Dubai, UAE – 30 April, 2017 - Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), the UAE’s leading platform for the personal and professional development of women in the emirate and beyond, hosted a dynamic discussion on women in leadership, featuring WWE Chief Brand Officer and TV personality Stephanie McMahon alongside some of the UAE’s most influential business women. 

The event builds on 15 years of innovative work DBWC has carried out supporting professional women in Dubai through strategic education, training and networking opportunities – work that is at the forefront of inspiring the lives of Dubai-based women and pioneering the UAE’s drive to lead the region in improving gender balance. 

The panel, which took place yesterday at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, saw both women and men convene to identify and explore the factors central to the progress of women’s economic integration as an essential component of sustainable economic growth and resilient social development. Other panelists included Muna al Gurg, Director Retail at Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group; Elissa Freiha, Founder at WOMENA, a Dubai-based angel investment platform; and Katie Fielder, Dubai One TV’s news anchor turned moderator for the session. 

“The urgent need to support and unlock the potential of women in both a personal and professional manner is something we keep at the forefront of everything we do at Dubai Business Women Council,” said Dr. Raja Al Gurg, President, DBWC. “While the glass ceiling is a commonly used metaphor in the gender diversity debate, DBWC believes it is outdated. Instead, we are focusing on the increasing number of windows of opportunity being flung open for women and the incredible panache with which women around the world are rising to new challenges. We need to reflect on strategies, not barriers, and our regular panels provide an important platform for facilitating bold action towards achieving gender balance across all industries. We encourage society to be fearless in challenging the stereotypical bias faced by women”. 

A symbolic alignment that seeks to break down the stereotypes of Arab women, particularly in sport and other typically male-dominated industries, yesterday’s discussion underlined the Council’s role in stimulating proactive thinking and visionary female leadership, as well as furthering dialogue necessary for inspiring women to be the best they can be to create a more gender-balanced society. Championing WWE’s Women’s Evolution, offering female performers the same opportunities as their male counterparts, both Stephanie McMahon and WWE share DBWC’s mission to shape an environment where women are encouraged to release their potential as a means to better performance and increased innovation. 

 “Our female performers are world-class athletes, actors, public speakers and philanthropists,” says Stephanie McMahon. “They are role models who inspire both women and girls to be confident and strong. It was an honor to participate in the discussion hosted by the Dubai Business Women’s Council, as we share the joint belief that women all over the world deserve the same respect as their male counterparts.