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Name: Maissa Fattal
Business: Ibtisama Beauty
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Consumer Goods
Reason for starting? Fundamentally, I founded Ibtisama Beauty out of the passion for a confident white smile, discovered during my career as a barrister in Geneva. I created a unique concept in the region that gets far from the dentist chair, the white uniform and the painful experience into a daily beauty routine smile-care concept using chemical free and natural ingredients. The definition of beauty at Ibtisama is flirting with the positive energy that a person gives out through self-confidence. As the Founder of Ibtisama, it’s a mission for me to spread this message as widely as possible. With a beautiful smile, people will become more confident, more communicative and contribute to the beauty of the world.
Related: Read about another beauty entrepreneur here.
How do you define success? Mainly, I have always said that being an entrepreneur is not easy but it definitely has its ups and downs if you are a woman. As a young Swiss women entrepreneur in the Middle East, I faced many challenges, mostly when it comes to deal with the authorities. Also, accepting a woman in a leadership role can generate a longer process in bonding new partnerships and credibility, but it is not impossible for sure. I learned how to adapt where the obstacles were too difficult to overcome, and I always followed the pursuit of my goal. The main goal and plans for Ibtisama Beauty are to bring the express teeth whitening service to the next level in the Middle East by establishing new Smile Lounges in all Middle East countries and spreading the happiness through a beautiful smile that gives energy.
Biggest success: I’m proud to be able to say that today, Ibtisama Beauty is privileged to be the only private company invited and awarded during the GCC Oral Health Dubai 2017 by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Just recently, I won the MEA Women in Business Award for Cosmetic Business Innovator of the Year 2017 & Best Emerging Cosmetics Company 2017. These awards are also a recognition to the tremendous effort my team at Ibtisama Beauty are delivering. Perseverance is the main reason why Ibtisama exists and reach where it is today.
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What is your top challenge and how you have addressed it? Our real challenge is to educate the customers to value a smile as part of a daily beauty routine, that now in the beauty section is a strong brand that share and aims to give people the confidence that each one of us deserves, and this through the beauty of their smiles.
Who is your most important role model? Oprah Winfrey. She started from scratch with a painful childhood and created an empire by believing in herself and working with love and passion.
[box_light]Website www.ibtisamabeauty.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/ibtisamabeauty
Instagram www.instagram.com/ibtisamabeauty[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange