The case for diversity and inclusion.... a suitable theme to coincide with International Women’s Day, a remarkable day of the year that is celebrated globally on 8 March. And while this holiday celebrates the amazing achievements of women all around the world, it also reflects on a moment in time to highlight the work that still needs to be done in the quest for gender equality and positive change. Harnessing the power of diversity and inclusion in this day and age should be self-evident, yet we still need to push for this ongoing and vital conversation.
In this latest issue of the ME PoV, we discover how “unlearning” might be just as relevant as “learning” when it comes to individuals playing a part in achieving positive change. In Diversity unplugged: The new generation, author Lamisse Muhtaseb explains that “The role of inclusion in the workplace is beyond that of diversity; it taps into the many components that contribute to the people experience.”
The power of emotional intelligence in a tech-savvy world by Arati Marya and Zaynah Vohra posits that emotional intelligence (EQ) can have a powerful impact on an organization’s measurable success and will continue to serve a critical role in ensuring diversity and preventing bias in technology moving forward.
In the article Striving for a gender-balanced economy: What challenges does the Middle East need to consider in order to meet SDG 5 objectives? author Daniel Gribbin looks at the strides the Middle East has made on the issue of gender equality, and how, compared to global markets, it still has a great deal to do.
In an enlightening interview with Irene Natividad, President of the Global Summit of Women, entitled Women at the forefront: Holding the key to global economic prosperity, we learn about the many issues faced by women in the workforce today and how this powerful clan can truly thrive in a gender inclusive and dynamic environment for utmost economic prosperity.
Author Saima Jalal looks at the problematic glass ceiling and finds that “despite gender equality being a topic well publicized, the corporate world remains a notoriously difficult arena for women to advance in, with many struggling to reach senior positions within their organizations,” in That “double” glazed ceiling.
The rise of the untapped national talent pool: Inspirational women take the lead by authors Anna Maria Haddad and Layan El Hout find that while it is important to acknowledge that the shifts occurring in the Arab world regarding gender balance are not new, it is only until recently that “these nations have been reaping the fruits of the major legislative and social changes that they have been working incessantly towards.”
Mia Buban injects her boost of optimism and positive energy in Women thriving in technology and AI: How we, organizations, and society can drive to increase female representation in today’s digital world. She presents how “by nature, and by design, women have inherent strengths as leaders, nurturers, integrators, influencers, orchestrators, organizers, and innovators – attributes that women should proudly celebrate.”
We are proud to offer you this important issue of the Middle East Point of View and hope it instigates much needed conversations to forge forward and work for positive change. ME PoV editorial team
The views and opinions expressed herein do not represent nor reflect those of Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP (DME). Opinions, conclusions and other information in this blog post which have not been delivered by way of the business of Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP (DME) are neither given nor endorsed by it.