It may be unfair to talk about isolation while life still beats with all the possibilities of its manifestation. There have been many names given to this situation, which imposes itself due to a variety of factors, some beyond your control and others beyond your own imagination and determination. Loneliness, isolation, retreat, or separation… Name the case whatever you want; these labels, while different in definition, are poured into one source: being alone with yourself. It was difficult for us to deal with all the back-to-back events that surrounded us from all sides, threatened our existence, and put forward a significant question: why are we still alive? What is expected of us? What mission remains unfinished for some, and hasn’t started yet for others? These existential questions always come to mind when something happens, transcending you as a human being to a more comprehensive idea, to an integrated unity, to humanity as a whole. You keep going without realizing it; rather, your soul chooses a path to follow, relying on your senses, instincts, and thoughts in an attempt to understand the path you are taking. And without realizing, you reach that place that you thought was not yours, you are afraid of it, of the unknown that surrounds it, you reach it exhausted, throwing all your burdens and living in silence, in sociable loneliness, and you remain safe in that place, where no one knows about. It’s isolation! It charts the course of your day, your times, and even your emotions, you sometimes go along with it, so it overflows you with all its blessings, from calm to serenity and peace of mind. Looking for what suit it, a long coffee session in which it at some of what’s going on in this gloomy world, so it decides to return to your calmness, rejecting what disturbs the mood of your coffee break, to hearing a song that takes you to the world of your soul, you open the jars of conscience, contemplating the melody and the word, enjoying the symphony of the present universe. With its edges, to a book to be alone with a time that sets you a date with excitement, taking your presence and the possibility of waking up your awareness of what surrounds you, to a meditation in which there is nothing but a spirit that calls for tranquility, drawing inspiration from the emptiness of this universe, what fills this beautiful emptiness. It’s isolation! With all its beauty, calmness and spaciousness, it takes you in its arms, soothes your lost dreams, soothes the pains of a lifetime that lost the means to live it as you wish, and you find in it another life that compensates you for everything you missed. You have to go along with her, hug her, thank her for your time with her, otherwise, if you try to deny her, in a moment she can turn this isolation into worry and fear, quarrel with you, turn your seconds into hours, worry you, threaten you and crush you if you don’t calm down and listen to her. Realizing that your isolation is an opportunity and not a punishment is the way to argue with the innermost parts of yourself that try to discourage you from understanding what is required of you, from living life as a blessing, a gift and a trust.
Youmna Assouad
Youmna Assouad is a driven lady with an entrepreneurial spirit, who is constantly working hard to achieve her goals. She holds the position of Marketing Director at Tony Ward, an international fashion house that shows during Paris Fashion Week. She is in charge of leading the marketing team, as well as developing and implementing the communication and marketing strategy. She previously worked at Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne and Printemps in Paris. Her vast experience in a variety of areas, includes branding, business development, product strategy, sustainability, public relations, social media marketing, content creation, copywriting, celebrity dressing and events organization. Additionally, she launched FORWARD magazine and formed strategic partnerships with leading boutiques and department stores around the world. After years of learning, the businesswoman had decided to share her knowledge by teaching Fashion Marketing and Luxury Brand Management at Esmod from which she holds a bachelor degree in Fashion Design and Pattern Making from Esmod Beirut, with later on an MBA from ESSEC Business School Paris. Knowing that we never learn enough, she also studied Fashion Marketing at Bocconi in Milan and became a member of the highly selective ESSEC LVMH Chair for Luxury Brand Management. Finally, Youmna is constantly providing efforts to achieve one goal after another.
