Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Business Women Council has organized the “Women in Media” forum in collaboration with MBC GROUP – the leading and largest media organization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – to discuss the crucial role that media organizations can play in increasing the representation and accountability of women in the media, on screens, and in content. The event is part of the council’s #DBWCFORUMS initiative, which hosts a series of talks that aim to raise awareness around the challenges and opportunities that concern women in various industries.
More than 125 attended the event, which focused on the importance of maximizing women’s strengths and potential to advance media work, develop strong female media role models, increase gender diversity, and foster a culture of success in the media industry.
In addition to discussing the mechanisms and means that ensure balanced female representation in the media, the participants discussed the best practices adopted by media leaders and officials as well as the value of diversity in the workplace and the necessity of utilizing women’s potential to advance a targeted and positive media message.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was announced during the forum, aims to coordinate and align both parties’ efforts in providing their female employees and members with ongoing access to mentorship programs, workshops, and speaker sessions based on skill building needs.
On behalf of the Council’s Board Members, Nadine Halabi, DBWC’s Business Development Manager lauded the partnership with MBC GROUP, describing it as strategic and purposeful.
“This collaboration is of special importance as it unites two partners who value women and recognize their critical contribution to the economy. We are thrilled to collaborate with MBC GROUP and look forward to coordinating our future efforts to develop the abilities of women and female business owners while also assisting them in acquiring media and marketing skills that can advance their careers. The council will continue to be committed to harnessing all available resources to serve its members and the business community, by organizing specialized events and seminars that add value to their personal and professional lives.”
Samar Akrouk, Group Director of Production at MBC GROUP, who held a fireside chat on the sidelines of the event, commented: “MBC GROUP is proud to be a progressive trailblazer – on and off screen – in promoting gender equality. Throughout our organization and across most departments we have women in top leadership positions, as well as women that are identified and set on leadership tracks. However, we are progressive enough to look at ourselves and say we can do more – and we will do more.
“Building on what has been achieved so far, we believe that by increasing engagement and transparency – as well as engaging in meaningful collaborations and partnerships – we will make our employees feel more supported and valued. Collaborations, meaningful sponsorships, and women-led initiatives such as this one are the key to creating a positive and healthy work culture that promotes ally-ship, growth and success.”
During her fireside chat at the event, Akrouk highlighted self-limiting beliefs, and how they can affect women in the workplace, as well as offering tips on how to overcome them. She also offered tips for those who want to work in media in the form of the qualities sought-after in a great hire or mentee.
MAIN PANEL DISCUSSIONS
The forum had three panel discussions, with the first of which discussed the role and responsibility of media outlets in creating positive role models for regional audiences, while the second one touched on the steps and policies that led to better inclusivity and gender parity in media organizations. The third segment talked responsible and impactful advertising and how to push boundaries through strategic messaging in society.
Rana Alamuddin, Founder of BAYNEH W BAYNEK, Sally Moussa Hajjar, Managing Partner, Humanagement, and Mohammed Abdulhaq, Executive Producer at MBC GROUP, took part in the first panel discussion, which was moderated by Dana Abulaban, Producer and Presenter at MBC GROUP.
The second panel discussion included Bedriya Al Saeed, Employee Engagement Manager at MBC GROUP, Tala Obeidat, Client Partner, Leading Retail & Restaurants, META, and Sara Eltarzi, Communications Director at OSN, and was moderated by Daniela Rossi, Founder and Managing Partner, Unlimited.
Meanwhile, Rola Ghotmeh, Founder, Chief Creative Officer, The Creative 9, Natasha Romariz Maasri, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett MEA and Andrej Arsenijevic, Executive Creative Director, Sustainability Lead at Commonwealth McCann Dubai, participated in the third session, which was moderated by Layal Takieddine, Head of Marketing at MBC Media Solutions (MMS).
About DBWC
Established in 2002, under the umbrella of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the Dubai Business Women Council is the UAE’s leading platform for the personal and professional development of business women in the Emirate of Dubai.
It aims to support businesswomen and entrepreneurs in taking the first steps in the world of business. The Council plays an important role in enhancing the contribution of businesswomen to the country’s economy and promoting economic development in all sectors of the business community. www.dbwc.ae
About MBC GROUP:
MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the Middle East & North Africa region that enriches people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. In 2002, nearly a decade after the launch of MBC1 in London, in 1991, MBC GROUP moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates. In September 2022 MBC GROUP launched its new headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Today, MBC GROUP includes over 17 leading TV channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment); MBC2 & MBC MAX (24-hour western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mix of both local productions and western acquisitions); MBC4 (entertainment for young families with a female-focus); MBC ACTION (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel targeting young males with local and homegrown productions); MBC VARIETY (Western films and general entertainment with uninterrupted broadcasting); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic drama) & MBC+ DRAMA (a joint pay-TV channel between MBC and OSN); MBC PERSIA (general family entertainment dubbed and subtitled in Farsi); WANASAH (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC MASR & MBC MASR2 (general family entertainment geared towards the Egyptian family); MBC BOLLYWOOD (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface); MBC USA (on “Dish Network” in the US); MBC IRAQ (a premium channel aimed at the entire Iraqi family), MBC5 (new satellite channel dedicated to the Maghreb); all of them benefit from MBC STUDIOS which produces the region’s most compelling premium content for cinema, television and on-demand platforms. MBC GROUP also includes two FM radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music) and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music).
Furthermore, part of MBC GROUP is Shahid and its premium subscription-based service Shahid VIP, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform, home to highly rated original productions from the Arab world, a wide range of exclusive movies and premieres, as well as the top watched live Arab TV channels.
