Arab Women as Changemakers A Celebration of Achievements In partnership with: Dubai - UAE November 28, 2014 GLOBAL THINKERS FORUM 2014 In Partnership with CONTENTS • 2;83&<$ধ32#@ '8 ?$'££'2$@89!/!£ <8+T8'9-&'2;<#!-<9-2'9931'23<2$-£ • <-¡&-2+8-&+'9(383¡¡!#38!ࣅ32-2!2 2;'8$322'$;'&38¡&S £-A!#';, -£-663<£-, 3<2&'8{ £3#!£,-20'89 38<1 • 2;'8=-'>>-;,8W!)! ,<#!9,T >!8& 3238''T ?$'££'2$'-2 '2&'8 7<!£-;@ • !=-2+;,' <;<8'!;,3(8!#31'2S-1!8!&T!8;2'8S-2,!#-#{993$-!;'9 • 2;'8=-'>>-;,8W;!££!,<ħ!#T >!8& 3238''T ?$'££'2$'-2,-£!2;,836@ • 2;'8=-'>>-;,8W 91!,!2' £3<!)T >!8& 3238''T ?$'££'2$'-2$-'2$' • 163>'8-2+;,''?; '2'8!ࣅ323( 223=!;389T,''>380$!&'1@3($-'2$'9 £3#!£ ££-!2$' • 2;'8=-'>>-;,!,!3,!88!0T >!8& 3238''T ?$'££'2$'-2-32''8-2+ • 3¡-&!8-;@3>ª<831132 83<2&, ££-'23<T '!&3(83+8!193£-&!8-;@3> • 2;'8=-'>>-;,!,!#3<'£'2'-2T 2;8'68'2'<8{ 3!8&'1#'8 With the kind support of: • ,'3<2;8-'93( 32ࣅ2<';3 !9$-2!;'!2&32$'82;,''9;3(;,'38¡&T''1W9!-93SSenior ?6'8;{ &=-938@3!8&'1#'8 • '!8';,'29>'8e¡¡3(9T!=-&!2;<££-T 3<2&'8{ ?'$<ধ='-8'$;382-;'&£!2'; • 2;'8=-'>>-;,8!-9!,3#!-,-T99-9;!2;83('9938T-2+#&<£!A-A2-='89-;@T'&&!,T!<&-8!#-! • 31'2,!2+'1!0'89-2 8''$'T 6!1-232&!9 !81!0-9T8'9-&'2;{ '£6-9 • 2;'8=-'>>-;,!;,£''2<8@T T3>+£- 3<2&!ধ32 • 2;'8=-'>>-;,<2!#<<£!@1!2T >!8& 3238''(38 ?$'££'2$'-2'&-! • 1#8!$-2+;,'2023>2ª9-2+<¡;<8';3,!2+'(8-$!T 3£31' !0!>''9-f-1#<+>'T 2!f #!+'8'0!'='£361'2; 3<2&!ধ32 • 2;'8=-'>>-;,!2-!0#!8-T 8!2-!2 -£11!0'8T$;8'99T8ধ9;{8-;'8 • 3;2¡@1 ! 38'-+2'8,'8' -='S<; 1¡93!83>231!2T !@=!,8!1!2S2014 GTF >!8& 3238''T ?$'££'2$'-2<£;<8!£8'!ধ=-;@ • 2;'8=-'>>-;,!90-!!99'2T3#'8;W@2&83('99383(3$-3£3+@!2&3f,!-8T,'311-ħ''32 £3#!£,3<+,;T3£<1#-!2-='89-;@ • !¡<'9d8-='28+!2-A!ࣅ329!8';,'39;<$$'99(<¡T!2&'8!,-'<T3f 3<2&'8@223=! • 2;'8=-'>>-;,'832-0!$3ħT 3<2&'8{ T,' 163>'81'2;£!2 • 31'2-2'!&'89,-6ª!0-2+!-ø'8'2$' ='8@!@T-!2' 8&'-TT32;83££-2+!2&3<8$-2+ -2!2$' 8!29(381!ধ32'8;'£91!22 • ?$'££'2$'>!8&9 • 3809,363>+£- 3<2&!ধ32{ 3='1#'8T • &=-938@3!8&{ £3#!£ 83>;,3!8& • ?'$<ধ=''!1 • 6'$-!£,!209 • 330-2+,'!&;3 INTRODUCTION By Her Excellency Mrs Raja Al Gurg 8'9-&'2;<#!-<9-2'9931'23<2$-¡ reat leadership is about understanding context and culture and being able to lead and champion change at many different levels. Global Thinkers Fo- Grum (GTF) is strongly focused towards creating better societies by promot- ing and supporting collaboration and understanding. The Forum’s mandate goes beyond the limits and boundaries of politics and is introducing an arena of open mindedness, freedom, values and ethical leadership. The Dubai Business Women’s Council (DBWC) is proud to collaborate with GTF at the Global Thinkers Forum 2014 as a support partner. GTF is a platform for thinking and conversation that brings current and future leaders closer, in order to discuss pressing issues regarding governance practices, our societies, entrepre- neurship, and our world’s progress and future. At a time when economies need high-growth entrepreneurs more than ever, the Dubai Business Women’s Council is keen to pursue opportunities that will inspire women to seek advisors, train- ing, and networks that will help them unleash their potential and fundamentally change lives. GTF serves as a beacon to raise the consciousness of society about the impor- tance of ethical leadership and to develop the necessary programmes of educa- tion, learning and community action. We are pleased to join this initiative that contributes to creating a successful and sustainable future and legacy for future generations. At the Dubai Business Women Council we assist businesswomen in overcoming difficulties and problems they encounter in their commercial, indus- trial and service roles. We also encourage the participation of women in different economic sectors besides enhancing their role in business activities and also pro- viding relevant education and training. GTF 2014 Awards for Excellence Gala under the theme “Arab Women as Change makers: A Celebration of Achievements” celebrates inspiration, motivation and empowerment of women in the region; all the values thatare a reflection of DB- WC’s mission and objectives. Our support forthe GTF 2014 Awards and Gala Din- ner on November 28, underlines our commitment to stand by our fellow Arab women change makers. 7 8 ARTICLE By Elizabeth Filippouli 3<2&'8y ¡3#!