Parents Corner 131
When Individual Effort is no Longer Enough Even with clarity, individual effort has limits. Strategies for resilience and time management cannot fully compensate for systems that were not designed with caregiving in mind. Recruitment that penalises career breaks, cultures rewarding constant availability, and leadership equating presence with commitment shape parent experiences.
different narrative. Strategic surrender is not a retreat from ambition, but a thoughtful response to complexity. Rather than encouraging women to do more or endure longer, it encourages defining personal success, aligning priorities across life stages and balancing economic realities with wellbeing.
Riem's book Strategic Surrender is available for purchase on Amazon
Designing Success that Endures There is, however, reason for optimism. GCC policy developments, including extended maternity leave, the introduction of paternity leave in the UAE, and childcare and transport initiatives in Saudi Arabia, signal growing recognition of working parenthood. Yet policy alone is insufficient. Culture shapes whether these measures are truly accessible
without judgment or career penalty. As Vision 2030 advances, the opportunity is to build an ecosystem spanning policy, organizational culture, leadership behaviour, and individual agency. Redefining success is not lowering ambition but creating lives and workplaces where ambition and purpose coexist sustainably.
RIEM ELFAR
“Strategic surrender is not a retreat from ambition, but a response to complexity.”
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