Mastercard Launches Legacy Book Celebrating 25 Inspiring Women and Their Trailblazing Stories
Book launch marks 25th anniversary of iconic Priceless platform Please watch the video here. Book features inspirational stories from artists, scientists, political figures, entrepreneurs and businesswomen across the globe including: Sarah Baydoun, Founder and Creative Director of Sarah’s Bag; Jessica Kahawaty, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur and Model; Her Excellency Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Global Digital Magnate, Vice Chairwoman of Emaar Development Board & Former Founding Director General of Smart Dubai; Maya Morsy, President, Egypt’s National Council for Women Zainab Al-Eqabi, Para-Athlete [Beirut, Lebanon] – 14 March 2023 – Bringing together the journeys of some of the world’s most inspiring female leaders in arts, sports, politics, hospitality, financial services and beyond, Mastercard has unveiled a coffee-table book, ‘Lasting Legacy – Honoring 25 Visionaries to Celebrate 25 Years of Priceless’. Launched during Women’s Month 2023, the book marks the 25th anniversary of Mastercard’s renowned Priceless platform, which has been connecting people to their passions for a quarter of a century. Mastercard is committed to creating a more equitable world for all and this project marks the company’s latest milestone in unlocking opportunities and celebrating the role of women in society. By exploring the role of these trailblazers, the book aims to inspire readers to take action in their own lives and communities to close the gender gap and create a more inclusive future. The legacy piece highlights the journeys and impact of women including Raha Moharrak, Adventurer; Sconaid McGeachin, Director of Communications and Marketing at COP28 UAE & Former Senior Vice President Communications at Expo 2020 Dubai; Ambareen Musa, Founder & CEO of Yabi by Souqalmal; Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF; Nona Gaprindashvili, Chess Legend, and Ola Doudin, Co-founder & CEO of BitOasis, among others. “This book has been a true labor of love for us, and a testament to the women who are driving progress and uplifting communities around the world. It is our hope that the stories in ‘Lasting Legacy’ will encourage readers, regardless of their gender, to pursue their passions and make a positive impact on society, to inspire generations to come,” said Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard. “Throughout my journey, I was always surrounded by extremely amazing women from whom I draw inspiration from. Ranging from family, friends to the team that makes Sarah’s Bag. Never underestimate the power of being inspired. It’s the drive behind every remarkable project.” – Sarah Beydoun, Founder & Creative Director of Sarah’s Bag. ‘Lasting Legacy – Honoring 25 Visionaries to Celebrate 25 Years of Priceless’ represents the evolution of Mastercard’s Priceless platform, which has progressed to reflect the company’s ongoing transformation and the changing world of consumers. As Priceless marks 25 years, Mastercard continues to tap into people’s passions as it enables opportunities for people the world over to pursue their passion and purpose. The book will be available from 14 March 2023, and be available online, across libraries, universities, schools, and on BooksArabia.com. For more information and to read the full interviews, visit here. Editor’s Notes The full list of women featured are: Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF Zainab Al-Eqabi, Para-Athlete Nezha Alaoui, Founder, Author, Impact Influencer & CEO of Women Choice Sarah Beydoun, Founder & Creative Director of Sarah’s Bag Her Excellency Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Global Digital Magnate, Vice Chairwoman of Emaar Development Board & Former Founding Director General of Smart Dubai Jennifer Blandos, Founder & CEO of Female Fusion Ola Doudin, Co-founder & CEO of BitOasis Nona Gaprindashvili, Chess Legend Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister for Eurointegration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Jessica Kahawaty, Model, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist Roya Khajeh, Assistant General Manager and Head of Cards and Payments at Commercial Bank, Qatar Linda Kirkpatrick, President of Mastercard North America Wendy Kopp, Co-founder & CEO for Teach For All Pontsho Maruping, Managing Director of South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) Wanjira Mathai, Environmentalist & Activist Sconaid McGeachin, Director of Communications and Marketing at COP28 UAE & Former Senior Vice President Communications at Expo 2020 Dubai Raha Moharrak, Adventurer Maya Morsy, President of the National Council for Women, Egypt Sudha Murty, Author & Philanthropist Ambareen Musa, Founder & CEO of Yabi by Souqalmal Piwokuhle Nyanda, Athlete & Rugby Player Devi Seetharam, Artist Umut Shayakhmetova, CEO of Halyk Bank Natasha Sideris, Founder & CEO of Tashas Group Naoko Yamazaki, Astronaut & Engineer -Ends- About Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. www.mastercard.com Mastercard Communications Contact Jandre Nieuwoudt, Director Communications Jandre.Nieuwoudt@mastercard.com
We are all more alike, than we are different
Even though we are all human, we may have distinct colors, features, or viewpoints. We must regard and embrace one another. Everybody is unique and beautiful in their own right. The true beauty lies in how unique each person is.