Leading Event on Finding Solutions to Modern Woman’s Challenges and Featuring Inspiring Success Stories

27th May, Dubai, UAE–BOLDtalks Woman is dedicated to driving solutions that advance women and girls. An intimate and impactful gathering centered on storytelling and live journalism, this event brings together inspiring women from all over the world. From CEOs and world leaders to grassroots activists and firebrand dissidents, the 2nd annual BOLDtalks Woman 2014 will continue to bring to light the incredible stories of women and girls—looking at both their challenges and triumphs—and encouraging solutions to women’s issues.

BOLDtalks Woman2014 is scheduled to take place on Saturday 31stMay 2014 at DUCTAC, Mall of Emirates from 10 am – 5 pm.

This exclusive one-day event will feature an illustrious line up of regional and international speakers presenting on diverse matters centring on issues related to women’s wellbeing – with particular focus on Female Infanticide, War Through the Eyes of a Female Arab Journalist, Female Circumcision, Comedy as a Way of Life, Documentary on Syrian Refugees, Positive Psychology, Creative Entrepreneurship and Female Objectification in the Music Industry.

This event is not exclusive to women, as men are encouraged to participate too! Tickets are priced 200dhs, and you can get them at DUCTAC's Box Office (04 3414 777) or online http://www.eventbrite.com/e/boldtalks-woman-2014-tickets-11561736465

Enida Mujanovic, Co-Founder, BOLDtalks said, “The success of the first BOLDtalks Woman event last year has sealed our confidence about this event. The talks are inspiring, thought provoking and ones that we cannot shy away from anymore. BOLDtalks Woman 2014 is equally exciting and we are thrilled to have such great speakers on board with us.” 

“The BOLDtalks women’s event is a remarkable platform for women of all cultures and backgrounds to come together and share their experiences and visions, their challenges and inspirations,” says Omar Boulos, managing director for Accenture in the Middle East. “Women in this region are pioneers, they are innovators, and they are agents of change. We are proud to support BOLDtalks and its aim of highlighting the positive difference and the leadership that women are bringing to our region.”

BOLDtalks Woman 2014 will be moderated by Susan Furness, founder of Strategic Solutions, reputed to be Dubai’s first corporate communications consultancy.

Featured talks include:

Times Of War Through The Eyes of Arab Female Journalist
By Jenan Moussa

Jenan Moussa hails from Lebanon, a country where she experienced firsthand wars and armed conflicts. So it isn’t a surprise that she chose to cover the Arab Uprisings bringing her to Egypt, Libya & Syria. In Syria, Moussa was on the frontlines of Aleppo and she survived bombing raids by Syrian army as buildings around her collapsed. In Libya, she went with the rebels from town to town during a long desert war that ended when she stood 5 centimeters away from a dead Ghaddafi. Not only will she tell us her eyewitness account of the Arab Uprising, she will also explain the challenges of being a female war reporter in a conservative and male dominated part of the world.

Mango Girls
By Kunal Sharma

In many districts across India, female fetuses are selectively aborted, and some baby girls are either killed at birth or left to grow up as second-class citizens. But in Dharhara, a small village in the district of Bhagalpur, Bihar, local residents plant 10 mango trees when a daughter is born. Within a span of five to seven years the trees start to bear fruits that take care of her education, wedding, and wellbeing. In this powerful talk, Kunal discusses the female infanticide practice across India, and further shares on his award-winning documentary on the success stories in combating this tragic phenomena.

Combating FGM
By Hannah Wettig

More than 140 million girls and women in the world are victims of female genital mutilation
(FGM) or what is often referred to as female circumcision. At a very young age girls’ genitals are cut, reasons are to remain a woman’s chastity; in some cultures it is considered a beautification, in others there are religious reasons. However, the practice often has severe consequences from immediate infections to lifelong health problems such as recurring cysts, risks giving birth and sexual dysfunction. In this talk, Hannah Wettig will talk about why people stick to this ancient practice in Middle Eastern countries, differences to African cultures and ways to campaign against it.

Seriously Funny: Comedy as a Way of Life
By Mina Liccione

Comedian and arts professor, Mina Liccione, will discuss ways to use comedy as a tool to empower women’s creative voices, break stereotypes and bring people of diverse cultures, religions, financial backgrounds together. Stand-up comedy is a male-dominate career and often associated with ‘inappropriate content’ though Liccione only performs, and teaches, halal comedy and has been breaking the mold for aspiring female artists to follow by means of cofounding the first comedy school and the only all-female stand-up troupe in the MENA Region; Funny Girls. In addition, she will explore the healing benefits of humor. Pain + Time = Comedy.

Breathing Numbers
By Muna Harib

Muna is a businesswoman, community activist, philanthropist, and most of all, adventurer nomad. Muna is also a humanitarian who is currently spearheading an initiative “Breathing
Numbers” which documents stories of Syrian refugees inside and outside the refugee camps in Jordan. The name came from her constant frustration of watching the news and wondering who’s behind the statistics and numbers of victims. Muna joins our platform to discuss her documentary and share first hand stories that she has encountered along the way.

Positive Psychology – The Building Blocks of Human Flourishing
By Dr. Tara Wyne

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living. It is a radical departure from the field of psychology’s usual concern with the exploration of what is wrong with us and how to treat our distress or pathology. Positive psychology focuses on how to make life more fulfilling. It is concerned with increasing wellbeing through the pursuit of five main pillars of wellbeing. The benefits are happier people, large social and relational rewards, superior work outcomes, more energy and activity, greater self-control and coping ability, bolstered immune system and longevity.

Changing Perceptions, Changing Society
By Sofana Dahlan

Sofana Dahlan is both a lawyer and the Founder and CEO of Tashkeil, a Saudi Arabia-based social enterprise that incubates and promotes creative entrepreneurs. In her talk, Sofana will talk about the identity and capabilities. She will talk about being able to take bold choices and having the courage to change herself and things around her. With her daughter in mind, she will explain the obstacles and social barriers that women face. She urges women from all over the world to overcome hardships and define their own identities based on what they want for themselves, rather than what society may want for them.

Knowing and Growing Your Career Capital
By Jehan Abdulkarim

Many workingwomen in the Gulf region today are faced with numerous challenges in their corporate environment. In her talk, Jehan will define the concept of “Career Capital” to inspire women to think about how they can evolve by building skills, gaining new experiences and expanding networks. Jehan will draw on her experience, leading marketing and communications for some of the world’s largest multinational firms and will explain how having autonomy, aspiration and perseverance in the long term are key to building a successful career.

Breaking the Sound Barriers of Female Objectification in the Music Business
By Rouba

Lebanese-born singer songwriter Rouba made her debut onto the recording music industry in 2012 - at the age of 37. This highly competitive arena is dominated by very superficial entry criteria where women have made very successful careers for themselves based on the way they look, dress and flaunt. Rouba talks about her journey towards finding the courage to jump into the arena without “looking the part” and allowing her inner strengths and talent to help her push through and make her mark based artistic merit.

BOLDtalks Woman 2014 is sponsored by: Accenture as the event Lead Sponsor, Canon as the event Official Imaging Partner, AGMC as the official Car as well as Arjaan by Rotana, Ranson, Flip, 7 Days, Heels & Deals, The Female Network, Marie Claire, Haya, Salt and Peppa, Spectrum 7 TV and McCollins Media.