When people ask me what I love most about what I do, the answer has always been the same – spreading the word about the amazing people I meet. I always feel incredibly honoured that hundreds of women and men have put their trust in me to tell their stories and help shape, in some small way, the narrative of their lives. And when it comes to writing these in-depth profiles, the ones I think I cherish the most are with individuals who haven’t yet truly gotten their flowers. 

Our cover star, Hajer Abdullah, is the perfect example of this. We met by chance when we hopped into the same golf cart on the way to an event. After overhearing her speak to her cameraman, I asked her if she was from California, like me. When she told me she was Saudi, my jaw hit the floor – proof positive that I still have so much to learn about the women of this region. And of course, what followed was me bombarding her with questions about her life, her career, and her goals. Every answer was more remarkable than the last, and had my journalistic spidey senses tingling off the charts. 

I knew right there and then that I had to get the word out about this gifted, intelligent, and radiant woman. Doubly so when I started to research her online, only to discover that there was very little written about her impressive journey to reach MBC’s anchor’s chair.  Turn to page 44 to read Breaking News to discover for yourself what makes Abdullah so exceptional.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JESSICA MICHAULT (@jessicamichault)

Clocking in a close second when it comes to what I love most about my job – connecting people. If I am being honest, it’s probably the whole reason I started what I like to call the Leading Ladies series that we feature in each magazine. Bringing together four incredibly accomplished women from different walks of life and watching the meet-cute moments happen in real time gives me immense joy.

I have seen over and over the ripple effects of those connections as they empower and support success. For this issue, Faiza Bouguessa, Nada Debs, Nezha Alaoui, and Rita Soueidan joined forces, and I can’t wait to see what results from the delightful day they spent on set together for the Power, Poise, and Purpose feature on page 64.

Finally, besides reading a great profile article, nothing gets me more amped up as a journalist than a well-researched think piece. And this time we have quite a few to choose from. Topics like trad wives (page 78), micro-retiring (page 82), and the dearth of adult friendships (page 60) are just some of the features that can be enjoyed and, hopefully, discussed over the coming months – I know that’s what I’ll be doing. 

Have a great summer!