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Bahrain-based talents Amal Kooheji and Rula Husseini aim to inspire women to confront their fears and challenge themselves through their first collaborative book, which is set to be officially launched on Saturday.
This 89-page literary work, Seen Yet Silent, provides an in-depth exploration of the challenges women continue to face in pursuing their dreams – many of which, the authors note, are self-imposed.
The book features 10 chapters that delve into diverse themes such as imposter syndrome, glass ceilings, and power structures, among others, while also sharing real-life experiences from women across the kingdom.
Bahraini author Amal, who has more than three decades of professional experience – including as a corporate mentor – and Palestinian behavioural coach Rula, who has accumulated more than 4,000 hours of coaching experience and facilitated leadership programmes for the government sector, began conducting women-only workshops three years ago.
Having worked with women for decades, they realised that many still remain ‘fearful of stepping up’. This insight, drawn from their workshops and individual practices, inspired them to document their observations in a book.
Each chapter is complemented by inspiring first-hand accounts from women they have coached.
The authors strongly believe that awareness begins at home, emphasising the importance of creating an environment rooted in respect for women and embracing a ‘partnership model.’
“If my daughter sees my husband and me working beautifully together at home, that’s what she’s going to get used to. That is what she is going to see. So I think it starts from the house. It starts from within,” Amal, a Bahraini mother of two, told GulfWeekly.
“We wanted to write a book to inspire women in the Arab culture to face their fears, challenge themselves, comfort them and tell them that we are all in the same boat – we are all on the same journey,” the 53-year-old added.
“There are many things that need to be improved and changed in the system, starting with changing your own perspective – whether male or female – and this book aims to help do that.
“We have all these support mechanisms and a very open culture, yet we remain silent within. We are still conditioned to believe that there are things that women cannot or should not do.”
Professionally certified behavioural coach Rula, with extensive experience in human resources and talent management, believes that everyone can achieve their dreams by cultivating the right mindset and behaviour.
“I’m a firm believer that coaching is the key to removing obstacles and unlocking people’s potential,” noted the 47-year-old, who has called the kingdom home for the past 20 years.
The expert with 26 years’ professional experience stressed the need to institutionalise coaching.
“If I reflect on the environment that supported me, it was my father, brothers, and uncles – and later, my husband – who encouraged my entire growth journey. Without them, I could not have made it,” she shared.
She highlighted the ripple effect of positive mindsets.
“When people adopt the right mindset towards the women around them, they will raise their daughters the same way and treat their employees similarly. This creates a ripple effect throughout society and vice versa.”
The duo has also collaborated on a self-help workbook, entitled Grow Forward, that helps the reader achieve a ‘growth mindset’ and will soon introduce it in the workshops for women and the youth.
Both, the workbook and Seen Yet Silent are available on Amazon.
