What’s your name?
Maram Yousif Soliman
Where and when were you born?
1994 in Muscat
Where did you go to school?
Oman
What did you study in uni and where?
I studied in the school of medicine In Ahfad University For women
What did you like most about school?
The community
Who was the most influential person to you as a child?
My dad
What would people you know find surprising about you as a teen ?
I’m not shy anymore
What was your first job?
Babysitter
Tell us about your lip-gloss line business
When I created the formula I created it for myself cause I was using a medicine that dried my lips and I tried everything but nothing worked for me. After a while shared my lip gloss with friends and family and everyone liked it
What are the most challenging aspects of it?
How to get men to use it
If any, what challenges have you experienced as a woman in business during your overall career?
That suppliers don’t take me seriously because I am a woman
Who was the most significant influence in your career?
My close friends
Have you always been entrepreneurial?
no
What are the most important things to progressing as the owner/Director of a business? These could be characteristics, values, skills etc
The product should solve a problem and have a good quality and a good price and focus and work hard in marketing because if people don’t know your product exists they won’t buy it.
How do you balance between private time and work time?
In the start it’s difficult but with time it gets better and you can balance, it’s just good time management and have extra time for anything special in Sudan
What have been some make-or-break moments in your business?
When I started my business no one got me seriously and they don’t accept that I didn’t have much time to hang out with my friends andI choosed my business
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
In general, I break the taboo that men cannot use a lip balm and have men clients
What is some memorable lesson you have learned in life?
Do not wait a perfect time to start just start and improve yourself with time
Whose biggest fan are you?
Huda Beauty
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to plant in my garden and I have tons of fans that follow me especially because of this hobby
What do you find most rewarding about your career as a doctor and as a business owner?
Both, I treat my job as a doctor as one of my hobbies and my business is my real income
Who is the most influential female figure in your life, and Why?
Huda Kayan again because she started from the scratch
What led you to take that first step and setting up your own business?
That I wanna have my own income and be financially independent
What is the one thing you wish people knew about you?
That I struggle a lot and didn’t have that community privilege as they think
What was your favorite activity during quarantine?
Medication
Who is your support system?
My friends and my followers
How would your best friends describe you?
The most creative problem-solving person
Do you pursue lipgloss line business as your career or just as a hobby?
Yes I do and I expand my business and as more natural skincare products
What do your close friends call you?
Mariso
What pets do you like most? Do you have any?
I’m a dogs person and I have two dogs
Where do you get your inspiration from?
YouTube
What has been (or still) the biggest challenge in your career?
I struggle a lot with the raw materials because the market has never been stable and I have to make sure I have the same good quality that they provide to my clients every time
Share something you would like the world to know about you?
My social media personality has never been real, in reality, I’m a different person
What one piece of advice would you give any aspiring female business leaders reading this?
That you are the only one that controls your life no one can stop you… unless You accept that