The success of My Bakery is no surprise. It is the cumulative sum of Ahlam Yousif Janahi’s experience that spans across thirty five years in the business sector, and twenty eight years in volunteering and social work across the Kingdom.

An Interview with AHLAM JANAHI

Her passion is her drive, and her initiatives are what make her stay relevant and competitive in the current economy. Successful entrepreneur, icon of women empowerment, leader of social change. Throughout her professional and entrepreneurial career, Ahlam Yousif Janahi has helped elevate the role of Bahraini women in society. The following posts and awards are just a few of her life achievements: Ahlam held top managerial posts and ownership of various companies including Damasquinos, Gate Trading, Bahrain Horizon and Al Ezz Trading.

She was a former board member of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2013 till 2017. Presently, she is the President of Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society. She previously held important positions in various organizations including UNIDO Ambassador of Entrepreneurship since 2011; Member of Election Committee, Businesswomen’s Committee; Hub Manager of Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society to the Middle East & North Africa Businesswomen’s Network from 2006 to 2012; Member of Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises since 2008; and President of Joint Council between Supreme Council for Women and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce in 2011.

She has received a string of national and international awards with the most recent one including a Certificate of Appreciation for establishing Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society in 2000; and several Appreciation Awards for her contribution to the MENA Businesswomen’s Summit 2006 by Middle East Partnership Initiative and organizing the 2nd Business Exchange Forum, Bahrain and American experience, by Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society and Middle East Partnership Initiative; Appreciation Awards from His Excellency Dr. Hassan Fakhro on the occasion of the Second Forum and Exhibition for SMEs day as an Ambassador of Entrepreneurs, and for organizing the Third Experience Forum: Bahraini and American Experiences in 2011; an award by Forbes Middle East, as no. 66 among 200 Most Influential Women in the Arab region; and recognition as head of the Promotions, Exhibitions and Conferences Sector Committee of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the Bahrain India Week 2016, a key Bahraini Indian business event attended by 100 Indian companies, held in partnership with Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB).

On October 2017, she was a Speaker at the MENA-OECD women’s economic empowerment forum, on the theme, “Closing Gender Gap for Competitiveness”. Ahlam Yousif Janahi talks to BEntrepreneur about starting her own business, her advice to female entrepreneurs and tips to stay ahead in the industry:

As President of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, what is your main objective?

Our main objective is to empower women in the business, commercial and financial sectors and our main goal is to help women who are board members of companies from the government and the private sectors. It is very important because Bahraini women are very strong and responsible. I’m sure that a lot of ladies in Bahrain are capable of handling this position and this enterprise.

As an entrepreneur, how does the government provide support for small and medium scale enterprises?

Now we have different schemes in Bahrain. As you know, there is Startup Bahrain which supports the young generation of entrepreneurs. There is the SMEs council which was created by HRH the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain. We have Tamkeen which is supporting everybody and there’s the Economic Development Board, which also supports the SMEs and the entrepreneurship sector. There is also Startup Bahrain which promotes local investments and attracts foreign investors to start up in Bahrain in areas like tech startups and fintech.

So what inspired you to open My Bakery?

My Bakery is a Bahraini owned business established in 2009. What makes our bakery unique is that our baked products come in customized shapes and sizes, with semi-organic and organic bread varieties provided fresh to customers and prepared in a unique kind of way that is considered a first in the Kingdom. Our main mission is to serve our customers because we believe that without our customers, our company will not succeed. We serve our customers in a professional manner by offering them products of the highest quality, which are competitively priced and delivered with the utmost courtesy and satisfaction. Our wide variety of baked goods include: white bread, brown bread, extra fiber, fiber bread, whole wheat bread and wheat grain all of which are created from fresh ingredients and unique recipes that will always make you feel like you’re having them for the first time.

What are the challenges which you think entrepreneurs in Bahrain in general, will face?

We have an open market, and market competition is very tough especially these days. I believe that the hardworking, creative and strong person will always achieve what he needs. The Bahraini market is very limited. We always think that Bahrain is the hub of the GCC and the Middle East. But we need entrepreneurs to think big, to reach out and be open to different partnerships with our neighbors in the Middle East, even with international companies. I believe that most of the Bahrainis who are very creative and innovative will easily achieve global success.

As a final word, what advice can you give to women entrepreneurs today?

Work hard, think big and expand your network. I think this is the time now for Bahrainis to move and undertake partnerships. As you know we have a free trade agreement with the US, on which big companies receive opportunities and improve their chances which help them save on expenses and costs on business in the GCC. On the SMEs sector, they have to match up with their partners and create a new platform on which they can work alongside others on the international level. They have to concentrate and develop special programs and strategies through which they can move forward and enjoy endless benefits.

For more information:
Tel: +973 1765 0411
www.mybakery.com.bh