Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi Has Big Plans For Change Within The Publishing World
As the President of The International Publishing Association (IPA), here’s how she plans to tackle issues of gender parity, diversity, and inclusion head on…
The publishing world, like many industries, has faced testing times due to COVID-19, but one woman hoping to turn things around is the UAE’s H.E. Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who has taken on the prestigious accolade of President of the International Publishing Association (IPA). This makes her the first Arab woman to hold the global position, and only the second woman ever since the organisation was set up in 1896.
The IPA is made up of 83 organisations from 69 countries, representing thousands of publishers around the world and acts to support and protect the industry, and Sheikha Bodour’s top goals, as the president, are clear: “To improve diversity in the industry… and bring it through this terribly difficult period we are going through with the COVID pandemic.”
Sheikha Bodour’s journey to this esteemed title has been an organic climb, which started in 2007 when she founded children’s book enterprise the Kalimat Group, now a global company with licensing and distribution in 54 countries, having produced over 175 titles all which “highlight traditional Arabic culture alongside the modern challenges faced by children”. The Sheikha from Sharjah then founded the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) in 2009 and became involved with the IPA through a number of committees, where she became Vice President in 2018. Along the way, she has worked on a number of national book events and committees and also set up PublisHer: “I realised how poorly represented women were at senior levels,” she explains. “PublisHer is a call to action to create more gender balance at the helm of the publishing industry.”
Sheikha Bodour is a woman who is even busier than she sounds – albeit still finding time to read countless books every month as well as scaling Kilimanjaro and mountains in Morocco, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Ecuador and Chile.
She is passionate about making the publishing world a fair place for the underrepresented and she sat down with Bazaar to talk about her journey so far, and her plans for change…
The Sheikha on a visit to Stockholm public library
What are your first memories of books being introduced to your life?
My father, a prolific reader, would tell us stories from the history books he used to read, and that always stimulated my imagination, not to mention increased my curiosity about books. I was lucky to be introduced to books at a young age, and they were always regarded as an essential part of growing and understanding the world in our household.
What sort of books would you read as a child?
I loved reading stories about different cultures and faraway lands, I always wanted to know more about the world. I was also encouraged to read about our local heritage. The UAE has a rich tradition of oral history, passing down stories to the next generation, so the telling of stories, whether it’s in a book, or listening to others, was always an important part of my upbringing.
Sheikha Bodour reads to children during a visit to an Emirati-Jordanian refugee camp
Did your family share your love for books?
Yes, absolutely! I was very fortunate to come from a family with a large library of books. We would often discuss subjects as a family from books we had read, and I believe they helped give us an insight into the views and opinions of other people. Most of the books were in Arabic and English, but the children’s books were often in Arabic. It’s a memory that stayed with me, and looking back, those formative years probably sowed the seeds which led to the creation of Kalimat Group.
Sharjah is renowned for its promotion of the arts-where does this originate?
My father, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has always had a very clear philosophy that a knowledge-based economy with human development at its heart, is a precursor to economic development and prosperity. Forty years ago, he embarked on a journey to create a robust cultural and educational infrastructure in Sharjah. Today, it has become a centre not only for Islamic and Arab culture, but also for intellectual curiosity, learning, and scientific research.
Who inspires you, and why?
I am inspired by my parents, their values, and their drive to serve their community and contribute to humanity. I am also inspired by my children and their curiosity – children often have a clear and honest view of the world, which I think we can all learn from. I am also inspired by my travels and encounters with people from different cultures. We all bring different perspectives to the world and that is the magic and the beauty of books – it’s an opportunity and a blessing to really see things from another’s perspective.
The Sheikha has become the first Arab woman, and only the second woman ever, to be the president of the IPA
What made you realise that publishing was your chosen path?
