Maitha Al Mahrooqi is the General Manager of Gulf Air in the Sultanate of Oman. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in cartography from Oxford Brooks University, UK, she started her airline career as a ticketing agent with Emirates Airline in Bahrain in April 2000, making quick progress working as a part of the sales team, then moving to marketing as back head of corporate. In 2006 Maitha joined as Business Development Manager in Bahrain for Gulf Air and in 2008 she
was promoted and posted to Oman as General Manger.

In an interview, she tells Oman Vistas about the factors that made her a successful woman as she is today. Excerpts:

What are the factors you think are responsible in helping you to reach the position you are in today?

Definitely family support was there. They are the pillars to encourage regardless of the field you choose. My father, mother, husband, my inner circle of friends, I am grateful to all of them. I have siblings one sister and four brothers. I m the youngest.

Opportunities you get from the company you are working with your colleagues, management, your team. Definitely, these people as well play a part for you to grow. In Gulf Air, especially, they put a vision there and a platform for the people on how to grow and the pattern of growth is also clearly laid out.

I am fortunate to have been working in highly professional companies, like Emirates and Gulf Air. They played a big role and of course the government support and the direction given by the His Majesty. When I came back to Oman after a gap of 16 years, I was pleasantly surprised to see the way Omani women has been empowered today.

How do you balance your professional
life and personal life?

Its a challenge to balance work and personal life. I was in Europe where its very difficult to manage with out family support. Being married and then studying was not easy. But, in this
part of world we have a strong family bond, which is amazing. When I go for conferences my colleagues ask me how I manage. My son travels with me along with my mother or sister. And
of course, now technological innovations do make life easy to a certain extent.

I have always believed that to be successful career woman, you need to be set your home first. If you don’t have your foundation right, then it is not possible to achieve success in your
career. These days it has become common for father and mother, husband and wife working hand in hand and that I think is what makes life enriching and more meaningful.

Are there enough opportunities for
women in Oman?

There are massive opportunities. In fact not only in government, but also in private and educational sector there is lot of potential, like the Sultan Qaboos University, and other leading colleges. Women are now getting in to different fields which not have been explored till now. In Oman we are seeing economic growth and lot of projects are going on, which all translate to opportunities for the enterprising women. In fact, the government is helping Women in what ever way it can. And, because of this I am sure no one say it is a male dominated society anymore.

How does it feel to be an achiever
in a man’s world?

Whatever vision I had since childhood, I have worked towards it and achieved it. You need to be always positive and you will achieve your dreams, and ambitions. But, there is nothing that comes easy or without obstacles in life. There are few things are meant to be for males and we
don’t challenge that, just to prove a point to them saying we can also do it. Because, we have to understand our background, tradition, culture, and religion.

What is your advice to women who aspire for top positions in
life?

Always have your plans ready and believe in yourself. Remember where there is will there a way. You have to believe that you can make it and you need to have vision a plan, and goal in life. If you have one then it becomes a lot easier. And, there is no harm in learning from the experience of others around you. For Women in Oman I think we are blessed to have a supportive government and society that respects women and believes in their empowerment.