Arab News

Nashwa Taher: Cashes in on early exposure
Hassna’a Mokhtar |





Nashwa Taher... claims being a member of the JCCI management board is her biggest achievement.



Early exposure to the world and the desire to follow her father’s steps earned Saudi businesswoman Nashwa Taher, 47, a leading position in the business community.
Today, she heads the Real Estate Hasco Company, is vice-chairman of Aal Taher Group, head of the Commercial Committee in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and one of the two Saudi women to win elections to the JCCI board in 2005.
“When we were young, my father exposed my siblings and I to the world. We met so many people. We’ve been into different situations…and that broadened our horizons and helped us develop certain ideas, visions and aspirations,” said Taher.
When she was old enough to enroll into King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Taher knew exactly what she wanted to be. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and then studied three years of business administration in the US.
The Aal Taher Group of Companies — founded by Dr. Abdulhadi Taher in 1975 — and the Radwa Food Production encouraged Nashwa Taher to become part of this empire. Its activities involved high-tech maintenance, food processing, construction, hotels and property management.
“I got married when I was still a university student. After graduation and after I had my baby boy, my father got me involved in the business little by little. I joined the real estate company Hasco as an administrative assistant. I wanted to see how the real estate business works, how and where to invest, to know my father’s vision regarding different locations in the Kingdom until I became the chairperson of the board of directors,” said Taher.
Taher then joined forces with her husband and started the International Company for Food and Trade from scratch.
“There was a drop at one point in the company because of critical personal circumstances,” said Taher. “We overcame the situation, brought the company back to life and opened IL Villaggio Restaurants and Lounges in Jeddah — six Italian restaurants and one gourmet shop,” she added.
Taher started importing high-quality food products from Italy when she realized that “the Saudi market is full of American products.” She chose Italy specifically because Venice, she said, is unique for its taste and packaging. Also their products lack preservatives and food coloring, she added.
“The only preservatives Italians use is olive oil. It’s a natural product that even the Prophet (peace be upon him) ate and advised people to use…we attended many exhibitions in Italy and started importing coffee and olive oil,” said Taher.
Variety offered
IL Villaggio offers today a variety of 75 Italian natural and organic products.
“It wasn’t an easy project. We had to deal with the customs department and the port. Many decisions and people were constantly changing…it was endless. But that was the challenging part of the business. That one is always moving forward regardless of the difficulties or the hurdles,” said Taher.
Through her interactions with the governmental sectors, Taher was encouraged to play a bigger role in the JCCI.
“I worked with the chamber for long periods of time. I wished to play a bigger role, but the chances were limited. When we were given the opportunity, I gave it my best shot. Being a member of the JCCI management board is my biggest achievement,” she said.
Taher appreciates the faith and trust of her colleagues in the JCCI. They elected her as the head of the Commercial Committee two years in a row. The committee deals with the problems businessmen and businesswomen face with the customs, the port, the quality assurance laboratory, the labor office. “Nothing is easy. There are always problems. But we find solutions to these problems and present them to governmental bodies. We negotiate to make things easier for business owners,” said Taher.
Taher believes that it is no longer a luxury for a woman to work. Women are half of society. Only 13.5 percent of women work and 75 percent of them work in the educational field. “It’s a necessity for women to work and support their families financially. There are divorcees and widows who are in desperate need to work. Do we want them to beg for money? Why not make them effective members of society?” asked Taher. “Women should also be given the opportunity to serve their country the way men are given the chance.”
Lots of development
In the eyes of Taher, there has been a lot of development to the benefit of Saudi workingwoman. She said that there are large numbers of educated Saudi women for whom she wants to prepare a suitable working environment.
“I want them to work in suitable clean environments. I also want them to work hand in hand with Saudi men,” said Taher.
Despite her long list of duties, Taher emphasized the importance of taking one’s work seriously without forgetting one’s role as a mother and a wife. The secret is time management.
“I organize appointments and working hours a week earlier. I know what I’m supposed to do during the day and night. I never squeeze the schedule beyond my capacity. It’s all about time management. I know I have obligations to my family and relatives,” said Taher.
The support of her husband and son has also helped her in maintaining balance between her work and social life. She shares tasks with her husband and continuously talks to him about work related issues. For instance, Nashwa Taher and her husband meet with the IL Villaggio steering committee every week.
“We meet once a week. We talk to the general manager, the executive chief and the accountant. By the end of the month we have already made all decisions, closed all accounts and the budget is ready. My husband and I are constantly talking about work issues,” said Taher.
She believes that to become a successful businesswoman, women should have a commercial sense. They should also be aware of the business world and be constantly reading and researching about business related topics locally or internationally.
“It’s really important for a businesswoman to have the foresight to plan for the future. She must have a goal to attain in 10 years. She shouldn’t live day by day. There must be a future plan and a limited annual budget,” she said.
The presence of Nashwa Taher along with three other Saudi businesswomen in the JCCI management board, which is the only chamber to have women in the Kingdom, has made a huge difference.
“It has proved Saudi woman’s existence in all JCCI departments and committees as an inseparable part of the Saudi community,” said Taher. “Men and women have different visions and views, so together they make comprehensive and efficient decisions.”