Annual Report 2015
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Female game changers gather at inaugural DBWC-UOWD<br />
Women in Leadership event<br />
October 13,<strong>2015</strong><br />
A plethora of inspirational women gathered at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) recently for the first<br />
event in a new seminar series aimed at exploring the factors associated with women attaining, and succeeding in,<br />
leadership positions in the UAE.<br />
Organized by UOWD in partnership with Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), the audience at the inaugural<br />
event witnessed an informative and engaging discussion between Hazel Nyandoro, Founder and Managing<br />
Director of strategic image development firm Manelith Consulting, and Dr Payyazhi Jayashree, Acting Dean of<br />
UOWD’s Faculty of Business and Principal Investigator behind the National Research Foundation funded study<br />
exploring women’s role in the UAE workplace which has inspired the seminar series.<br />
The focus of the seminar series is to bring this research to life in a way which allows women from across the UAE<br />
to engage in the discussion surrounding the themes in question, to learn from the women who have so far<br />
contributed to the research and to add their own stories to the debate.<br />
With a background in retail and investment banking for a number of large global corporations and currently<br />
heading up a new concept restaurant in Dubai International Financial Centre, Ms Nyandoro shared her experience<br />
of the factors that have both enabled and presented challenges to her journey from corporate leadership to<br />
entrepreneurship.<br />
“It’s a very powerful experience to be able to share my leadership journey,” commented Ms Nyandoro during the<br />
event. “I strongly believe that leadership is a genderless concept and I refuse to accept that women do not have a<br />
legitimate place in this world considering how much we contribute to it.”<br />
After the initial debate the floor was opened to further discussion, giving leaders and aspiring leaders an<br />
opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and discuss practical ways to support women in high ranking<br />
roles and those aiming to become an equal partner in making a meaningful contribution to the economic<br />
landscape of the UAE.<br />
“The seminar series has gained a large amount of interest from leaders across the UAE” said Dr Payyazhi Jayashree,<br />
facilitator of the series. “It is our hope that this program of ongoing events on Women and Leadership being run as<br />
part of the UOWD- DBWC Women and Leadership research collaboration will enable more voices to be added to<br />
the debate surrounding gender and leadership. Such an approach is essential to arrive at constructive solutions to<br />
the challenges and opportunities surrounding women’s role in the UAE.”<br />
Registration is now open at http://admissions.uowdubai.ac.ae/dbwc/ . Interested parties can also visit<br />
https://www.uowdubai.ac.ae/WomenandLeadership to find out more.