Global Women’s Forum Highlights Importance Of Commitment And Intentionality In Enhancing Women’s Economic Participation

Experts at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024 discussed the need for commitment to dismantle barriers hindering women's economic participation. The panel, titled ‘Accelerating Women’s Economic Empowerment: Future Trends,’ featured Fatima Al Nuaimi from ADNOC, Ana Kreacic from Oliver Wyman Forum, and Nathalie Akon Gabala from IFC. Mina Al-Oraibi of The National moderated the session.

Kreacic emphasised that measuring women's representation across all levels is crucial. This helps in crafting strategies to elevate women into leadership roles. She noted that talent gaps are a significant issue globally and regionally. "We cannot ignore the fact that 50 per cent of the population are women," she stated, stressing the importance of providing women with career pathways and upskilling opportunities.

Gabala highlighted that achieving meaningful outcomes requires commitment to both results and progress measurement. She noted slow progress due to lack of coordination and an integrated approach. "It takes commitment in terms of achieving outcomes, and it takes commitment in terms of measuring progress while achieving these outcomes," she said.

Kreacic added that intent and senior leadership vision are essential for change. She observed significant shifts in opportunities for women worldwide. "The world for women in many countries and many organisations has significantly shifted into the possibilities that exist there," she remarked.

Fatima Al Nuaimi shared her experiences at ADNOC, noting changes in women's roles within traditionally male-dominated sectors like oil and gas. Historically, operations occurred offshore where women couldn't work. However, technological advancements have transformed this environment since the 70s and 80s.

Al Nuaimi stated that ADNOC now employs nearly 1,000 women professionals onshore and offshore. "Today, with the advancement of technology, it is not the same environment that prevailed in the 70s and the 80s, and having women working on these platforms is possible," she explained.

Future Workforce Needs

Kreacic stressed the need to focus on equipping women for future roles as technology evolves rapidly. Addressing talent gaps by integrating more women into the workforce is vital for meeting future demands. Providing them with suitable jobs and career development is essential for economic growth.

The discussion underscored the importance of intentional efforts to empower women economically through leadership support, strategic planning, and leveraging technological advancements to create inclusive work environments.

With inputs from WAM