"Success is preparation meeting opportunity" (Report).

Najwa Ahmad Ibrahim is testament to the fact that women can have the best of both domestic and career life. She is the first woman to be appointed as a Labor Consultant with an Egyptian Embassy, a position yet to be held by a Yemeni woman, and is considered a pioneer for women in this field. She is also an excellent mother. Though her work is exhausting, the rewards are rich. Interviewed by Salma Ismail

"My father, may God rest his soul, always used to say that I was just like him," related Najwa. "My father was also involved in Labor syndicates and unions. At that time I couldn't understand what he meant because there is almost 50 years of age difference between him and me, the youngest of his children. Now I understand what he meant. My passion for my work, concern for others and protection of their rights are some of the traits he had. I love to see the world and the experience and exposure that come with that."

Tell me a little bit about yourself. How do you describe yourself?

"I appreciate myself as person. Success as a mother and also as a working woman has given me a strong confidence and sense of self esteem. My four children are a source of great pride. One studying to be a doctor and the other a pharmacist in universities in Egypt, the other two are still in school. It is not easy to raise children and provide them with an excellent education, especially with Egypt's education system. As a Business graduate, I took it as a challenge to study English, to develop myself and read every book that I could get my hands on.

My current education ambition is to complete my doctorate in international agreements in the field of labor. This is something I used to lecture my colleagues on and I have experience.

After so many years of totally focusing on domestic life, what challenges did you face when you re-entered the workforce?

During the first part of my life I had no idea that I would be as successful in the workforce as I was successful at home. Besides raising my children, I was protecting my daughter from a medical condition that affected her eyes. My goal was to bring her up in such a way that she would not feel that she was less capable or less beautiful than her peers. It was a challenge. After the success of operations to cure her, it was apparent that her medical condition would no longer take so much energy, time, and resources to overcome. I felt that I could finally let go. Today, she is a blooming young girl that is ready to face any challenge head on. My primary goal was to teach my children to study and learn so that later in life they would be independent and able to stand on their two feet. This goal overwhelmed me for almost 10 years.

What prompted you to make this drastic change?

After she grew up a little, I felt that I wanted to find myself. After being overwhelmed with the chaos of raising my children and my domestic responsibilities, and I started to think about what I can do. I worked and started pursuing my career. After graduating from university, I was assigned to work at a government ministry.

How easy was it to integrate into the workforce?

My success was a combination of a blessing from God and a lot of effort. I feel it was very challenging. My job entails going to organizations and making sure that they implement the Labor laws in the best way possible. And for me to do that I had to know and understand these laws. Everyone around me was so familiar with these laws and I had to prove myself. I bought books and started studying and preparing myself.

It was a coincidence that one day there was a mission and there was nobody to assign. I seized the opportunity. Success is a combination of preparation meeting opportunity. I always felt challenged and at this point I felt that I had arrived.

Then there was a new law issued and I felt that I was on an equal footing with everyone else. I studied hard and was ahead of many employees around me.

Have any other women served as role models or played a role in your success?

The Minister of Workforce and Social Affairs, Ayesha Abdel Hadi is also a woman; she was the first person to encourage me. Other than being an example to other aspiring woman, when she came to the ministry she was always open to ideas and would listen to our concerns. She made six pre-conditions to fulfilling this position [of labor consultant]. Among them were courses, research and exams. Anyone -- man or woman -- was allowed. She is considered to have opened this field to working women. There are men that stood by me, but at the same time, there were men that were skeptical.

Are you a better mother now or when you were a homemaker?

My children are my friends -- they don't fear me. I am a better mother now than when I was a home maker. I'll tell you why: it's because my mentality was different when I was at home. All my knowledge was from my house and the houses around me. But when I worked and met people with new ideas and perspectives, I was able to give my children more.

Do you feel you have you sacrificed to be where you are now?

No, I don't feel that that I have made any sacrifices at all.

What do you consider to be your highest achievement?

My highest achievement is that I am the first woman in Egypt to be assigned as a Labour Consultant. This achievement isn't for me alone; it's for every woman in Egypt and in the Arab world.

Do you really believe that a woman can have best of both, family and career, at the same time?

I don't let my family life interfere with my career and vice versa. It is all about setting priorities and time management. Yes, women are strong and able to multi-task; they have the ability to have the best of both and not let one interfere with the other.

What role do women versus the government play in women development? Women make differences in the workplace. The woman has the biggest role. With your effort you will achieve. Labor laws do not differentiate between men and women. Not just in Yemen or Egypt, but all over the world. If you work and are absent a lot and never commit to your job, you will give men a chance to say that you are not capable and that your domestic life is affecting your work.

Have you faced any challenges in the diplomatic field as a woman?

There are obstacles, but in Egypt we don't have any rules that prohibit women from traveling alone; previously, there were. The diplomatic field itself represents the most sophisticated and elite members of society. The challenges of being a diplomat are to integrate into another society, and sometimes to convince people that a woman can hold this position.

What advice do you give to women who aspire to achieve but societal restraints prevent them from doing so?

If a woman sets a certain goal and keeps focused on it she can achieve it. If you give in to other peoples ideas about what you are or are not capable of, then you will be discouraged. You must believe in yourself before you try to convince others. Believe that you can succeed, persevere, and never give up.

For example, when I first applied for work, I used to travel all over Cairo so that I could lean English. Everyone questioned why I would need this language. I had no idea that I would need it. I just wanted to learn and quench my thirst for knowledge. I used study while taking the metro, the public transport. I wasn't a young school girl and other people in the metro used to look at me questioningly, "Why is she studying?" It gave me a sense of self confidence and defiance. How much effort you put in God will reward you. And any knowledge you

What advice do you give to Yemeni women that choose to focus on their families only?

Every woman must be satisfied with her life. If a woman feels that she wants to stay at home and take care of her family and children, that is okay. It's a message and there is nothing wrong with that. Any mother could go through this stage after her children grow up and don't need to depend on her anymore.

What are your hopes for your future career-wise?

I feel that to some extent I have achieved my goals. Working overseas gives you a better perspective. I want to further serve my community and my country and obtaining my doctorate, which I hope will be soon, will better position me to do so.

How do you spend your free time?

I love reading, especially classical poetry and Lebanese poet Elia Abu Madi....

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