Women Leadership Exchange Program deepens culture of mutual understanding and leadership between UAE '&' Sweden

Dubai: A delegation of 14 female senior level managers from the UAE, participating in the second edition of the Women Leadership Exchange Program, recently returned to Dubai following a successful visit to Sweden. Organised by Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), in collaboration with Women 4 Sustainable Growth and MiL Institute, the Women Leadership Exchange Program is a unique management leadership program created to expedite knowledge sharing on methods for sustainable and participatory leadership. The first part of the program comprised of an overseas excursion to Klippan and Malmo in Sweden, from 25th August 2013 to 1st September 2013, in an effort to divulge the participants different styles of leadership, cross-cultural communication and sustainability. On the occasion, Shamsa Saleh, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said, "Following the noble example set by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, UAE; Dubai Women Establishment has consistently created opportunities and developmental projects to strengthen the role of UAE women in business and professional fields. Staying competitive in an increasingly global marketplace requires cultivating fresh perspectives from talented employees - regardless of gender - have opportunities to advance and contribute. DWE's many training programs and initiatives are specifically designed to serve this need through the nurturing and development of women leaders, as well as establishing an international representation of Arab women in positions of leadership." Hessa Tahlak, Director of Research and Development in Dubai Women Establishment added, "The Women Leadership Exchange Program reflects Dubai Women Establishment's on-going objective to provide important professional and personal development programs for the Emirati Working Woman, in an effort to boost the number of leadership opportunities available to them. The second edition of WLEP saw 14 young Emirati women work together with their Swedish counterpart to examine a number of pertinent issues connected to sustainable leadership such as critical and innovative thinking, international relations; as well as learn about subjects such as worldwide urbanisation and international business relations. Based on the positive impact that the program has had on our participants enabling them to serve as effective leaders in the public and private sectors around the world." WLEP 2013 comprised of 14 female senior level managers with 5-10 years of management experience, selected from different public and private organisation. The list included Amna Kayed, Director of Leasing in Saif Al Ghurair Group; Muna Bin Kalli, Director of HH Sheikha Manal Cultural Office; Nisrin Mohammad Safar Al Harmoodi, Director of Marketing '&' Communication in the Department of Economic Development; Huda Taher Al Tamimi, Learners Services Management Manager in Hamdan Bin Mohamed E-University; Fatma Abdulkarim, Executive Director Finance on TECOM Investments; Fatima Mohamed Al Awadi, Head of Section Business Development '&' Projects in Dubai Health Authority; Nawal Al Ghazali, Senior Accountant from Du; Amina Mansoor Ahli, Public Prosecutor from Dubai Public Prosecution; Thuraya Al Zarooni, Public Prosecutor from Dubai Public Prosecution; Mariam Al Afridi, Director of Marketing '&' Corporate Communications of Dubai Media Inc; Dalal Saeed Al Shehhi, Deputy Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Management Department in Ministry of Labour; Shaikha Al Haddad, Advisor to the CEO in Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC) LLC; Hanan Mansoor Ahli, Project Manager - Strategy in Emirates Competitiveness Council - Ministry of State; Hanan Al Marzouqi, Project Manager - Communications in Emirates Competitiveness Council - Ministry of State. Over the course of the 6-day trip, the participants travelled to the Swedish cities of Malmo and Klippan where they had the opportunity to meet and interact with their Swedish counterparts as well as attend special workshops that explored each participants reasons to join and expectation from this program. WLEP will comprise of two sessions - the first of which was the excursion to Sweden in August, 2013, followed by a second session in Dubai in January, 2014. The Exchange Program is part of the UAE Women Leadership Program, which was launched in 2008 and lasted for 2 years, in cooperation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development, where 33 Emirati women participated from various public and private sector entities involved in the educational, legislative, real estate, health, administrative, transport, communication and banking sectors embark on a journey of empowerment and career development through an intensive and innovative curriculum. – Emirates News Agency, WAM