
Local Designers
There are a lot of talented local designers that I really like actually! One of them is Dee by Dalia; she designs all these really funky and unique pieces that I really enjoy especially when I'm going out.
Then there's Reemami by Reema Al Banna, and again she designs all these great one-off kind of pieces. I also really like Zeena Zaki, she's an Iraqi designer and she creates dresses that really accentuate your curves and your body.
Social Media
My content is very organic, very natural and is influenced by my personal opinion. I'm extremely picky with what I choose to promote. I have a philosophy that I would only ever promote products that I would genuinely be interested in buying myself. So if it were a product that I would literally never buy, then I would definitely not promote it.
Shereen On Dubai
Three favourite places to eat in Dubai . . .
One would be LPM for special occasions like anniversaries. Second would be Fuschia, it's a very casual dining Thai restaurant in Tecom. It's very small and quaint, but the food is just so good and comforting. And then third would probably be Curry House on the Beach, because I really love Indian food!
Dubai with your girlfriends . . .
Zuma! It's one place that I go with my girlfriends, it's good food and good ambience. Sass' Café is another one that I really like to go to, especially if there's a live singer!
Dubai in 24 hours . . .
I hope that 24 hours is long enough! I would say you definitely have to go on a desert safari, because it's great to just be out there and experience the traditional side of Dubai. You would also definitely have to go to Burj Khalifa, and go up to Atmosphere that is a restaurant & lounge that's on the 122nd floor, and just to see Dubai from that perspective. I would then say you need to make time to eat, and I would recommend Aprons & Hammers, a great place that's in the Marina side where you can have really good seafood.
Dubai Love . . .
What I love about Dubai is that you can make it into whatever you want it to be. If you wanted to have a very conservative lifestyle, then you can have it. If you want to have a lavish lifestyle, you can have that; you can go to those luxurious places and meet those kinds of people. So Dubai is definitely what you make it to be. For me, it's the diversity.
Shereen Fun Facts
Burger or pizza?
Pizza! It's so much easier to eat, I find burgers to be really messy.
Macaroons or cupcakes?
Cupcakes. I don't like macaroons at all! If you happen to read this, don't send me macaroons! (laughs)
Most Prized Possession
My passport. and my memories, so maybe my hard drive that contains all my photos and videos on there. I think my passport, my wallet and my hard drive that has all my memories. If I have these things, everything else is fine, everything else is replaceable. Being very serious, I honestly don't care about anything else. Once I have my personal possessions that can't be replaced, like my photos that I may want to show my kids one day, nothing else matters.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
That I'm not materialistic. You could take everything that I have right now and I truly wouldn't be fazed by it. As long as you don't take away my husband, my family and my friends, nothing else would matter.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to eat (laughs). I love to dine out and try new places. I love to go out to the movies. And I also love to spend my time researching about topics such as technology and the future - yes I'm a total nerd!
By Maan Jalal
