Cottle's Professional Consulting, Women in Business shares with you, yet another woman entrepreneur for our October's women in business profile.
Ms. Abdallah received her training with many distinguished law firms in Beirut-Lebanon and Dubai United Arab Emirates; thus developing her expertise in both jurisdictions. In 2009 after honing her skills and knowledge Ms. Maryam Abdallah established her private law practice General Legal Advocacy: A Private Legal Office practicing internationally. Ms. Maryam Abdallah's law practice focuses on meeting the needs of each client in an environment where trustworthiness is established. One lawyer is devoted to meeting the needs of one client at a time, and in the case where the client's needs might require multiple legal advisory, various firms within the region are outsourced to meet the "wide range of legal issues" that are associated to the case.
What are some of the challenges you have had to overcome and how have you overcome them? Is a question that I have asked all the women who have responded to my call for a CPC Women in Business profile? To this question Ms. Abdallah response is "probably the most demanding challenge was returning to Lebanon after 4 years of living abroad and starting afresh, but the opened business environment in Lebanon" made the transition much easier. Connection with others also helped Maryam in her transition as she moved to reintegrate herself into the society and establish her business. In addition, Maryam also established connection and networked with businesses that support her practice.
The business strategies used by Ms. Maryam Abdallah are some of the same used by women in business across business industries, sectors and countries across the globe. Networking with others and developing partnership, with relationship built on mutual respect and trust, are two entrepreneurial strategies that facilitate business development. These two, together with hard work, commitment and dedication to providing client's support makes for business sustainability. Ms. Abdallah points out that, "it is worth noting that our international network of partnerships developed throughout the years have given us exposure and have been a great assistance in promoting our practice." "And of course, there’s the usual ingredients for any successful recipe in almost any field of business; hard work and dedication to clients support."
In response to the question, what role, if any has computer-based technology played in the development of your business? This was what Maryam had to say: "as any other business who is striving to excel, we have incorporated many technological solutions in our practice but is not yet able to integrate a website into our marketing strategies due to legislation that prohibits it." She elaborated by saying "so this is an aspect we are still communicating with our Bar to enable us to include more exposure to our businesses and benefit from the many tools that the Internet and modern technology provides these days. I can say that things are getting better everyday".
In response to the question: What lessons have you learned along the way that you will give to other businesswomen, or a woman now venturing in the area of entrepreneurship? Ms. Maryam Abdallah said "Many," and went on to outline, one, "never listen to those who say that you can't." Two, "always believe in what you do and trust that you have an inner compass that shows you exactly where and when you should start." Three, "laugh at the obstacles that others put in your way, not only does that add to their disappointment but it actually and really make these obstacles disappear," and fourthly, "don’t work as per others terms and principles, never imitate — innovate instead and create your own, and they will follow.”
Like so many other women in business across the globe, most seems to have a vision as to where they would like to see their business in the future. Maryam is no exception as to where she would like to see her Law practice in 5 to 10 years. She points out that "our future goals — we would like to see ourselves excelling in what we are doing already and achieving a world class standard by working and cooperating with the best to ensure that we have evolved in the right direction." Ms. Abdallah goes on to say that "once we reach the comfort of knowing that we have reached that stage — expanding to ensure a wider coverage to make our excellent services accessible by as many who can at one point feel that legal coverage is not just a privilege for the few and that excellent service can be something within their reach — then I would feel that we have been able to see our message through."
This post was first published in October 2011 at Women in Business Networking and Leadership Group.
General Legal Advocacy and Litigation
mabdalaw@hotmail.com
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