Shattering stereotypes?
What are the stereotypes we have of each-other? What do you think of western women when you get to know them? Do they meet your expectations and previously held generalizations or are you often surprised? And for the westerner meeting with women from the GCC, what have been your expectations and generalizations? Are there some generalizations that were positive on both sides? I have heard story after story of stereotypes being shattered when people from the West and from the GCC meet and interact. New generalizations are created, networking begins and often there is... Read MoreHow do you make your family’s home more sustainable?
How do we teach our children to care for the earth and model it at home? Have you spoken to your child’s school about what they are teaching about the environment, sustainability, and our responsibility to the Earth and to our community? For example, my daughter, is part of her school’s green team where they help remind kids in the lunch room to recycle, create posters on campus around green themes, and even provide “no-idling zone” pencils to remind parents to turn off their cars during pick up and drop off. They will be doing presentations to their classmates on how...
Read MoreWhat does leadership in community mean?
As we move between cultures, how does our definition of leadership change? What are the commonalities? In essence, how does our culture affect how we define and show leadership? When we think of women in leadership we often think of the executive, the woman leading a company or organization, the woman entrepreneur, the head teacher, or the PTA Mom who organizes school donations, but what if we expand this list? What are the common traits to true leadership? Once we have identified these traits—how to we use them to strengthen our society. How do we impart these values to...
Read MoreInterview with Muna AbuSulayman
A rising star to watch, Muna AbuSulayman is Saudi’s UN Goodwill Ambassador, a TV personality with a number one hit show for five years, and a Young Global Leader at the Davos World Economic Forum. She is the first woman to head up the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation (ABTF), and the mother of two girls under sixteen. There are clearly many reasons that Muna AbuSulayman is known as an extraordinary role...
Read MorePanel Discussion with Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi
Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi is the first woman to assume a cabinet position in the United Arab Emirates and has served as the country’s Minister for Foreign Trade since 2008. From 2004 to 2008, she was Minister for Economy of the U.A.E. Prior to entering politics, she was a successful businesswoman in the Gulf region. Three decades of experience in business and politics have made her an ideal champion for entrepreneurs in the GCC and beyond. She also continues to serve on the Board of Tejari, of which she was at one time the CEO. In the video below from the 40th St...
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