The story of an immigrant woman who dreamed of coming to the U.S.A. to become a successful entrepreneur.
SO SHE DID!
The earliest years of life for Saloua Ibaline, certified life and business coach, inspirational speaker, and owner of digital marketing agency Ibaline Media, were challenging, to say the least, presenting almost insurmountable odds for success. But with a fiery and resilient nature, and the example her mother showed her, Saloua made her way to Arizona and founded Self Made Successful Women. She combines her experience and expertise to train women in growing their own successful businesses. Saloua’s insight to help others was born of her personal journey that took her from Morocco to Belgium, then New York City, and finally, Phoenix.
Saloua was born in a small village in Morocco, into a society in which women often experience oppression and abuse. The cultural norm was, and in many cases still is, that women are not free to question the male authority figures in their life. First, they belong to their fathers and brothers, and then become the responsibility of their husband, and are meant to stay home, cook, clean, and raise children, and not expect any freedom to pursue anything further.
Saloua’s mother was put into an arranged marriage at the age of 14, and it was not a happy one. After four children and more than a decade of marriage, Saloua’s father divorced her mother without any explanation and sent her back to her own father in disgrace. In a Muslim country, if your husband says you’re getting divorced and kicks you out, you have no say in the matter.
With no money, education, or plan for the future, Saloua’s mother became depressed and hopeless. A year later, when the opportunity arose to emigrate from Morocco to Europe, Saloua’s mother courageously seized her chance, even at the cost of leaving her older children behind since her ex-husband would not allow the children to be taken. Only Saloua was permitted to leave since she was too young to be weaned and separated from her mother.
In Belgium, her mother got remarried. Saloua’s stepfather was also abusive and violent, which eventually led her, her mother and stepsister to move to a women’s shelter, where she spent almost 3 years of her childhood.
Her mother learned French, worked cleaning people’s homes and got her driver’s license. Saloua witnessed the changes taking place in a woman who had found her power and was fighting back against the hardship and circumstances in which she’d been brought up.
Saloua never wanted to be in the position of her mother, yet admired her tenacity in persevering and making a better life for herself. Although not an ideal family situation, Saloua looks at the positive side of her childhood; it gave her an opportunity to grow up in Europe and get an education. She was given a strong and impressive role model in her mother, who strove to improve the lives of her family, and who continued fighting to get her children back, until eventually, 12 years after leaving Morocco, they reconnected in Belgium.
A tenacious and daring young woman, Saloua had big ambitions and at the age of 20, decided to move to New York City. She had no money, didn’t speak proper English, and had no family or connections in the United States. Nonetheless, she took on the challenge, learned English, put herself through college, started her businesses, and 10 years after arriving here, gained U.S. citizenship.
Saloua is a big believer in education and self-improvement, and as such has earned certifications in event management, life coaching, and business coaching, as well as a degree in business management in New York City.
In 2017 she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked for Google Adwords before starting her own digital marketing agency. As a coach, Saloua shares her life’s trials and tribulations transparently, so others can learn from her experiences. She understands firsthand that once someone embraces and uses their power, they can bring forth a new set of circumstances.
Today Saloua offers business coaching programs, women in business virtual mastermind meetings and live panels hosted every quarter in Phoenix, AZ. Her latest project is the Self Made Successful Women coffee table book, featuring the stories of 100 immigrant women entrepreneurs.
Saloua’s way of life is to always be self-aware, ask questions, and embrace your inner power.
For more info visit www.salouaibaline.com