Countess
Sokolow

In my own words:

"The ability to realise your dreams depends solely on the limit of your ambition"

"Love may fade but the power of money is one of the few global constants"

"Never become a hostage to your past. To succeed in life, you have to move forward, sometimes breaking away from the shackles of family and friends. If you constantly fall back on them, you will not learn the importance of standing on your own two feet. A safety net is a false security and a restriction on your independence"

"In the strategy of your life goal, look beyond the moment"

"True respect from a man is earned on merit, not acquired through fear, intimidation or humiliation"

"No one can become a victim without their permission"

"In the dynamics of power games, there is no room for romantic notion: if a woman wants romance she should read poetry"

In the 1980s, I relocated to Dallas, Texas, where I developed a moderate level of involvement in the oil and gas industries. During this time, I had the privilege of meeting with Ghazi Sultan, the Deputy Minister of Petroleum for Saudi Arabia, who later assumed the role of Chairman of Arabian American Development Co.

Subsequently, I formed a close friendship with the daughter of Sheikh Zaki Yamani, the then Chairman of OPEC. Through this relationship, I was granted membership to The Center for Global Energy Studies, which is located in Knightsbridge, London.

My inaugural flight on the remarkable Concorde was in February 1978, traveling from Bahrain to London. At the age of 21, I was struck by the rapidity with which my life had transformed from humble beginnings, to traveling at supersonic speeds across the globe. This experience was a testament to my education and tenacity in learning, and it had ultimately paid off.

Through my work as a Personal Assistant to Noel James Cochrane, senior Partner of Sir William Halcrow and Partners, I had gained immense respect and prestige. I was privileged to work with major players in the infrastructure sector of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Subsequently, through my connections with Aramco, I traveled on Concorde across the Atlantic on numerous occasions, covering all routes to the USA.

However, it is worth noting that I did miss an Air France flight to Rio de Janeiro, as my work and social life had become increasingly demanding. Nonetheless, I remained committed to excelling in my profession and was fortunate enough to have many more opportunities to travel on Concorde.

My first permanent position as a young girl, was at this London based prestigious university.

During my lunch brakes and after working hours, I would spend my spare time reading and engrossing myself in the library, I become fascinated in Human Nutrition. The Library in this facility has one of the best selection of academic reading material on Human Nutrition. It was due to my interest on the subject that led me to live a healthy life style and also allowing me to keep fit and slim.

My work, as an assistant in research and statistics, brought me into contact with two leading Doctors in their respective fields, Dr Charles Rhodes, Cardiovascular disease, and Professor Christian Bullpit, Imperial college, the latter became my mentor.