Who was your mentor when you started writing?

Honestly, I had no mentor at the start. I was just babbling my emotions on paper every day. I was a heavy reader growing up and you could say Jane Austin and Virginia Woolf were my favorite.

What inspires you?

Anything concerning women's emotional being. I strongly believe that women’s emotional state is the power that drives them to be strong or weak, good or bad!

Where did your writing journey start? Tell us more about how you started as a writer and ended up as a publisher and managing editor.

It’s a depressing story. I had a major accident that resulted in bedridden for a year. I went into a severe depression for 6 years. I finally got treated and started to resume my life. I wanted to work but could not see myself going back to corporate life with 2 kids and an emotional self-hanging by a thread. I started thinking about what I could do that I knew I could excel in and the only thing that came to mind was writing.

When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?

When I had my daughters. I wanted to create a safe place for me as a woman first, not as a wife, not a mother. As the years went by I wanted to show them an example they would be proud of.

Identity was founded back in 2005. Why do you think it is still thriving?

It was always diversified. Different backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs. That is what keeps it strong. Its people! It was never only my thoughts and beliefs. I believe in my teams. I give them their voice in a friendly home environment. Identity is and always will be a haven for everyone who works here. We all have our differences at times like in every workplace, but our bonds are greater than just work.

How did you master surfing the digital wave of media and moving on from the traditional one?

I could see the digital world was taking over all around the world and it was a matter of time before it would kick in full force in Egypt. We started digitising back in 2013 with baby steps. It took a while but thank God we did it at the right time. By the time we were on solid ground, Egypt was catching the wave.

If Identity was managed by a man, would it have been different? How so?

For sure it would have been different. It started as a women’s social magazine. Most men are tougher, more business-oriented. I do not believe Identity would have been diversified as such. The choice of topics would have been different, and the environment would have not been the same safe place that we are in.

Do you think it’s easier to navigate the media industry as a man or a woman? Why?

Both can do an excellent job, but it is a very challenging industry. It’s more difficult to achieve as a woman with our male dominating societal beliefs. It is a very demanding industry, and you have no free time. You need to be on top of everything that happens. In our society, it is very difficult for a woman.

Is writing a book in any of your plans?

The thought has crossed my mind, but when only God knows if it will happen.

If you could compress your valuable experience into a piece of advice to young female writers, what would it be?

Follow your passion. Do not get deterred by our society. Believe in yourselves, you can do miracles!

“Identity… the search continues…” is her magazine’s motto, and Rola is still searching for peace and acceptance of her own Identity. She told Layla how much she wishes that paper would go back to its glory; as she loves print, just like Layla does. It was also no news to Layla that Rola’s passion was writing and it was her safe place, too. And just like that, Layla felt more connected to magazines now than never before.