Bazaar Belief: Dalya Mousa On Her Proudest Achievement, Life Motto, And The Importance Of Family
The director of Art & Culture at Diriyah Gate Development Authority shares her key life lessons, and role model…
As the director of Art & Culture at Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Dalya has made it her life’s work to build global awareness about the rich heritage, unique artists and farreaching culture of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
Dalya Mousa (DM): The creativity, the innovation and the impact I leave on the creative communities by supporting their career paths.
HBA: Biggest regret?
DM: I don’t regret anything, because life is full of ups and down, and it’s part of the journey.
HBA: Happiness is..
DM: A state of mind.
HBA: Favourite motto you live your life by?
DM: I live by many mottos. One of my favourites is, “It’s not about the destination, it is about the journey”.
HBA: Which experience in life taught you the most about yourself and why?
DM: I lived in the United States for six years as a young woman, and it was a big responsibility. My father gave me a choice of pursuing my studies in the Kingdom or abroad. Once I made that choice, I really committed to it. So, when I arrived, I felt that I achieved something and it felt good. It was the beginning of my journey. The moral of the story: when you are fully aware of your capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, you become confident about the steps you are taking. This leads to greater achievements and better outcomes.
HBA: What does family mean to you?
DM: They are my biggest support system.
HBA: What do you still want to learn?
DM: I will always continue to learn. Knowledge is one of the main keys to success. I’m planning to pursue a PhD in the field of Arts and Culture.
HBA: Can we have it all (and what does that mean)?
DM: As humans, we always seek to have a piece of everything to get to a level of satisfaction that makes us feel that we have it all. I always say, ‘master one area, and have knowledge in other areas’. I believe having it all, in my opinion refers to perfectionism, which is the opposite of wabi-sabi, where you seek imperfection intentionally. In my humble opinion, wabi-sabi is a much wiser approach to life than perfectionism.
HBA: What key life lessons have you learnt?
DM: Life and experiences teach us a lot. Key lessons that I have learnt: Success starts with self-discipline, passion, determination, and consistency. That any trauma or unpleasant experience will pass eventually. Choose you battles. Understanding self-worth is one of the most important keys to success.
HBA: Describe yourself in three words…
DM: Optimistic, determined, hard-working
HBA: Proudest achievement?
DM: As a personal achievement, I’m a very proud mother of three beautiful children. Professionally, I’m proud of the fact that I decided many years ago to commit my working life to the creative industries. It was the right choice for me, and I try to always bring passion, determination and vision to my work.
HBA: What are you most passionate about and why?
DM: I’m passionate about enriching and building awareness of Saudi Arabian art and culture, and I’m proud that I’m able to do that through my role at Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s November 2022 issue