Self-belief that took mother to top

For Zainab Abdulameer, missing a target at work is not an option.

ABU DHABI // For nearly a decade Zainab Abdulameer has been working in the private sector - and she has never looked back.

"I joined the private sector right from the beginning," she said. "I wanted a job that challenged me and recognised my potential."

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With four children and a full-time job as head of employee relations at Emirates Advanced Investment, Ms Abdulameer, from Abu Dhabi, has her plate full. But that has not prevented her from pursuing her ambitions.

"There was a time where we had to transfer all our electronic paperwork on to an electronic and online system and we were working until 10pm every day," she said. "It lasted for about 10 days. But it was fun and we were all in it together."

The encouragement she found in the private sector is enough to give employees a sense of achievement and motivate them to move forward, she said.

"When you're interested about your job, receive positive feedback and appreciation from your managers and are rewarded for your hard work,it keeps you going. And when you do face challenges, you need to believe that you can overcome them."

For Ms Abdulameer, the ability to cope mentally with challenges is an absolute necessity, particularly for women.

"Although men may have families, they rely on their wives to take care of everything and can therefore focus more on their careers," she said. "But for working mothers, that responsibility doesn't go anywhere."

But she added that this was not an excuse to slacken off professionally. With the help of a house maid and a supportive husband, Ms Abdulameer has been able to reach the heights of success.

"It all depends on how you manage your time and priorities," she said.

"I've been working for almost 10 years and, thank God, I've never missed a target."