“According the report by Quantum Leaps, the potential of women-owned firms is comparable to the discovery of ‘an entirely new technology or the birth of an industry’ Women businesses can create trillions of dollars to the global economy.” – Sana Bagersh, founder of Tamakkan
AmCham Abu Dhabi’s WOMEN ACHIEVE Celebrates its Second Anniversary
(Representatives of some of the 34 companies to have signed AmCham Abu Dhabi’s WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative are joined on stage by members of the Women in Business Committee)
Abu Dhabi, UAE– WOMEN ACHIEVE, a women’s advancement initiative launched by AmCham Abu Dhabi’s Women in Business Committee, celebrated its second anniversary at a ceremony reaffirming the seven key principles of its charter. The event featured the success stories of the signatories, and named Northrop Grumman as the 2015 WOMEN ACHIEVE CHAMPION, an honour awarded to the most active signatory that has furthered women’s advancement in the year.
The ceremony was held at Mamoura Auditorium, in partnership with Tamakkan and under the patronage of the Fatima Bint Hazza Cultural Foundation. At the event, the 34 companies and organizations that have signed the WOMEN ACHIEVE charter to date shared their success stories and their new empowerment initiatives.
Northrop Grumman was singled out for its outstanding work in promoting STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to women, particularly Emirati women. “The Innovation Challenge,” which is open to both male and female engineering students, allows students access to mentors from Northrop Grumman.
“Northrop Grumman is truly honoured to accept this award in recognition of our efforts to further STEM education among the women of the UAE,” said Doug Raaberg, chief executive of Northrop Grumman UAE. “The UAE’s leadership has long championed the advancement of women in the labour force, and our commitment to teach, mentor and guide young Emirati women in STEM is part of a collaborative effort to prepare them as the leaders of tomorrow.”
The theme of the second anniversary, Advancing Women and Pushing Boundaries, featured the Women in Business committee members who presented each of the signatory companies, as well as inspirational entertainment by rising local talents singer Zainab Hafiz, poet Sara Al Souki and the formidable acapella group Voices of Harmony.
In recognition of March’s focus on women achievement and motherhood, the event also featured a large commemorative Women Achieve mural highlighting the seven principles of Women Achieve that guests were invited to sign. The mural, which also displays all the names of all companies that are part of the Women Achieve initiative, will be presented to HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation” as a token of appreciation for her leadership and her remarkable achievements in advancing the progress of women in the UAE.
“It is because of the leadership and vision of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak that the women of the UAE today stand strong and enabled – we are able to celebrate women’s achievement today because of her commitment to the progress of women in the UAE,”’ said Sana Bagersh, Chair, AmCham Abu Dhabi Women in Business Committee. “We are thrilled that WOMEN ACHIEVE has been embraced by so many companies, and we invite organizations everywhere to adopt the principles of its charter.”
Matthew E. Byrd, AmCham Abu Dhabi Chairman added, “We are deeply proud of AmCham’s Women in Business Committee and the resounding success of the WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative,” “This innovative initiative is an example of the positive contribution of AmCham to the business community in the U.A.E, and one we are sure will continue to grow.”
The principles of the WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative include promoting women to senior positions, increasing their participation in boards, and providing them with training and coaching to advance within organizations. The signatories of the WOMEN ACHIEVE Initiative, in the order of joining as of March 11, 2015: AMIDEAST, Parsons International Ltd., Mubadala GE Capital, Olgoonik Global Security, Sayah Engineering MENA, ExxonMobil, Alexandria Consulting Team (ACT) LLC, BrandMoxie, Mountain High, Regal International Projects Development, Boeing Middle East, F&E Aerospace, New York Institute of Technology, Nexus Business Services, Squire Patton Boggs LLP, Lockheed Martin, Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Middle East, CH2M HILL, BrightPoint Women’s Hospital, Northrop Grumman, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Al Noor Hospitals Group, Louis Berger, Both Management Consultancy, Accenture Middle East, International Bechtel Company Limited, Nbiz Infosol Information Consultancy LLC, MENAWA, Fast Rent A Car, MetLife, Techwise, Alliott Hadi Shahid, INSEAD Business School – Abu Dhabi, and Falcon Aviation Services.
Northrop Grumman was the 20th signatory of Women Achieve. Their award winning Innovation Challenge pairs its own engineers with Emirati students from the Higher Colleges of Technology to design, build and fly unmanned aircraft. The program culminates in a weeklong competition where the student teams compete against each other in oral presentations and flight demonstrations. This year, competition week will be held from April 19-23 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The public is invited to attend the flying competitions on April 21 and 22, as well as the awards ceremony on April 23 in Dubai.
