When we think about Haute Hijab team members, we often think about those of us based in the New York office. However, HH is a global company with employees in Texas, Virginia and in the United Arab Emirates! Our warehouse, where most of our hijabs are stocked, is located in Dallas, Texas; and Account Manager Haneen Gharbieh is the fabulous woman who keeps it all moving! When you order a hijab (or return one), Haneen is based in the warehouse to process all these requests, handle shipments and keep inventory flowing out of the warehouse and into your hands!
Haneen is all about her family, spending time with her siblings and parents (whom she considers her heros) whenever she can. She dreams of becoming an ESL elementary school teacher and has a personal interest in fashion, which is one of the many reasons why she loves working at HH. Get to know Haneen as she answers 15 fun (and a few deep) questions in our ongoing summer (now fall) team-focused series – "15 Things You May Not Know About ... "
1. What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Free time? What’s that!? Joking aside, I do have some free time despite a busy work week. Pretty much all of my free time is given to my family. It really is unexplainably amazing to go home to see my parents after a long day at work.
2. What are your hobbies? What are your dream hobbies?
One of my biggest hobbies is fashion. I love to keep up with the latest trends and styles to keep myself in touch with fashion industry. A dream hobby of mine is traveling. I would love to see more of the world if I ever got the opportunity, insha’Allah.
3. What is something you hate doing?
Some chores really irritate me because of how much work they are, such as laundry! It can be so annoying sometimes. But, I still do all these things because they are necessary
4. If you could eat something on an endless loop, what would it be?
Whattt!! That shouldn’t even be a question! Chick-fil-A, of course !
5. What feeds your soul/when are you at your happiest/best?
Simplicity is the key to my happiness. Being around people whom I love the most brings out the best in me. It's nice to have someone in your life who can make you smile even when they're not around.
6. Who do you look up to the most and why? (living or dead)
I look up to my own parents very highly. Most children acquire the same eye color or similar facial expressions from their parents, but I have inherited much more: A passion from rising up every time I fall down and a passion for learning, which has served me throughout my life and career. While I did have the motivation to succeed on my own in high school, I fought to impress the two people who care most about me – my mother and my father. They fought their own struggles to see me succeed in life. They may not be a world leader or an Olympic athlete, but my parents are definitely my heroes.
7. If you could go back and change something in your life, what would it be?
If I could go back in time, I would change nothing and live my life as I lived right now. I’d relive the moments of joy and sadness and feel it all over again. I suppose every time we think about, “If only…” those moments make us regret difficult or challenging situations and our previous decisions. I’d rather not do that. Although now and again our choices may go wrong, that is what felt right for us at the time. Surely there was something to be learned from it.
8. What is your biggest challenge in life?
My biggest challenge in life is trying to accomplish a good work-life balance. I think everyone needs a healthy dose of personal alone time in order to maintain a high level of mental and psychological health. Sometimes I get way too busy with working and helping family that I forget to take care of myself. So, one of my goals is to reach that good balance between my personal and busy time. I feel like I am the most productive when my state of mind is in top shape.
Haneen on the bottom right with her family!
9. What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?
I was born in Amman, Jordan. I moved to the United States 10 years ago.
10. What is that big dream thing you want to accomplish in life? Or if not one thing, a few things?
I want to graduate with my bachelors degree in Child Development and Psychology, and becoming an ESL elementary school teacher.
– what is your favorite or not-so-favorite thing about working at a Muslim-owned company?
My favorite thing about working for a Muslim company is that I can be really comfortable knowing that the people and organization around me consider me like their own sister.
12. What does a typical Friday night look like for you?
I'm like a happy kid on a Friday afternoon after a very long week at work. I like to hangout with my cousins and friends; we usually go out for dinner.
13. What’s the strangest or most fun family tradition you have?
On Sundays, my sisters’ and brothers' families usually come over to my house for a barbecue. I usually take my nephews to the park and spend the rest of the day hanging out with my family.
14. Cat person or dog person (or some other kind of animal)?
I don't like pets in general very much.
15. If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be and why?
“Don't take yourself too seriously.” This quote helps me to enjoy life more and be okay with making mistakes. It reminds me that nobody is perfect, and I can take comfort in believing in myself 100 percent.