International Women's Day (IWD) is a powerful reminder. It highlights the strides made towards gender equality, but also the work that remains. This global day of action, celebrated annually on March 8th, calls for recognizing women's achievements and promoting equal opportunities for all genders in every aspect of life. While the Middle East has seen significant progress in women's rights, challenges persist that hinder true equality in the region.In the last two decades, there has been a significant shift towards greater recognition of women's rights and empowerment across the Middle East. Additionally, more women than ever are pursuing higher education degrees, taking on leadership positions in various sectors, and making their voices heard.This IWD, Adgully Middle East shines a light on remarkable women leaders who have not only conquered their respective fields, but are now actively working to empower others in the region. These women represent the vibrant tapestry of success in the Middle East.Meaning of IWD for today’s womenHajra Haq, the Growth Marketing Director - MEA at WebEngage, shared her views about IWD in her words: “Personally, I see Women’s Day as a celebration of milestones that we have achieved through the decades. From women’s suffrage to corporate boardroom representation, the progress has been gradual but definitive. So, Women’s Day is a moment of reflection and retrospection, of hurdles crossed and glass ceilings shattered in personal, professional, and public life. Most importantly, it is a reminder that, though we have accomplished so much, there is a long and bumpy road to true gender equality.”Sharing her views, Dr Ruhil Badiani, a physician at Cornerstone Clinic, said: “International Women's Day serves as a dedicated occasion to honour the accomplishments of women worldwide and take a stand against violence, unequal opportunities, and advocate for transformative change. I strongly believe in equal opportunities for women, aspiring for my daughter to enjoy the same protections, choices, and opportunities as my son. Personal experiences, where I, as a woman, faced disparities in learning opportunities and experienced being overlooked in comparison to my male colleagues, drive my commitment to gender equality.”Shainy Koshy, Head of HR, The Continental Group, said: “To me, Women’s Day is both a celebration of our achievements and a periodic reminder that gender equality across all aspects of life remains a work in progress. So, a day dedicated to that helps shape the sociopolitical discourse about existing challenges faced by women personally and professionally, brings key decision-makers together, and transforms ideas into actions. “However, Erika Doyle, Founder of Drink Dry, has a different approach towards IWD as she believes women have not achieved what they can, as yet.Doyle says: “I know there are two very different schools of thought when it comes to IWD; some loathe it and some love it. I am somewhere in between. Globally, gender equality is nowhere near where it should be – women are severely underpaid compared to their male colleagues; women are overlooked when it comes to career progression, and women are penalised for taking time out to have a family. So, unless we talk about it and take action, nothing will ever change.”Soniya Ashar, founder, NutriCal, feels that IWD is a day of solidarity, celebration, and reflection. “Thinking of its origin, back to the early 1900s when women in New York's textile industry were fighting for their rights, it's a reminder of the resilience and courage of women throughout history. Personally, it's a day to connect with other women, celebrate our achievements, and support each other.“Navigating the male-dominated construction industry in the UAE, confronting the "boys' club" atmosphere in corporate America, and grappling with the challenges of female founder representation in startup funding have all shaped my journey. In these environments, I've faced instances where my credibility was questioned simply because of my gender. These experiences underscore the significance of International Women's Day (IWD) and similar occasions, where we unite to champion gender equality. However, our efforts must extend beyond a single day. Gender equality is a perpetual endeavor, requiring ongoing commitment. Women's Day provides a platform to amplify our voices and address pressing issues such as workplace discrimination, educational disparities, and social inequalities,” said Soniya Ashar.Qadreya Al Awadhi, founder of Bumblebee Food, believes that Women's Day is an opportunity to showcase global women across different fields in order to encourage young girls to pursue their fields of passion. According to her, it also brings about an opportunity to have conversations about women's impact on society, whether they are staying at home or working. “Unfortunately, there are still countries in the world where gender inequality is high, which is represented by reduced pay, gender-based violence and the complete abandonment of human rights. Women's Day allows the world to shine a spotlight on such issues.”Unequal pay and much more!Certainly, both men and women encounter obstacles on their paths to success, but it's evident that women often face additional hurdles. Traditionally, women have been expected to take on the role of primary caregivers within families, which means they must balance professional responsibilities with familial duties. This dual burden can create significant challenges for women as they navigate their careers.Let's explore the insights of experts on this matter.On the personal front, opines Hajra Haq of Webengage, women continue to face roadblocks. On the workplace front, corporate culture is skewed towards men, leading to fewer pathways toward leadership positions for women.“As often as not, women get boxed into roles, such as HR and marketing, that are stereotyped as their forte. When women break such glass ceilings and get promoted to leadership roles, they often find disparities in pay and benefits compared to their male peers. Equal pay for equal work, leadership training, and fair maternity policies should be institutionalised in workplaces. HR professionals must be trained and equipped to address systemic biases and foster a culture of empowerment in workplaces.”Shainy Koshy from The Continental Group observes that unequal pay for equal work is the most pressing issue women are grappling with today.“The latest gender pay gap survey by Forbes reveals that women earn 16% less than men, on average. Similarly, women continue to face roadblocks to leadership positions. Such challenges cannot be addressed through superficial policies and posturing. Decision-makers must scratch beneath the surface, acknowledge inherent biases that breed inequality, and take decisive actions to foster a culture of gender equality. It is not easy, but it is necessary,” says Koshy.Dr RuhilBadiani, of Cornerstone Clinic, feels that balancing work and family responsibilities is the most pressing issue facing women today and is a challenge she faces every single day.