Bazaar Belief: Nina Zandnia On Her Proudest Achievement, Key Life Lessons, and Future Growth
The respected TV presenter and producer shares her career highlights and life changing experiences…
Zandnia, who has recently been named an ambassador and spokeswoman for the Division for Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations, reflects on the power of setting goals, how her father inspires her every day and the importance of good manners
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Defining career moment?
Nina Zandnia (NZ): When I was 14 years old, I was hosting a children’s show and realised that this is the path I want to continue on as I love to entertain audiences.
HBA: Proudest achievement?
NZ: I created a TV show and a format 20 years ago – no one believed in it. But I never gave up and my TV show eventually sold to 36 countries. Another proud moment in my life was in 2010 when I opened the first lifestyle TV channel online in the Middle East and was awarded the Great Women Award Middle East.
HBA: The key to Success is…
NZ: Being kind, respectful and real.
HBA: Which experience in life taught you the most about yourself?
NZ: When I became a wife and a mother of two. Now I realise that I am capable of doing anything.
HBA: Any area in which you still want to grow?
NZ: I always want to learn new things. Knowledge is the most important element in a human life. I would like to expand my knowledge about blockchain, NFTs, and Bitcoin because I am rather old fashioned when it comes to these topics.
HBA: Can we have it all (and what does that mean)?
NZ: I don’t believe that anyone can have it all, but I believe that if we create our own goals and satisfy our expectations, then we can achieve what we want to.
HBA: Tell us about a book that changed you?
NZ: The Essence of Life by the Dalai Lama. It’s a book that made me think differently about life and made me have less expectations from people.
HBA: What are you most passionate about?
NZ: As my work is so diverse I just love everything about it. I’m also passionate about fashion, food and culture.
HBA: Who is your career role model?
NZ: Definitely my father. He is my number one mentor. He is the most educated and intelligent human being I have ever met. He is a living Wikipedia and everyone around him calls him a genius. He is also the most humble, kind and generous person that I know. And the most polite and classy man I have ever met. He never calls anyone by their first name, even with babies he says Mr or Miss.
HBA: What key lessons have you learnt and who taught them to you?
NZ: My parents taught me everything. I grew up by learning that respect, class, manners, etiquette and kindness are the most import things in life.
HBA: What feeds your soul?
NZ: My family, my best friends and animals.
HBA: When you were younger, what did you want to be?
NZ: Exactly what I am today. I wanted to work in media and also with the United Nations.
HBA: What would you tell your younger self?
NZ: Not to trust everyone, like I used to do.
HBA: The value you most admire in yourself?
NZ: I am always giving and I always try to help and support others as much as I possibly can.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s June 2022 issue.