January’s – ‘The Positivity Issue’ – Download Now
Kuwaiti architect Hend Almatrouk, the owner of urban design firm Studio Toggle, discusses being a woman of firsts and how women are underestimated in male-dominated fields.
You’re a woman of many firsts in your career. What is it like being a woman in this region to pave the way for others?
There is a general tendency to underestimate women working in traditionally male-dominated fields. As a woman entrepreneur in the construction industry, operating in the middle east can be extremely challenging. I have had to challenge the norms and overcome stereotypes to get Studio Toggle to where it is right now. I believe my biggest challenge in the early days was to convince potential clients that being a woman-led team does not make Studio Toggle any less capable of designing and executing projects of any scale and to prove that we can do it better than anybody else. I have learnt that confidence is the key and that the power
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What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine?
Every morning I try to wake up with a positive thought in my mind, and I try to incline all of the days energy towards reaching an objective. As soon as I wake up, I hug my dog and after a fruit smoothie, I start my yoga lesson and meditation. This helps me gain physical and mental energy and to maintain a steady pace and clarity through my daily tasks and decisions, both personal and professional.