International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women’s Achievements in Business
International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day is observed on March 8 every year and provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and to call for continued action to address the remaining challenges. In the world of business, International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in leadership and to recognize the importance of gender diversity in driving business success.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Dubai Culture and a member of the Dubai Council, confirmed that International Women’s Day celebrates the crucial role of women in society and their extraordinary contributions, making significant strides in advancing comprehensive development across all fields and leaving an indelible mark on their communities and countries. From groundbreaking achievements to inspiring leadership, women around the world have accomplished remarkable success, serving as role models and sources of motivation for all.
Her Highness commended the innovative approach taken by the UAE in supporting and empowering women, highlighting the significance of International Women’s Day in the country. She also emphasized that the wise leadership underpins the important role that women play and its profound impact on society from an early stage, saying: “Our leadership recognizes that empowering women culturally, economically, socially, and politically is pivotal to realizing their full potential. The Emirati woman, who is confident and capable, has demonstrated her worth and distinguished presence, serving as a role model for women worldwide. She has reached the highest positions and represented the country with distinction in prominent international forums, contributing to achievements that benefit humanity. It is also essential to acknowledge women’s most important role in establishing and nurturing families and building society. As an essential partner in the country’s civilizational renaissance, the Emirati woman today is a pillar of accomplishment driving forward the UAE’s progress, instilling us with pride on global stage.”
Over the past few decades, women have made significant progress in the business world. Women now occupy more senior leadership roles than ever before, and there is growing recognition of the value that gender diversity brings to organizations. Studies have shown that companies with greater gender diversity are more innovative, more profitable, and better able to attract and retain top talent. In short, gender diversity is good for business.
Larissa Crandall, Vice President Global Channel & Alliances, Veeam Software said : “Happy International Women’s Day everyone ! I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible men and women leaders throughout my career, challenging my growth and supporting me. We’ve come a long way in empowering women since I first began my career in the tech space, be it through the growing demand for women of all backgrounds, races, and ethnicities to be acknowledged for their contributions leading to greater efforts in implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across enterprises and industries. This year, we speak of embracing equity. #EmbraceEquity validates and reinforces the idea that women must be given the same opportunity to succeed as men, and it provokes internal reflection for women in power to seek the same equitability and work to drive this for future generations.
In the world of tech, I have spent more than twenty years successfully growing my teams and transforming global ecosystems. While the effort involves creativity and strategy, the end goal is quite simple: We grow together. We help each other. No one is an island. #EmbraceEquity is about pushing for a global ecosystem of interconnected humans to work and grow with each other’s support and skillset. As a woman in the tech space, especially a female leader, I feel it’s my responsibility to give back by mentoring women sharing my learnings from my career to help women grow. I would urge young women to continue pushing the norms and know they deserve to succeed. Also, to be an ally themselves with other women of different backgrounds to help support each other. Create your network, expand your inner circles to foster a more diverse and inclusive cohort of powerful women who can support each other and grow together.” Grateful to work at incredible organizations in my career including Veeam, where the culture is strong and supportive.”
Gunjan Shroff, Partner, People & Change at KPMG Lower Gulf said: “Women leaders bring a balanced and forward-looking management style to the workplace. According to a recent KPMG study, women leaders prioritize investment in developing their workforce’s skills and capabilities to prepare the workforce to take on pandemic-induced challenges head-on and build resiliency through lifelong learning and growth opportunities.
The UAE has made great strides in facilitating women’s economic participation. Diversity and inclusion feature very prominently on the national agenda which is evident from the number of women (66%) that hold government roles in the UAE, including 30% of senior leadership positions and decision-making roles. It all starts with empowerment. Female leaders must see and feel their sense of purpose within a company at every turn. This mutual commitment can have a domino effect that leads to better teams, a better company, and even a better society overall.”
Despite these positive trends, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women have equal opportunities in the workplace. Women continue to face significant barriers to entry and advancement in many industries, and gender-based discrimination and bias remain pervasive. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is important to remember that the fight for gender equality is far from over.
The Frontline Heroes Office (FHO) affirmed that the leadership of the United Arab Emirates is keen to honor women, empower them, and support their participation in all of the nation’s vital fields and sectors. To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, the FHO thanks the UAE’s wise leadership for its support and guidance, and leading the way when it comes to adopting women-focused initiatives and addressing the issues they face. Women are an active and essential element in society, and have played an important role in the economy’s ongoing transformation and are leading in various sectors.
FHO indicated that the UAE adopted the approach of empowering women followed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said: “Women are not only half of society in terms of numbers, but also in terms of their role in preparing and raising future generations.”
Women have proved their worth through their distinguished capabilities, and the farsightedness of the wise leadership in their abilities, setting a finest example in raising generations qualified to contribute to building a sustainable future for all members of society, and have made the highest sacrifices on the front lines, especially as the Covid-19 virus phase swept the world.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us recognize the progress that has been made in promoting gender diversity in the business world, but also acknowledge the work that remains to be done. By committing to gender diversity and taking concrete action to support women’s leadership, businesses can help build a more equitable and successful future for all.
LG Electronics (LG) believes in the importance of recognizing and honoring women’s achievements, and is committed to empowering women through innovative technology. From tech-savvy gadgets to stylish home appliances, LG celebrates International Women’s Day with special promotions on its innovative products.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Choose to Challenge,” which encourages individuals to challenge gender bias and inequality and create a more inclusive world. The theme highlights the importance of taking action to address the persistent gender inequalities that continue to affect women globally.
This International Women’s Day, we must continue to push for progress towards gender equality. This includes challenging gender stereotypes, supporting women’s education and employment opportunities, advocating for equal pay and representation in leadership positions, and promoting gender-inclusive policies and practices.
Individuals can also play a role in promoting gender equality by challenging gender biases and stereotypes, supporting women-owned businesses, and speaking out against gender discrimination and violence. Allies can also help by amplifying women’s voices, advocating for gender-inclusive policies, and supporting women in their personal and professional lives.
In conclusion, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women and to recommit to the goal of achieving gender equality. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women have equal opportunities and rights. By working together, we can create a world where women are valued and empowered, and gender equality is a reality for all.
