From Physio to Sales, Marketing, and PR: What I Learned

When I was 16, my father asked me a pivotal question while I was helping my mother in her office: “You’ve done well in school. Do you want to study medicine?”

I said no.

He then asked if I liked biology. I said yes, and he suggested exploring allied health professions. He explained the options: laboratory work (too repetitive); nursing (I lacked the patience); X-rays (too dull); medical records (absolutely not). Then he said, “What about physiotherapy? It’s all about muscles.”

That was it. I was hooked. I loved sports and the idea of working with muscles fascinated me. That was the beginning of my journey into physiotherapy.

I started working at a rehabilitation center in Kuwait, then moved to England to further my experience. By 1992, I was in Bahrain, working as a physiotherapist. While I did well in the profession, I began to feel frustrated. Something was missing. I realized I wanted more.

I decided to branch out, studying sales, marketing, and public relations, and earning a diploma. Armed with new skills, I joined the Sheraton Hotel in a marketing role, but after four months, an opportunity arose. Managers from Merck Sharpe & Dohme Pharmaceuticals approached me, and I transitioned into medical sales. This role perfectly combined my medical knowledge with my new sales expertise.

I worked my way up over three years, eventually becoming a manager.