Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
This week we chat with Bushra Shakhsheer, co-founder of Dubai-based beauty studio The Lash Show.
Born in Saudi to Jordanian parents, Bushra relocated to Dubai when she was studying at university. Having always been interested in starting her own business in the beauty industry, the budding entrepreneur decided to team up with her long-time friend, Sara Mohamed. Noticing a gap in the space, the pair wanted to create a beauty studio solely focussing on lashes. Doing exactly that, The Lash Show was born in 2019.
Emirates Woman sat down with Bushra to find out more about her role as a beauty entrepreneur and what’s next for The Lash Show.
The Lash Show Founders – Sara (L) and Bushra (R)
What was your favourite subject at school?
Architecture studio class for both of us. Where usually we had to explore a new concept design, creativity flow of new ideas. Every class will be an exploration of ideas and it’s never a bore. Also, it was long hours a week (18 almost/week) that also played a role in our friendship, spending many hours a week together, supporting and helping each other to achieve unique ideas.
What was your first job?
Both of us worked as project managers in the architecture and construction industry at different companies.
What inspired you to go into the beauty industry?
I love taking care of myself, lash extensions were my to go to as it cuts off a lot of time in getting ready and just waking up ready and pretty no matter how many hours I slept!
What eventually brought you to Dubai?
For university, Dubai was close to Saudi, where my family lived. Sara is from the UAE.
How did the idea for The Lash Show come about?
I started brainstorming ideas for a business that I was initially was planning on doing on my own in the beauty industry. After a few weeks of work, the business concept grew in my head, and I decided that I wanted an entire people’s experience store that was eyelash-focused. I also got to design it and curate that experience for others. Since Sara and I are good friends, she was always aware of the ideas in my head, and that’s when Sara got excited and said she wanted to be part of that! As a team, it all just came true. We woke up the next day and started working on what is now known as The Lash Show.
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What are the key elements of your role?
As entrepreneurs, Sara and I work jointly on almost everything, our role is split between marketing, sales, hiring, managing social agencies, PR and more.
Talk us through your daily routine.
I am a morning person, I start my day with a cup of coffee that is “me time”, most days are dynamic, there is not a clear routine but most days I go to my architecture/interior design studio office, afternoon meetings, and afterwards visit The Lash Show.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Be a true leader, stay consistent, be patient and invest in yourself and invest in the right team to help support your goals and dream happen, do not rely on doing everything yourself.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
You should never stop learning and self-developing.
And what is the worst?
I cannot recall any, if it was bad I probably disregarded it instantly.
What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
I think so far, the biggest challenge was the four-month lockdown in 2020 due to COVID-19 which was only six months after we had opened. We are so proud to be here today because we strategized and worked even smarter.
What are your goals for 2022?
We are working to expand and scale our brand for a second branch, and hoping the next step to follow is franchising in the Middle East.
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