Female Leaders

Insights and inspiration from the Indian educator, author and philanthropist, and the co-founder of the Infosys Foundation.

A look behind the scenes of the merger between two female-founded entities in the MENA region: consumer brand-building platform Maison Pyramide and talent management agency Ego & East.

Featured by Cartier at the Women's Pavilion at Dubai's Expo 2020, Kanwal Ahmed's impact-driven business has been lauded for empowering South Asian women.

"Every few years, some crisis will happen, but it is how you handle them, and how you adjust to new circumstances that matters."

"I can't believe people actually pay me to do what I love- I would do this for free!"

"I am someone who needs to learn by herself. If I fail, I will try again. I'm resilient."

Emirati showjumper Amna Bani Hashem and Espand By Maz founder Maz Hakim share insights on what it takes to balance two careers.

Sekka Managing Editor Sharifah Alhinai offers insights that can help students who would like to venture into the world of entrepreneurship while they are still in university.

While the COVID-19 pandemic challenged us all over the past two years, it also illuminated the tremendous potential for technology to support the participation of women in the workforce who might otherwise have been excluded or actively opted out.

The inaugural Women SME Leaders Awards 2022, staged by Mastercard and Entrepreneur Middle East, celebrated some of the region's most enterprising women-owned and run SMEs across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

"Inclusivity in makeup matters. Every skin tone should be seen and considered when creating products."

Nominations are now open for the inaugural Women SME Leaders Awards 2022, the first initiative of its kind to recognize and further empower women-owned and run SMEs across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, staged by Mastercard and Entrepreneur Middle East.

Shahnaz Bagherzadeh, founder of Vivel Patisserie, on how her Dubai-born enterprise has evolved from a way to earn a living to a family-owned business that's gone global.

More women are making their mark in the traditionally male-dominated finance industry, but they remain underrepresented in leadership positions.

From paying attention to your physical, emotional, and psychological health, all of which are interconnected, you will be able to focus properly and run your business effectively.

As a woman working in a male-dominated industry, Mahendra admits that she has often felt neglected or forgotten by her peers in the sector- however, she made sure that such challenges never deterred her from realizing her goals.

Founded by long-term Dubai resident Annika D'Souza, Crumb & Co. has managed to gain a cult following of sorts since it launched amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, with its delectable creations finding favor with anyone who has even the hint of a sweet tooth.

"If you don't have anyone positive around you, be ok with being by yourself. Work on yourself daily. Do not compromise, do not give up, do not forget your mission and your why."

With an increased focus on sustainability in the region, Lahdo is on a mission to help companies and business leaders seamlessly incorporate ESG agendas into their overall frameworks, adding that it is "no longer a 'nice-to-have' but a 'must-have.'"

From robotics kits she was gifted at the age of seven, to watching sci-fi movies, shows, and documentaries on technology and innovation, Al Kaabi has spent years exploring various ideas and possibilities.

There are several reasons why women in leadership roles, both as clients as well as service providers is beneficial, but when it comes to the bottom line, the simple fact remains, that diversity among leadership is better for business.