In the run-up to the annual Emirates Businesswomen Award (EBWA), organizers Dubai Quality Group (DQG), along with the main sponsor Shell, invited prospective applicants and other women to meetings in Sharjah and Dubai to hear past winners of the award speak of their careers and experiences.
At a dinner gathering held at Sharjah’s Millennium Hotel on Tuesday, December 20, the winner of EBWA 2004, Maha Al Noubani, Deputy Chairperson of Al Jalal Trading Establishment spoke on “A Guide to Walk Down the Path of Success”, explaining how she climbed to the top of her business career in a largely male dominated field and how she won the EBWA 2004.
Winner of EBWA 2005, Dr Mariam Matar, has also been invited to dwell on her story as a “Successful, Professional UAE Woman” at another women’s gathering to be held at Al Morooj Rotana in Dubai this evening (Wednesday, December 21, 2005). Dr Matar will speak of her experiences as Manager of the Health Center at Dubai Ladies Club.
Addressing the gathering during the Sharjah event, Al Noubani said, “I believe that a woman who works hard, can and will achieve whatever she wants out of life. Due to rapid development in the UAE, women now face better education and career prospects than ever before. All women have the opportunity to prove their capabilities at the work place and should capitalise on this opportunity, in the process inspiring all other women in the UAE.
“As a company leader, I have been fortunate to be entrusted with the responsibility of empowering employees and delegating authority. Since I see myself as a persuasive leader, I try to impress upon employees the importance of accepting new responsibilities that will help them complement each other’s efforts. I subscribe to the view that leaders must take charge of difficult and time-consuming duties and try to make them interesting and easier for employees to complete. I will not rest on my laurels but will strive to set an even better example for all women in the UAE, who have previously shied away from promotional avenues on account of their gender or cultural prejudices,” Al Noubani added.
Samia Al Yousif, Manager, Dubai Quality Group said, “Dubai Quality Group has worked hard with Shell to motivate Dubai’s and the UAE’s businesswomen to participate in the EBWA. Response to the award has grown significantly and past winners have become shining stars in UAE’s business community. This year too, we would like many women to apply for the award.”
Al Yousif also spoke of the objectives, requirements, categories, criteria and benefits of the Emirates Businesswomen Award 2006. The Emirates Businesswomen Award was established in 2003 by Shell, in cooperation with the Dubai Quality Group to recognise and celebrate the vital role women in the UAE play in both the business and professional spheres.
Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Dubai Quality Group, said, “Duly recognising women’s contribution in business will motivate more women to exploit their entrepreneurial and managerial talents. The Emirates Businesswomen Award has become one of the most prestigious awards for the country’s women, and it is encouraging to see the forthcoming 2006 edition eliciting so much response.”
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell, said, “Shell’s continued support of the EBWA is driven by its global corporate philosophy that gives priority to the empowerment of women. The award is particularly relevant in the UAE, a country that epitomises the region’s entrepreneurial spirit that is manifest in its thriving economy and booming business enterprises.”
These gatherings are part of Shell and DQG’s joint awareness campaign across the UAE to motivate women entrepreneurs and professionals to bid for the award. These workshops informed potential applicants about the award’s goals and objectives, the eligibility criteria, the application procedures involved, the different categories and the benefits that winning the Award would bring.
The EBWA 2006 invites entries for two categories--Business Owners and Professionals. These entries are judged on the criteria of Leadership; Future Goals and Financial Performance; Business, Professional and Career Achievements; Community Contributions; and Participation and Innovation. The deadline for submitting applications is March 4, 2006 and the moderation panel will draw up a shortlist of applicants by the end of March. The final assessment by the Jury will be conducted by May 2006 in time for the grand award ceremony to be held in May.
