Arabian Business successfully hosted the 2023 Women in Business conference on Thursday, gathering an impressive lineup of influential businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and humanitarians from the GCC region.
During a panel discussion, notable figures including Salma Aboul-Ela, Managing Director of LITE Development; Prof. Dame Heather McGregor, Provost & Vice President of Herriot-Watt University Dubai; Meher Mirchandani, Director of Manrre Logistics; and Basma Ashry, CEO of Business Incorporation Zone, shared their insights on diversity, inclusion, and overcoming unconscious bias.
The panelists addressed the issue of gender equality in various industries, particularly highlighting the real estate sector as a male-dominated field. Aboul-Ela acknowledged the presence of unconscious bias and stressed the importance of creating an accessible and neutral process to eliminate bias and ensure a level playing field for everyone.
McGregor emphasized the significance of non-verbal communication and advocated for a blind recruitment and promotion process to eliminate bias based on appearance. Mirchandani, an advocate for diversity and inclusion, highlighted the need to challenge cultural biases and provide new perspectives, training her team to overcome gender-related biases.
The conference provided a platform for these influential women to share their leadership lessons and promote a more inclusive and equitable business environment. By addressing unconscious bias and promoting diversity, the aim is to foster an environment that values talent and abilities above all else, regardless of gender or other characteristics.
