Sewing success

Manama

The path was always so clear and well defined for Shahd Al Zaki, who comes from a much affluent family of doctors and engineers. From the very young age, she had developed a passion for the world of medicine also.

Shahid, who later realized her skills as an artist, entered the Bachelors program of Architecture in University of Bahrain. However, she realized her true passion as she started getting into work experience after she started studying at the University.

She had gained work experience in the AIESAC program, Bahrain Development Bank, Punchline Media, Zain telecommunications and Obai and Hill. After graduating, Shahd decided it was time to find an office space to start up her own business agency for organizing events. This urge had led to the birth of a creative hub.

By youth, for youth

Shahd first had the idea in December 2014 but she began developing it in April of 2015 when she ran into a chance she couldn’t resist.

While she was looking for an office space, she decided to approach big time entrepreneur Hamed Fakhroo on whether she could occupy an office space for a period of time but that proved impossible and expensive.

He then offered her that break she needed when he suggested her to join the Chance program organized by the Youth Pioneer Society. The program lasted for two months with workshop sessions three times a week for 2 to 3 hours.

She ended up winning first place for her business plan in the Chance program. Shahd was awarded with a free incubation center along with a free internet broadband for a year.

Talking to DT News, Shahd said, “My business plan and goal for MIEVENTO Creative Hub is to develop to the concept of establishing a creative hub by being the first and only youth creative agency in Bahrain. We want to specialize in youth marketing, branding and organizing events since we are youth we would know how to promote for youth and mainly target youth in ages between 18 to 30.”

She further explained, “I envisioned a hub that provides creative services to the market and at the same time build this co-working space to accommodate youth with business ideas to help them develop it. Once they establish themselves as entrepreneurs, we would service them as an agency. This is the start of something that is by youth for youth, we lack programs or spaces established by youth, there may be programs for youth but most of it is supervised by older people.”

The MIEVENTO Creative Hub managed work on events for four clients since its establishment.

Challenges and future plans

When Shahd was asked about the challenges of starting up a youth agency, she said, “Before our office space, we didn’t have a professional setting and it was important for me to promote that space for them as it tends to be hard for people to take work seriously without that environment. It was also hard to reach out to investors since there are no such platforms in the Kingdom. It was also a challenge to convince investors because we are a youth team. So we decided to depend on clients instead.”

“Not choosing to stick with my major field is a risk in itself but I am doing what I love. I hate redundant routines as a way of life and I love taking risks. Organizing events is a my passion and it is a roller coaster adventure every day, since there are days where things flow smoothly while there are days we face challenges as a team,” she said passionately.

She further explained that as a team, they could take advantage of having youth entrepreneurs by building something bigger than the Bahraini market. And that is what they want to promote by bringing youthful ideas and branching out in the GCC.

For the future, Shahd doesn’t want to lay back with her first start up business. She wants to work towards establishing a holding company centered on fashion, art and health.

Giving her piece of advice to fellow Bahrainis, Shahd said, “There are two ways of taking a step forwards – either the easy way which is to graduate, get a job and a good salary or you can either take a risk and be an entrepreneur. Take a risk at a young age. Bahrain is well equipped to help you start up your own business but our main challenge is to be creative.”