¡,-20'89 38<1 BUILDING BRIDGES FOR COLLABORATION IN AN INTERCONNECTED WORLD n today’s world, we are more connected our knowledge of each other remains limited. than ever. Through the web, email, and Connectivity has not succeeded in replacing Isocial media, people on opposite sides of human contact. the globe can talk to each other instantly and The West and the Arab world, for example – more easily than ever before. But is anyone two civilizations whose cooperation is essen- listening? And more importantly, is anyone tial to world peace – still often view each oth- understanding? er with fear, suspicion, hostility, or ignorance. Human capital is fast becoming the key in- Misperceptions abound. Stereotypes are gredient to the success of all nations. How to hardening into caricatures. effectively develop this critical resource is a concern of higher education systems around To close these gaps in understanding, new, the world. Developing countries in particular, innovative and non-traditional platforms for with limited means and expertise, face sig- face-to-face communication are needed – nificant challenges as they prepare their cit- perhaps more now than at any other time in izenry to meet the new demands of a rapidly modern history. We cannot rely on tradition- changing knowledge-based global economy. al diplomatic systems alone to create these For higher education institutions around the platforms. developed world, building institutional ca- “Diplomacy can no longer be the sole responsi- pacity to cooperate with developing nations bility of governments. Citizens, businesses and and their higher education systems has be- other private-sector entities must play an inte- come a priority as the world faces complex gral part in foreign policy.” (Dr. Roger Hayes, environmental, social, political, and security Senior Counsellor, APCO Worldwide).The world challenges. business community can, and should, take the lead by creating and supporting programs that Despite tremendous advances in global tel- help to build bridges between cultures through ecommunication, some societies have seen interpersonal dialogue. little improvement in how well they get along or understand each other. Technology has Along with social development and corpo- made our world smaller, but in many cases, rate responsibility, bridge building is a good 9 investment for business. Businesses big and One such example is the work that we do small need predictability to prosper, and po- at Global Thinkers Forum with the goal of litical and social tensions can be destabiliz- increasing understanding between peoples ing. Companies doing business in the Middle in the Arab World and the West through East in particular would be wise to invest in personal communication, shared experi- programs that encourage better knowledge ences, exchange of ideas, and collabora- and understanding of East and West among tive projects. So far, in our three years of their employees, communities, and societies. operations, we have convened more than one thousand leaders, decision makers, The dialogues in such programs are small entrepreneurs and academics in physical compared to the millions of people living in meetings, and more than 10,000 world- these regions, but small groups of individu- wide are part of the wider Global Thinkers als often influence the path of the world. All we need is to understand and prioritise our Forum network. shared values, engage with the human cap- Global Thinkers Forum touches on all as- ital – or our employees if we are an organi- pects of society, engaging in educational zation – and the return on our investment is and cultural activities, working jointly on immense. As Global Thinkers we have intro- solutions to social challenges faced by our duced our pioneering VALORE programme countries and, along the way, changing which helps leaders, managers and decision misperceptions. Above all, we open new makers maximise their own capacity and con- pathways for communication in order to necting to their employees by understanding promote collaboration. better and improving the culture that exists within the organization, within the company. We need values-based societies, val- The participants who join our programme ues-based countries and values-based com- come away with a more open mind and heart panies. With shared values we can commu- because by bringing their individual values to nicate better; hence, Global Thinkers has in- work, a ripple effect is created that has a last- troduced, as I mentioned before, our trade- ing positive impact extending well beyond marked VALORE programme that measures the term of our VALORE programme. the level of cultural disorder that exists in a company, an organization or even a country Communication is not a panacea for all our and helps redevelop a culture of collabo- ills. Genuine and honest differences exist ration through shared values, as these are within and between societies, and we should cherished and adapted by humanity. not think that we can solve all our problems simply through discussion.