Abdullah Interviews Abdullah S. Boftain

What I love about my guests is how open and trusting they are of me. It honestly feels great and overwhelming to find such rare spirits.

Abdullah Boftain today is a well known public figure to me and you all. However, I never knew his story, what was he really famous for, what energy did he bring about that reflected so much love from everyone around him ? I never knew that. Extremely pleased that he accepted my invitation for an online interview, it gives me so much pleasure to finally understand the many layers of knowledge, experience, family matters and self embrace he went through to get to where he is today.

Some people do not require an introduction, they’r people made for people. You see them everyday and think yeah I know this guy, but do you ? really ? As awkward as it may seem, i’d rather let him take you down through his journey and let you guys know eachother better.

As you’ll read on, you’ll find out how following your passion is the way to go. Abdullah sets a great example through the stories he shared with us all tonight. On a wonderful note, he admires local viewers, how they think and react gracefully. Yet, he sets his sight on higher grounds, international stardom with a message that leads positivity all the way from all aspects of life (you know im cheering for him right?).

I talked about how open he is, you see, he shared lots of information and personal pictures that includes family, traveling, personal stuff that just make you smile when you go through’em, you can tell he is an adventurer in a way or another. Very human, if I may add.

I’v always given a p0ach angel award to some ladies who graced the front posts of interviews, today, Abdullah is the first male recipient of a p0ach angel award, simply because his love and passion for his family is evident in each and every answer, so full of life and higher then the average man’s hopes and expectations on how to go about and do things. Awesome, just awesome!

Help me to give this young gentleman the warmth and love this spot is known for. Enough of me and get to know my guest.

Lets peel you down Abdullah, give us a glimpse of who you are.
My name is Abdullah Sabeeh Boftain and I’m 28 years old. I have a small family, my wife, my son (Hamani) and me. I love politics and my career in media, public relations and marketing. Two of my favorite hobbies are traveling and collecting badges from all over the world.

I’m also a big fan of Manchester United since the days of Eric Cantona!. I participated in leading many political movements and campaigns, most importantly of which are political women’s rights and the Orange Movement “Nabeeha Khams” (We Want Them Five).

I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA points. My parents wanted me study either medicine or engineering, and although I was fond of media and marketing, I kept that strong desire inside me and studied engineering which I never liked. I kept myself busy in syndicate activities and elections. And thank God my suffering didn’t last for long as 2 years later I told my parents that I wished to move to Business Administration school at Kuwait University. And so it happened. I graduated excellently with a major in finance, and worked during my school years as an account executive at Microsolutions Advertising Agency. During the same period of time, I worked as a freelance journalist at Al-Qabas newspaper and Al-Yaqaza magazine in which I had a weekly column. I went through a number of experiences in that domain as well as others I had in advertising and radio hosting in Marina FM.

After graduation, I worked with the public relations team at NBK, and I learnt a lot from this prestigious school. 3 years later, I moved to another post as Public Relations and Marketing Manager at M.H Alshaya Company that runs over 55 international trade marks in the MENA, Europe and Russia. Finally, I founded with a group of school friends Shiraa Co. for managing and financing small projects. I’m really content that after 10 years of graduating from high school, particularly in 2009, my old dream has seen the light, and I mixed between media and politics in my political talk show (Liqa’ Al-Rai) on Al-Rai TV.

How was your childhood like ?
My parents were keen to develop my communication and speech skills since I was at KG, which gave me the opportunity to address a speech to graduates in KG in 1986, high school in 1999 and college in 2004. Such opportunities broke the barriers of fear, which I’m trying to do now with my son through my own experience by preparing an archive having all cuttings and slips that might be of use to him to develop his personality. As for the syndicate activities at college, my real experience at that domain was by working in media and advertising committees where I developed a passion for public relations and marketing.

As a matter of fact, my childhood and how my parents brought me up led me to media and talk shows. Also, the beautiful days at college and elections drew my path in marketing and public relations. I can say that my childhood and college were the basic inspiring factors.

