Bazaar Belief: 16 Questions With Anita Mehra
Senior Vice President of Communication & Reputation at Dubai Airports, Anita is also a mother to two sons and co-launched the first international branch of Flywheel and Flybarre in Dubai
What experience has taught you the most?: “My place as the fifth child in a loving, close-knit family of 10, taught me to be patient, empathetic, outspoken and fun-loving.”
Career role model: “HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His excitement and love for Dubai is contagious that the work to improve the Dubai story never ends.”
Favourite adage: “There are a few that I like from Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, including: ‘You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.’”
Career high: “Joining Dubai Duty Free in 1986 as marketing manager, and being part of the journey in creating the busiest international airport in the world, and striving to maintain it as the best airport.”
Biggest regret: “Not spending more time with my children when they were younger due to demands of work.”
Advice for your children: “Be ready to work using your IQ and your emotional intelligence. The ability to be flexible and agile and open to challenges and innovation is very important.”
What motivates you?: “Love and doing good.”
Values you admire in others: “Honesty and kindness.”
My greatest fear is…“Not having the time to do all the wonderful things there are to do in this wonderful life”
Describe yourself in three words: “Optimistic, energetic, empathetic”
Hardest life lesson: “Starting all over again after having my livelihood and career disappear due to strife in my country, Iran.”
Value you admire in yourself: “My ability to empathise”
What guides you?: “Gut first, head, then heart. I have a lot of experience with people and can tell right away what a person wants from me.”
The key to success is… “Being focused on balancing one’s life. Keeping a work/life balance with the ability to give quality time to the family and friends, maintain growth and excitement in one’s career, and staying mentally and physically healthy throughout your life are all keys to success.”
Most frequent dream: “I fly around and carry members of my family on my back to safety.”
Can we have it all?: “Not all the time, but we can prioritise so we have the most important things that count most of the time.”
Photography by Aasiya Jagadeesh
This article originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia