Omaira Farooq Al Olama started her company ALF Administration in 2010 after seeing a gap in the market for “training UAE nationals in terms of mindset, creativity, critical thinking and work ethic” and feeling like she “had to do more for my country and for my people.”

Since its launch, the company has found enormous success. “We worked with two major banks to help retain their nationals. Previously around 55 per cent of UAE nationals would leave in the first two years but we have brought that number down to 10 per cent.”

Her grandmother (and the women in her family) inspired her to follow her dreams. “In the 1940s she was one of the only Emiratis who could speak and write English so she encouraged women to sit with her so she could read to them and help them write. I come from a family where the women all support each other.”