How did you tap into where you are today ?
I didn’t study media but I try to be professional at my shows. I try to hide my opinions and personal perceptions. I listen to the other. I go higher with the interview level within the limits of discipline and morals without degradation. I’m cautious not to hurt others nor humiliate them. I speak to minds and to the conscious viewer. We, with our work team, select our guests carefully of ministers, deputies and local officials. We also went out of the local shell to meet regional figures as the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri and the Secretary General of Hezbullah Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, and many more to come. We are keen that the Kuwaiti viewer wouldn’t concentrate only on local issues which are regarded by some observers as political luxury, but we seek to broaden the spectator’s horizon to a wider world, full of issues which we should be part of. I hope one day I have viewers from all over the world.

What were the difficulties you faced and how did you overcome them ?

Some criticize us because we don’t attack guests and provoke them, but we believe that calmness, balance and respect to guests with whom we agree or disagree is what makes a successful show host. We benefit from constructive criticism and try to avoid destructive one. We observe how the leaders excelled in media in the Arab world and globally to benefit from their experiences and methods.

Honestly, there is nice criticism coming from caring and loving hearts and there are few who practice the hobby of disappointing which by time we excelled at dealing with.

If you dont mind Share with us some of your shocking or controversial moments of your career ?
Our last interview with Sayed Hassan Nasrallah was an exciting step we took. It attracted the attention of news agencies and world TV channels because it came after sentencing a Hezbullah member to death in Egypt. Reuters, BBC and CNN broadcasted some parts of our interview and talked about it, and it was also subtitled to many other languages, even to Hebrew. Everyone was asking how you got to Nasrallah and where he lives. But our answer was that the arrangements for the interview were very confidential and our transportation was a long and exhausting process like action movies. We had to ride a number of cars to move there, and we were searched, and there were guns and shaded cars in which you can’t see anything because of darkness. But what was soothing was how we have been treated nicely by our guest and companions, as well as the positive result we were expecting from airing the episode.

A favorite question of mine is this: Your support system tell me about that.
My mother took the responsibility of helping me memorize poems, anthems, Quran verses, songs and dances when I was a child, while my father was the first supporter and the main defense line for me during all my experiences. My Grandfather, grandmother, sister, brothers, family and siblings were all the cheering team, present at all occasions. My close friends praise me and sometimes give me remarks on what I do. They are my mirror in which I see my flows. Work teams in all jobs I worked in had a great influence and were the main factor that made success, particularly the public relations team at NBK and my Al-Rai team. Today, and after I have become a husband and father, my back is stronger and my motive is bigger with the presence of my wife and my son.

5 years from now, where will you be ?
5 years is a short period to talk about. How about making it 10? Well, after 10 years, I’ll be almost 40, and I hope that all state problems politically, sports, environment, education, economics and housing issues are solved so I can quit my media career and enjoy building my house and watching Kuwait national team qualifying to World Cup 2022, and participating in Hala February festivals on stages with modern settings and decorations, opera houses, gardens and projects I’ve always dreamt of.

However, if what I just mentioned will still be dreams after these 10 years, I will go on with my message in life to give a positive effect to society through my talk shows that I hope will be on the same level as Oprah Winfrey’s and Larry King’s and others who became stronger and more influential on the public view than presidents.

Throw something for p0ach readers !
Sometimes, weather temperatures, newspapers headlines, or some people’s sick feelings don’t make you feel optimistic. No matter how frustration controls life, we only have to work for a better tomorrow for my son Abdulrahman and his friends. At the same time, positivity is needed for ourselves and for them, that’s why I always quote: Positive things happen to positive people.

Related posts:

1. Abdullah Interviews Ali Cha’aban
2. Abdullah Interviews BiBi Al-Sabah
3. Abdullah Interviews Mohammed Al-Awwad
4. Abdullah Interviews Fahad Al-Sabah
5. Abdullah Interviews Nouf Al-Mudhayan