For many of us, dreaming too much means missing work and slacking off. For Suha Mousa, founder and CEO of Jathal Event Styling, it has led to incredible success. The difference is that she follows her dreams with determination and a steady pace, working until they come true.
Mousa, who is from Makkah, started coordinating and designing events with an ambitious idea. She wanted to bring together the needs of two different generations, meshing parents’ vision of a traditional wedding with youth’s expectation of simplicity and low costs.
The inspiration for her project was right inside of her family. While preparing for her brother’s wedding, she noticed the gap between the two generations and decided to do something about it. After a lot of hard work, Jathal came to life.
“I do everything myself; I even took a course in accounting so that I can manage the project’s finances,” Mousa says. “When I applied for the licenses and permits for my project I went myself and followed up on them.”
But commitment is one of many reasons for her company’s growth. Creativity and innovation are at the heart of her success – although she has a BA in home economics, she continues to learn and seek new ideas. After creating Jathal, Mousa traveled to learn the art of chocolate design and brought that knowledge back to make her company a little bit sweeter.
“I always look for new things and I am always willing to learn from other people’s experiences,” Suha says. This adaptability and willingness to embrace new ideas has set her business apart from other event planning groups.
She used her unique style to transform traditional engagement tools into modern, artistic furniture. The piece serves its traditional purpose during the ceremony, and remains as artwork in the new home, a fond memory of the marriage’s beginning.
Her determination and creativity have clearly paid off – this year, she became the Kingdom’s Ambassadress for Global Women’s Entrepreneur Day.
“I didn’t expect to get this award, for I come from a modest family, I studied in government schools and universities, I am far away from the media and not very active on social media websites,” Suha says. “If this proves anything, it proves that the entrepreneur community in Saudi Arabia is moving in the right direction.”
She encourages all women entrepreneurs and anyone with an original idea to start their business and not to give up hope – it takes time and persistence to reach the peak of success.
“We shouldn’t forget the basic goal of our existence on earth, which is to work,” Mousa says. “The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him said, ‘If the Hereafter came while one of you is planting a sapling, if he could stay until he plants it, he should do so.’”
