bahrainthismonth.com | AUGUST 2026 INDIA IN BAHRAIN 37 Chairperson of ALBARQ Group of Companies and founder of Biolights, Tanima CK, reflects on entrepreneurship, sustainable innovation and the responsibility of creating opportunities for women and future leaders. For Tanima leadership began long before she entered a boardroom, tracing her approach to the supportive environment in which she was raised, surrounded by warmth, laughter and people who believed in one another. That foundation shaped the leader she would later become, one who views entrepreneurship as more than commercial activity. As she says: “Building a business is, at its core, a creative act.” Her work with ALBARQ Group and Biolights has allowed her to explore how companies can grow while remaining guided by purpose. ALBARQ operates across infrastructure and electrical installations, where decisions carry significant financial and operational consequences. Biolights, meanwhile, was founded around a simple question: could spaces be illuminated without harming the environment? For Tanima, meaningful innovation must always respond to a genuine need. Sustainability cannot be treated as a fashionable addition or an idea detached from commercial realities. She says: “Sustainability and commercial sense aren’t opposites. They actually reinforce each other when you get the balance right.” That balance is measured through lasting value, both for the business and the wider community. This includes investment in mentorship and internship programmes designed to develop the next generation. She explains: “A business that doesn’t bring people along with it isn’t really growing, it’s just expanding.” Becoming an ICF-certified business coach also transformed Tanima’s leadership style. Coaching taught her to listen more carefully, resist the temptation to provide immediate answers and give people the confidence to discover solutions themselves. Rather than seeing employees as individuals who need to be corrected, she seeks to create an environment where people can question, experiment, make mistakes and develop. She says: “That shift, from directing to enabling, has honestly been the most valuable thing I’ve taken from coaching.” Bahrain has also played an important role in her journey. Tanima describes the Kingdom as open and supportive, with accessible institutions, strong professional networks and an increasing appetite for women to lead. She believes opportunities exist for women who are prepared to step forward rather than wait for permission. Tanima says: “The door is more open here than many people realise. What we need now is more women walking through it and then holding it open for the next one.” Integrity and resilience have remained central throughout her career. She has refused to compromise her principles, even when doing so might have provided an easier path. She also values genuine relationships built on trust rather than transactional networking. Working in the traditionally male-dominated engineering and infrastructure sectors presented its own challenges. Early in her career, Tanima sometimes felt she had to prove herself twice over. With experience, however, she came to recognise that being different could be a source of value. She says: “I ask different questions. I think about people, not just processes.” Her recognition with the Woman in Business Leadership award at the Woman of the Year Awards 2025 reinforced the importance of visibility. The award represented more than a personal achievement, signalling to other women that a leadership career in engineering was possible. Tanima’s advice to aspiring female leaders is direct: begin before feeling entirely ready, remain curious and build something meaningful. She says: “Above all, remember that your success doesn’t just belong to you. Every door you open is a door for someone else too. That’s worth something.” Creating Impact Through Leadership
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