Abu Dhabi, 07 November 2024: The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and The WOW Foundation (WOW) in collaboration with the British Embassy in the UAE, presented an online forum that brought together influential women leaders from the UAE and across the world. Taking place virtually via Zoom on 5 November 2024 from 4:00pm to 6:30pm (UAE time), the event featured 24 dynamic women leaders who participated in a dialogue focused on leadership, cultural exchange, and personal growth.

This forum was a unique opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration, as leaders from ADMAF’s and WOW’s global networks shared their experiences and insights. Discussions covered essential themes on leadership, identity, and cultural diversity, aiming to foster stronger global connections and understanding. The event offered participants a platform to explore challenges and successes in their leadership journeys and examine the role of women in driving change across sectors.

Her Excellency Huda Ibrahim AlKhamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival highlighted the importance of the forum presented by ADMAF and The WOW Foundation in collaboration with the British Embassy in the UAE, that seeks to celebrate and empower women through creative exchange, cultural initiatives and collaborative projects between international cultural institutions.

Her Excellency said: 'We are inspired by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, ‘Mother of the Nation,’ in empowering women and girls to realise their talents and achieve their dreams, no matter where they are—from the UAE to the UK and every corner of the globe. Her Highness’s vision encourages women to take an active role in society and build skills and capabilities that qualify Emirati women to occupy the forefront regionally and globally.'

Her Excellency continues: “     This interactive forum brings together 24 leading women and influential global leaders featuring 12 women representing the UAE, alongside their counterparts from 11 countries: the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Finland, Pakistan, Turkey, Greece, and Nepal.”

“ADMAF and WOW’s virtual forum in collaboration with the British Embassy in the UAE, seeks to strengthen ties between Emirati women leaders and their international counterparts. The Forum aims to create a new network of women leaders from diverse sectors, foster cultural cooperation and exchange, and facilitate meaningful dialogue. Through these conversations, the participating women will contribute to a broader discussion on leadership, identity, and the power of cultural diversity, ultimately deepening our mutual understanding and collaboration,” Her Excellency concluded.

Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE said: “The British Embassy UAE is proud to support this important initiative; advocating for women is key to building inclusive and representative societies. This exchange of knowledge along with the engagement in conversations around leadership and female empowerment aligns with our efforts to strengthen the deep and historic relationship between the UK and UAE.”

Adding, “It is an absolute privilege to play a role in connecting talent across the UK and UAE and our hope is that initiatives like this will inspire women and girls to reach their potential.”    

WOW’s Founder & CEO Jude Kelly CBE said: “It was an honour for WOW to co-host today’s forum. Bringing together an incredible group of leaders from across the world provided us all with the rare and valuable opportunity to discuss challenges, celebrate our achievements and interrogate the things that matter most to all of us as cultural leaders. 'It’s imperative that influential women’s voices are heard. It was a powerful experience to come together in one virtual space to learn and inspire one another.”

The forum opened with a keynote addressed by Jude Kelly CBE, CEO and Founder of The WOW Foundation, and Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival. Their speeches set the stage for engaging discussions on the importance of cross-cultural leadership and the value of exchanging global perspectives.

During the event, participants introduced themselves, followed by an ice-breaking exercise led by Jude Kelly, and engaged in interactive breakout sessions. These sessions      facilitated meaningful conversations on pivotal leadership topics, such as personal turning points, challenges faced by women leaders, economic empowerment, and the tools needed for effective leadership. Insights from these sessions were      shared with the group, allowing participants to learn from one another and deepen their understanding of women’s leadership across cultural contexts.

The forum concluded with feedback from each breakout group and closing remarks from Jude Kelly. The event gave its participants actionable insights and a strengthened global network of women leaders