Sihame El Kaouakibi

the way you approach life and projects or work or whatever, relationships in a more sustainable way. And of course it took me a lot of time. It took me three years. And so that's why I said besides consulting, I love coaching because I don't think it has to take three years and you can do this alone. So I'm so privileged that during my mental health

the way you approach life and projects or work or whatever, relationships in a more sustainable way. And of course it took me a lot of time. It took me three years. And so that's why I said besides consulting, I love coaching because I don't think it has to take three years and you can do this alone. So I'm so privileged that during my mental health

journey like going from rock bottom to where i am today and how i approach life today is of course because i had an abundance of love and warmth and grateful to have the health the physical health as well and to be able to cope with this very dark period to where i am today full of light

journey like going from rock bottom to where i am today and how i approach life today is of course because i had an abundance of love and warmth and grateful to have the health the physical health as well and to be able to cope with this very dark period to where i am today full of light

Politics is a difficult chapter in my life, so I'll take time to think about the big lines that I want to share. And I think I have to start from the beginning and then go towards the lessons learned. So if I start with the beginning, back then I was 28, working at full speed as an entrepreneur.

Politics is a difficult chapter in my life, so I'll take time to think about the big lines that I want to share. And I think I have to start from the beginning and then go towards the lessons learned. So if I start with the beginning, back then I was 28, working at full speed as an entrepreneur.

Our organizations were making a huge impact on youth and people through empowerment, impact-driven consultancy. And actually, I never... intended to run for elections, really several party leaders asked me to join their party and run. I always said no was my default answer because we had impact and freedom to speak up without political affiliation.

Our organizations were making a huge impact on youth and people through empowerment, impact-driven consultancy. And actually, I never... intended to run for elections, really several party leaders asked me to join their party and run. I always said no was my default answer because we had impact and freedom to speak up without political affiliation.

So we could advocate for change, for equality and justice freely. But like the rest of Europe and the West, Belgium saw the rise of extreme parties. for right, conservatism, we had this racism, sexism, name it, you name it.

So we could advocate for change, for equality and justice freely. But like the rest of Europe and the West, Belgium saw the rise of extreme parties. for right, conservatism, we had this racism, sexism, name it, you name it.

And social media, and I was a target for that, social media became a hotbed for hate speech, which of course hurts as a community builder and leader that what we were doing, bringing people together, creating sense of belonging, uniting people through projects, tangible achievements, youth centers, et cetera. So when I saw that these elections

And social media, and I was a target for that, social media became a hotbed for hate speech, which of course hurts as a community builder and leader that what we were doing, bringing people together, creating sense of belonging, uniting people through projects, tangible achievements, youth centers, et cetera. So when I saw that these elections

In 2019, this was end of 2018, beginning 2019, these elections would be pivotal for the country. So that's where, when one of the, some people came to me from a certain party, that's the first time, it was the timing as well. I was emotional because everything was happening. I could see it in the news. I was like, well, what is this? All these campaigns, anti-women, anti-migrants, et cetera.

In 2019, this was end of 2018, beginning 2019, these elections would be pivotal for the country. So that's where, when one of the, some people came to me from a certain party, that's the first time, it was the timing as well. I was emotional because everything was happening. I could see it in the news. I was like, well, what is this? All these campaigns, anti-women, anti-migrants, et cetera.

So I decided to run in 24 hours. I consulted, of course. People close to me, but like with everything, these people that knew me as a high-performing woman, always stubborn, just doing my thing, ego-driven decisions, they just, they couldn't hold me back. I know they wanted to do, but they couldn't. They just knew that I wasn't, they weren't able to hold me back.

So I decided to run in 24 hours. I consulted, of course. People close to me, but like with everything, these people that knew me as a high-performing woman, always stubborn, just doing my thing, ego-driven decisions, they just, they couldn't hold me back. I know they wanted to do, but they couldn't. They just knew that I wasn't, they weren't able to hold me back.

And that was like part of my personality and also part of being stubborn in your goals and in your visions to make a change. I decided to run, got elected, but it was from... Day one of campaigning, very challenging. We had this conservatism, nationalism, far-right. They had almost 50% representation.

And that was like part of my personality and also part of being stubborn in your goals and in your visions to make a change. I decided to run, got elected, but it was from... Day one of campaigning, very challenging. We had this conservatism, nationalism, far-right. They had almost 50% representation.

So imagine being in parliament, more than 50% is really the opposite of what you stand for and who you are and, you know, what my looks are and et cetera. So it's created a tough work environment. People forget that it's a work environment. You go to your work as a member of parliament. Plus, we faced COVID and Black Lives Matter during my first year, making me work from zero to 200% politics.

So imagine being in parliament, more than 50% is really the opposite of what you stand for and who you are and, you know, what my looks are and et cetera. So it's created a tough work environment. People forget that it's a work environment. You go to your work as a member of parliament. Plus, we faced COVID and Black Lives Matter during my first year, making me work from zero to 200% politics.