Dubai UAE – Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, the year 2015 has commenced with a tribute to the female gender with the launch of Women in STEM 2015 Conference & Awards. Organized by The Meera Kaul Foundation, the event welcomed over 300 women from the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) from North America, Europe, China, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
The highlight of the event were some of the world’s renowned speakers touching on a number of pressing topics related to women and women empowerment in the corporate world.
Talking about the Conference, Meera Kaul, Chairperson of The Meera Kaul Foundation firmly believes that “Women can never win if they are just a statistic. With this event, we aim to inspire women to compete on the basis of their talent and competitiveness rather than just statistics in the diversity chain.”
Talking about the event, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and Member of the Board at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) stated: “We have gathered here on this prestigious occasion to celebrate and invigorate women in business, an international phenomenon as no matter where in the world you go, women are discussing the very same things we are addressing today. We share one common goal and it encourages us to further leverage the importance of platforms like these to eventually gain a bigger share of voice. Dubai, the UAE, welcomes every women in business as we build a successful future together.” As one of keynote speakers at the event, H.H. Al Gurg also spoke about women in UAE and on empowering them in business.
Another keynote speaker at the conference and Co- Founder of WAKE, Trish Tierney commented during the event: “The power of women, combined with the power of technology, creates an incredibly strong force that will instigate dramatic change. We not only need more women in STEM, we need them to be linked together for greater impact. I’m thrilled to participate in the Women in STEM Awards and to join this global movement.”
Shukla Datta inspired the delegates by advising them to “explore their potential, engage in recreating their lives, empowering their being and live life like never before.” The Author of “Live Life Like Never Before” and speaker at the conference, Datta also shared her insights on the position of Women in Leadership.
We have gathered at this prestigious occasion to celebrate and invigorate women in business, an international phenomenon as no matter where in the world you go, women are discussing the very same things we are addressing today. We share one common goal and it encourages us to further leverage the importance of platforms like these to eventually gain a bigger share of voice. Dubai, the UAE, welcomes every women in business as we build a successful future together.” – Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, President Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC)
President, Society of Women Engineers, Silicon Valley, Claudia Galvan spoke about gender roles with a focus on the challenges faced on being a woman engineer. Talking about the event Claudia said, “We are at a tipping point for women in STEM, let’s spread like wildfire”
Panelist Sirine Fadoul, Manager at Dubai Silicon Oasis inspired the crowd commenting, “Don’t be afraid to fail! Innovation and entrepreneurship require the willingness to test, fail and learn.” The discussion involved an insightful discussion on raising capital as a women entrepreneur in the Middle East and India.
Dareen Alhiyari, Software Engineer, Dubizzle.com commented, “I find myself always advising people not to be their own obstacles by thinking they can’t do something or thinking that someone will tell them ‘No’, and for that I always say ‘don’t be the one who tells you No!”
Sharing her insight on the worldwide status of Women in STEM Keynote speaker Anu Ancharya, CEO, www.mapmygenome.in, YGL- WEF, IIT KGP said that “it is time for women to be take their rightful space in STEM. I am so happy to see the Meera Kaul foundation pioneering this effort in inspiring more women in science.”
