Hear Us Speak

IF ARAB WOMEN WERE GIVEN A VOICE, WHAT STORY WOULD THEY TELL? To be a woman is a gift. But that gift does not come without challenges. Historically, women around the globe have fought to be heard. The stories of Arab women in particular have often been veiled in mystery. In Hear Us Speak, Suzy Kanoo lifts the veil. As a CEO, Suzy has enjoyed great success as an Arab businessperson; as a woman, she has witnessed firsthand how Arab legislation and culture has not always kept pace with a world that continues to evolve. By curating letters from a wide array of women—and one good man—Suzy reveals story after story of courageous, resilient human beings who flourish in the face of impossible odds. The letters in this book are inspiring, shocking, empowering, harrowing—and a thousand shades between. When read together, they paint a rich portrait of what life is like for Arab women today. These are wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters. They are businesspeople, entrepreneurs, citizens, and refugees. They have seen and done remarkable things, been bruised and emerged stronger for it. Hear Us Speak is a book by and for women, a chorus of voices that will forever change the way you see the world.

SUZAN “SUZY” KANOO is CEO and president of Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company and International Motor Trading Agency, which she has led to become one of the top five car divisions in the country. A pillar of the Bahraini business community, Suzy represents the kingdom at the top economic summit in Davos, is a member of the YPO top-CEO network, and was the first Arab woman to chair the MENA division through member elections. She has traveled with the UN to Syria and goes twice a year to refugee camps around the world and is the cofounder of Ren of Fay, an organic and halal makeup line. Educated in the United States with undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts, she has studied at Boston College, Mercer University, Georgetown University, and Harvard. She is presently completing an executive business program at London Business School. Suzy is a sought-after speaker, tech investor, entrepreneur, poet, author, and the proud mother of three.

INTRODUCTION: THIS IS UNIVERSAL THE KUWAITI PAINTER THE BAHRAINI JOURNALIST THE LONDON HOUSEWIFE THE KUWAITI CEO THE GCC MOTHER THE GULF BUSINESSWOMAN THE KUWAITI INFLUENCER THE GCC SHADOWS THE ARABIC DAD THE GCC FREE SPIRIT THE SYRIAN REFUGEE THE SAUDI MEDIA ICON THE GCC FIGHTER LARA, MY DAUGHTER GENERATION Z EPILOGUE: A BRIGHTER TOMORROW