Dubai organises 7th edition of leadership skills event

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff reporter

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) concluded the seventh edition of its ‘Leadership Skills from an Equestrian Perspective’ training programme, held on 18 & 19 Dec 2019 in line with the Establishment’s efforts to develop the skillsets of qualified Emirati women. The programme aims to encourage participants to discover their leadership capabilities and reflect on conflict-resolution approaches to be applied within their workplace.

Thirteen Emirati women leaders from the public and private sectors participated in the innovative programme, which provides participants with the opportunity to fortify their leadership skills and learn innovative approaches to overcome challenges. This is done through various activities on management, team building, and emotional intelligence.

Sultana Saif, Director of DWE’s Women Development Department, said that the programme has achieved notable success over the past years, effectively enhancing the personal and professional development of working women and providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to qualify them for leadership and decision-making positions.  She added, “The programme aims to facilitate women’s success in various sectors, in line with the objectives of the Establishment’s strategic plan 2017-2021.” She further highlighted that Equine Assisted Learning is an emerging field in which the horse acts as a partner that reflects what transpires during the training. The term often employed to describe this process is ‘horse whispering’ – effective, consistent and clear communication.

During the first day of the programme, participants were introduced to valuable lessons and ideological models derived from the equestrian field, and the parallels between the behaviorisms of people and horses including indications of body language and emotional intelligence. On the second day, participants took part in a variety of activities during which they learned the necessary skills needed to lead effectively.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Global Women’s Forum Dubai will take place on16 - 17 February, 2020, at the Madinat Jumeirah.

Hosted and organised by Dubai Women Establishment and building on the theme “The Power of Influence”, the Global Women’s Forum Dubai aims to highlight dynamic women across governments and the business world, as well as their significant impact and valuable contributions across the global economy and society.

The Forum aims to focus on the importance of adopting policies and building partnerships that heighten women’s role and influence in four main focus areas: government, economy, society and future. Each of the four areas will be addressed through extensive sessions led by local and global speakers and experts from various sectors.

Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, highlighted: “Organising and hosting an international event of this stature and significance is a pivotal opportunity for women in the region. The Forum will highlight global trends impacting gender balance, explore solutions to the most pressing challenges, and celebrate women’s achievements from across the world.

The UAE has seen and shared inspiring stories on women’s empowerment and has made tremendous efforts to ensure the representation of Emirati women in the workforce, and across all walks of life in line with the Dubai vision of continuous economic and social development.

“The advancement of Emirati women, and the enhancement of their capacities and capabilities, is an affirmation of their prominent and imperative role in driving the socio-economic future of the UAE, which has been established as a priority in the country’s national strategy. This is in line with the vision and commitment of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who worked relentlessly on empowering women academically, and encouraging them to actively participate in all fields.”