DUBAI – In line with the initiatives launched as part of the Year of Zayed, Global Women In Leadership (WIL) Economic Forum announced Sunday the launch of its Women Corporate Sponsorship Program WCSP. This initiative, which Global WIL launched together with its partners will allow Saudi female leaders and young entrepreneurs access to the forum at a reduced rate or fully paid for.

The meeting which will be taking place on November 14-15 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under theme ‘Stretch: Aspiring for more’, is held under the patronage of. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, and organized by Naseba. The meeting is set to bring together a diverse group of leaders in the worlds of business, politics, arts and media to share strategies and insights in an aim to shape a sustainable future economy.

“Celebrating the Year of Zayed is something that goes hand in hand with our values at Global WIL, and is a great occasion to partner with private sector organizations who share a common desire to support women in the workplace and impact society in a very pragmatic way. The legacy of giving as well as the UAE values of hospitality, generosity, tolerance and sense of unlimited possibilities shaped our Women Corporate Sponsorship Program,” said Sophie Le Ray, CEO of Naseba.

“We are very proud to bring this initiative forward to all our WIL platforms around the world and are calling global and local organizations to participate and foster new opportunities for women to thrive in the marketplace,” she added.

The WCSP will be awarding up to 200 tickets to female managers, executives and entrepreneurs who are the next generation of leaders, giving them the opportunity to, for the duration of two days, connect with like-minded individuals, attend interactive workshops and sessions by recognized world leaders, share best practices, successes, ideas and encourage debates, to become better equipped to lead their organizations and communities.

Sodexo Middle East, one of Global WIL partners in this initiative, believes that championing diversity and inclusion in the society should be at the core of every company’s responsibility. In only two years, the company successfully managed to surpass major milestones on the way to reaching its overall D&I objectives.

“At Sodexo, we believe that a successful business should look beyond only profit, and take its responsibility to make a positive impact on the society it operates in,” said Simon Seaton, CEO Global Onshore Energy & Head of Middle East, Sodexo

“As a global company we have taken on a number of initiatives that emphasize our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and more so, our Middle East operations has a firm commitment in place to have gender-balanced recruitment and promotion processes. As a result, Sodexo ME has seen a 40% increase in the number of female talents in leadership and senior management positions over the past two years, this even reflects at the board level, where we recently appointed the first female member to a Sodexo joint venture in the Middle East,” he added.

To request a voucher under this initiative, women are encouraged to visit the Global WIL WCSP website to complete the form, after which they will be contacted by the Global WIL team to facilitate their registration. With only 200 vouchers release as part of this initiative, it is highly recommended to register at the earliest.

“We recognize that driving one›s career in the corporate world is complex, enduring and rewarding if supported by sponsors and mentors along the way. Through this initiative, we want to connect the next generation of female talent with today’s most prominent leaders, in order to learn and enhance their leadership skills,” added Le Ray.

In its tenth edition, Global WIL Economic Forums’ agenda boasts yet another impressive lineup of speakers across a wide range of industries and career accomplishments, such as Hind Alowais, Vice President, International Participants, EXPO2020, Osman Sultan, CEO, DU, Alisha Moopen, Executive Director and CEO, Aster & Medcare Hospitals & Clinics, Sylvia Metayer, CEO, Corporate Services Worldwide Sodexo, Sheikh Hussein Al-Banawi, Chairman and CEO, Banawi Industrial Group (B.I.G), and Mariah Idrissi, the first hijab wearing model in an international fashion campaign, to name a few. All of who will address topics such as diversity and inclusion, innovation, arts & culture, CSR, and creating a socioeconomic impact through investment and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, the Forum agenda includes a range of sessions, inspiring keynotes, and interactive panel discussions centered around women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), education, finance, healthcare, female tech entrepreneurs, creating sustainable workplaces, hiring and retaining diverse talent. — SG