The best thing that I love about my job is that I get to meet incredible entrepreneurs, whether it is in real life or on Zoom!
I caught up with the effervescent Sally this morning and I am still trying to figure out how she could have achieved so much in so little time.
Here is her story.
Born in Iraq, grew up in Kuwait, Sally spent most of her adult life in Sydney, Australia. She studied fashion designing and wanted to be a fashion designer. As happens in life many times, she realized her true calling was to empower women who were from her kind of ethnic background and needed to be heard. So, she became their voice as a radio presenter on Voice of Islam, a program on Sydney radio station. She was a senior presenter and content producer of a weekly family radio show, “Unity in the Community”.
A born creative whose cultural journey embraces both East and West as an Arab-Australian, Sally is passionate about powerful stories that break barriers, explore diverse narratives, and are part of wider conversations driving change worldwide.
Next Stop. Sally was the President Executive member of the United Muslim Women Association and was soon a prominent public speaker, including giving interviews on Australian television, radio, and print media.
Fast Forward. Sally relocated to Dubai in 2011. She started her career as a radio presenter and content producer on Dubai Eye 103.8FM. Here she gained extensive experience working on a variety of programs covering current affairs, arts and culture, travel, fashion, education, health, parenting, and business.
Four years later, Sally was headhunted by Sharjah Broadcasting Authority to start a new program on Pulse 95. Here, she created, produced, and presented Life Beats, a show featuring interviews with some of the world’s most brilliant minds. From Nobel Laureates Orhan Pamuk and Kailash Satyarthi to Oscar-nominated film director Nadine Labaki, HH Prince Khalid ibn Al Waleed Ibn Talal, Olympic-medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad to Youtube superstar Lilly Singh.
I asked Sally which celebrity that she met, inspired her the most. Her answer. “One of the most extraordinary has to be Dr. Jane Goodall. She is a legendary scientist, conservationist, and humanitarian whose groundbreaking discoveries shaped our understanding of what it is to be human.”
Sally’s best testimonial perhaps is the one from Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi. “Sally has the rare ability to tackle complex and often sensitive social talking points innovatively, and with a balance of passion and empathy. Her progressive and instantly engaging style serves to simultaneously put her guests at ease and captivate her audience .”
These days Sally is busy being a presenter, speaker, and moderator. For those who do not know she is also a TEDx speaker.
Sally advocates the famous African philosophy ‘Ubuntu’, which simply translates as “I am because we are”, or “humanity towards others”.
This pretty much sums up Sally’s life thus far.
Keep Shining Sally!
Penned by Sharad Agarwal