The Women’s Empowerment Convention (WE Convention), held in Dubai on March 7-8, was a remarkable success. It brought together 65 renowned speakers and over 1,500 women from 47 countries to get empowered and discuss important issues facing women today. The convention, organized by the Women’s Empowerment Council, featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interviews aimed at empowering women to take charge of their lives and make a positive impact in the world.
The WE Convention kicked off with a powerful keynote speech by Mila Smart Semeshkina, the founder of the Women’s Empowerment Council, discussing the importance of recognizing successful female role models. This was followed by a personal speech from Maye Musk, who shared her inspiring story of achieving success at any age.
Maye confessed to the audience that she is most proud of her children, and that this is her greatest success in life. The importance of motherhood was further confirmed by a keynote from Tatyana Bakalchuk, the founder and CEO of Wildberries, a $10 billion company, who boldly stated that “The first thing I am is a mother before I am a businesswoman”.
Natalia Vodianova, a supermodel and philanthropist, gave a moving speech about how to reinvent oneself and shared her journey from a fashion icon to an impact investor. Finally, Elena Cardone, CEO of Build an Empire, gave a motivational speech that provided actionable steps for guests to take as they begin to build their own empires.
A special focus of the WE Convention was to honor the great progress made by the MENA countries in a short period of time. Social entrepreneur Sophia Swire delivered a keynote address sharing how her work has enabled tens of thousands of women in the Islamic world through education, skills development, and the creation of opportunities for talented Arab women entrepreneurs.
A fireside chat featuring Samar Alshorafa, CEO of She is Arab, Dr. Eng Suaad Al Shamsi, the first female aircraft engineer in the UAE, and Jouhayna AlMheir, an Emirati air traffic control officer, discussed how Arab women are becoming trailblazers. The conversation also delved into the role of Arab women as global challengers, including the Saudi Wonder Women Project founded by Xinyi Tong, as well as the impressive achievements of Emirati Formula Racing Driver Amna Al Qubaisi, Nelly Attar, the first Arab woman to summit K2, and Aisha Al Mansoori, the first Emirati female captain of a commercial airline.
The WE Convention also featured a wide range of speakers and panelists who spoke among many about the importance of investing in women, power of impact investing and philanthropy. The convention also included discussions about creative potential in business, sustainability and disruption, and the importance of female leaders in power and decision-making. There were panel discussions on personal style and identity, content creation, and the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal life.
The Startup Stage celebrated the MENA region as a vibrant startup hotspot. Women entrepreneurs, investors, and startup ecosystem enablers shared their insights, stories and practical advice. Panel discussions and talks covered gender investment gap, community building, converting ideas into businesses, brand development, and more. Founders shared their twisted stories about shattering taboos, overcoming challenges, and pursuing their true passions.
Speakers also explored how AI and FemTech are reshaping the future. On the evening of March 7th, distinguished guests, including HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said, real estate mogul Elena Cardone, supermodel Natalia Vodianova, and actress and film director Renata Litvinova, attended a signature event of the WE Convention at Armani hotel.
The event featured a vibrant blend of live music, networking, and a gourmet dining experience. One of the highlights of the Gala dinner was the vintage Chanel exhibition, and a stunning runway show featuring the latest LEFFERS designs inspired by iconic designers of the past.
The Women’s Empowerment Council is delighted to have organized this exceptional event with Women in Tech. The WE Convention was a wonderful opportunity for women to come together, share their stories, and learn from each other. It is our sincere wish that the lessons learned at this event will continue to inspire women to make a positive impact in the world.
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