The UAE is a leading nation in embracing women: 50% of our parliament are women, 28% of our ministers are women, and the youngest minister in the world was one of our women. That’s proof of what’s possible. And the world needs to follow suit.

The harsh reality: Despite decades of effort, the world won’t achieve gender balance until 2158, according to the World Economic Forum; that’s simply unacceptable.

Here’s the brutal truth: Only 6% of CEOs are women; even worse, just 2% of female founders are funded globally. That’s a crisis. Having more female top executives and venture capitalists funding women-led startups isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. Change will only come when we have women at the decision-making table; otherwise, the cycle of imbalance continues.

How Do We Create Change?
First, we need awareness. Many women are shocked when they hear those statistics and don’t even realize the extent of the gender gap.

Second, we need policy change. Quotas alone won’t fix the problem. We need systemic solutions starting with education, female-friendly workplaces, and, most importantly, the way we raise our sons and daughters:

• Shouldn’t we encourage young girls to become CEOs instead of just marrying them?
• Shouldn’t we train more women to enter venture capital so they can fund other female founders?
• Shouldn’t we be raising boys to respect and value women so equality becomes second nature?

Kids don’t just learn from what we say; they learn from what we do. When kids grow up in a household where women’s voices are valued and respected, they carry those beliefs into school, work, and society.

Last but indeed not least is engaging men and boys in the conversation; they make up half the world! This is not about women’s empowerment—it’s about creating a society where men and women complement each other. Change will come when we work together, raise awareness, and continue pushing for progress at every level of society.

Leading by Example
Early in my career, I worked in Oil & Gas, often the only woman in boardrooms filled with men twice my age. I refused to stay silent. I attended every meeting well-prepared with valuable questions and insights because I had the ‘unofficial responsibility’ to represent all women in that room. When I had the opportunity to build a team, I prioritized hiring and developing women, moving the needle of gender balance in my organization one role at a time.

That was my way of driving change from within.

Change starts with YOU:

• Don’t wait for another woman to lead; YOU start! Be the change you want to see.
• Men and women are complementary. Your emotional intelligence and empathy are strengths, especially in an AI-driven world—use your voice.
• Raise the next generation—sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces—to value women. Together, we can shape a better future.