“Generally women assume the primary caregiving roles for children, and managing these duties alongside demanding leadership roles can result in burnout and heightened stress levels,” says the doctor.She also suggested the ways to mitigate such challenges, saying: “Introducing more adaptable working hours for both mothers and fathers is a key strategy to mitigate these challenges. Offering paid maternity leave and the opportunity to return to work on a part-time basis, with a transition to full-time as children grow older, can be instrumental in addressing this issue. Simultaneously, fostering a shift in domestic dynamics is essential, with men actively engaging in care giving roles.”Disparity in startup sceneWomen leaders highlight a stark reality in the world of entrepreneurship: the significant disparity in funding received by women-owned businesses.Erika Doyle points out that the disparity in funding received by women-owned businesses is glaring, as highlighted by the Wamda report which revealed that only 0.47% of investments in the MENA region in 2023 went to female-founded businesses.According to her, this statistic underscores the urgent need to address this issue as a top priority. “When women have to expend considerable effort just to secure funding for their startups or businesses, it leaves little time for other professional pursuits. It's crucial for investors to recognize the potential of women entrepreneurs and provide them with equal access to funding opportunities that their male counterparts already enjoy.”Women in leadership roles have been and still face various challenges, like maternity leave, equal pay, and boardroom representation to name a few things, observes Soniya Ashar of NutriCal.“Being in the startup ecosystem lately as the founder and CEO of NutriCal, an issue in the startup world is the funding gap between men and women. I've noticed that women often undersell themselves while men tend to oversell, leading to unequal investment opportunities despite women usually having more traction. It's surprising that female-founded companies received only 2% of all venture capital (VC) investment in 2022,” says Ashar.Suggesting ways to tackle this, she said: “One thing that we need to address is the stigma around women's self-promotion and confidence. Coaching and mentoring programmes are vital for empowering women to assert themselves effectively. Additionally, investors need to prioritize diversity in their funding decisions. It’s not all bad; there are initiatives happening and there has been some encouraging progress, like Arise (StrongHer) Ventures and the growing presence of Female Angels 2022 in the startup scene in the UAE.”Qadreya Al Awadhi of Bumblebee Food believes that gender bias and stereotypes still exist in some parts of the world. For example, she adds, if a woman gets promoted to a leadership position, you will find some people say she only got the position because of her gender. “You can open any comment section on any news site about women in leadership and read for yourself, women get the blame if the business fails but never the credit if the business succeeds. I think the best way to combat those biases is through education; running a business is not easy, people fail and succeed every day and it has nothing to do with gender.”Mantra for the right professional-personal equilibriumEvery successful lady has to maintain the perfect balance between work and family to maintain physical and mental well-being, reduce stress, and enhance overall quality of life. Our women leaders, having achieved this, share the mantra for it.Shainy Koshy believes that work-life balance is about building a life that flows with you rather than one that you have to push through. “So, I do not aim for a rigorous balance. At times, the work could spill into personal time; on slow days, you could have more time for family and personal obligations. I take both in good stride.” Similarly Hajra Haq says that she is fortunate to be working at WebEngage, a company with flexible work-from-home policies that allow her to balance her professional and personal life.“Moreover, I have support at home for domestic chores like cooking and cleaning. For example, on days I have personal obligations, I ensure I don’t slot in any office meetings. Such adjustments cannot happen impromptu; they need to be planned well in advance, requiring you to be highly organised.”Dr Ruhil Badiani says that it’s not easy; there are ups and downs, and there is no right answer on how to juggle it all.“Fortunately, I am blessed with an incredible support network. After maternity leave, I made it explicitly clear to my husband that I intended to continue working, emphasizing the need for his active involvement as a parent. Establishing clear boundaries was crucial, and I was fortunate that he was both willing and capable of sharing parental responsibilities. Additionally, my workplace has proven to be understanding and accommodating. They recognize the need for flexibility. This supportive environment has played a significant role in achieving a balance between work and family obligations. It is not easy to find a job that is flexible but it is the only reason that I am able to have the great balance that I do.”On the other hand, Erika Doyle, about maintaining equilibrium, says that the more you try to balance, the harder it gets.“I believe in being authentic and doing what feels right for me professionally and personally. There are days, weeks and even months where I prioritise my work and then sometimes, I prioritise my personal life. I believe in a more fluid and authentic way of balancing different parts of my life. “Soniya Ashar believes that advancement in technology has made it simpler. She said: “Balancing my professional responsibilities with my personal life and well-being is something I've learned to navigate with a combination of strategies. As women, we often excel at multitasking, drawing on years of experience juggling various roles and commitments. I rely heavily on organisation tools like Google Calendar to keep track of appointments, deadlines, and personal commitments. Additionally, having a strong support system of fellow female startup founders, girlfriends, sisters, and my mother allows me to openly discuss challenges and seek advice when needed.”Qadreya Al Awadhi says that it is not easy. “I actually have a day job in addition to my business. Running both makes it difficult to have some personal time, but I always try to dedicate uninterrupted time to my friends and family because they are my support system. Having the right people support you and your dreams takes away some of the stress you will face in your career.”(This part two of our International Women's Day special series will delve into three key topics: navigating gender biases, men as allies for gender equality, and advice for women in leadership roles.)