Back in 2007, my daughter insisted that she didn’t want to read children’s books in Arabic. She found the books uninspiring and not very exciting, which didn’t sit very well with me as it was so important for me to impart the stories from Arab culture to my children. However, she was right in many ways, the Arabic children’s books available at the time were not really appealing. There was a gap in the market, and I decided to start filling it through the establishment of Kalimat Group. Arab culture is so diverse and so rich, and we have so many beautiful stories to pass on to our children. These stories reflect our values, history, culture, and our imaginations – making sure that our children are engaged with their rich culture and language through books is essential.
Has being a woman impacted your career?
Yes, work has not always been so straightforward when you’re a woman, particularly being an Arab and a Muslim woman can lead to assumptions or prejudices. It is also a blessing as you approach situations with a different perspective and it’s always nice to be able to challenge any pre-conceived notions people may have of you. I do think that over the past 20 years there has been gradual, positive change, not just to the role of women in publishing, but also more diversity when it comes to cultures, language, disabilities, and colour. There’s still more work to be done, but yes, being a woman inevitably impacts your career, whether it’s trying to balance home life with career, or just having your voice heard.
Tell us about the work of publisher…
Our aim is to address the entrenched gender imbalances, particularly in more senior positions, within the publishing industry. We are committed to greater inclusion and diversity and have published a set of guidelines to try redress the imbalances. Sometimes just the awareness is enough to make people reflect on the choices they make – once this issue is on their radar, they may think twice about who they are hiring, or who they are giving a publishing deal to. PublisHer has gained real traction amongst women in the industry around the world, and it is so exciting to see change happening.
The Sheikha during a trip to distribute books to young Arab refugees and immigrants in Italy
Are women represented in publishing?
The number of women authors and publishers around the world is generally on the rise, and it is my role to encourage this trend. However, in a wider sense, what is more important is to have greater diversity, whether that’s someone’s gender, race, or culture. Everyone’s voice must be heard. The publishing industry is something which needs greater gender equality, as although the number of women working in publishing is high, the number of women in senior posts is quite low, hence the creation of PublisHer. The IPA is committed to helping women entering the publishing industry, and diversity and inclusion as a whole. Change takes time, but I think the fact that I have been elected, along with Karine Pansa, the Vice President of the IPA, is testament to the fact they are serious about this issue.
Is there an issue with diversity?
A recent New York Times study showed that 95 per cent of U.S. books are by white authors and 85 per cent of the country’s publishing staff are white too. That’s a shocking statistic, and that’s just an example of one market. It is something which in the long run just isn’t representing the experiences, values and ideas of readers. The beauty of books is being able to discover someone else’s voice, so we cannot afford to be complacent and just ‘carry on as normal’.
What sort of books do you like to read?
I read a lot of literature about mysticism and spirituality. I love reading fiction by female authors as it often gives me an insight into other cultures and lives which I find fascinating. I’m interested in history too, and I think it can teach us so much about the present, as we are constantly learning as humans, and trying to improve our lives, and the world around us. I am fortunate that my involvement with international publishing means I am up to date with the most recent titles, as an avid reader, I am always on the lookout for new books and interesting new perspectives.
The Sheikha in discussion with panelists at the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2017
What are your hopes for 2021?
I want to see the publishing business stabilise and flourish again with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. I don’t see publishing simply as a business; to me, books give a voice to humanity, and can bring positive change and understanding in the world we live in. If we can bring the advantages of books, whether paper or digital, to communities and countries, then I believe it can only have a positive impact. Not only this, if we really understand each other as humans and listen to each other’s stories then this can bring healing and peace – something very dear to my heart.
What message do you have for our readers?
Although this has been a very difficult period for everyone in the world, I’d like your readers to have faith that we can create a kinder and more inclusive world. Pandemics throughout history have always been great accelerators of change, so this is an opportunity to create a better existence for everyone. We have enormous issues to deal with, but I believe this crisis has given us time to reflect and to value what is really important. Humanity is capable of great things if the right intention is there. We all have a role to play. We are all connected.
Photography: Ivana Maglione
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2021 Issue
