This year, under the inspiring theme of 'Invest in Women', women professionals from four sectors delved into the critical topic of Intersectionality at Work: Why Focusing on Women isn't Enough.' The event united voices from diverse fields to explore inclusivity and equality.

The Voice platform, was conceptualised to highlight women achievers and leaders in four industries that Media Fusion caters to –  the Built Environment, Cleaning, Waste & Recycling and Aviation. 

Media Fusion as a brand and business house, powered by women, is committed to bringing in diverse perspectives and creating an inclusive and dynamic work environment. 

As in previous years, the event received the invaluable support and co-operation of several partners such as Nakheel, ⁠BKA FM, ⁠Engie Solutions, ⁠Al Bonian, ⁠Reza Hygiene, ⁠Imdaad Group, EJADAH, ⁠Hitek & Farnek and ⁠Tork.
Inclusivity is a concept that transcends mere equality. It means that all services, opportunities, and establishments are open to all people, irrespective of their gender, race, religion or class. When we demand gender inclusivity, we are expecting the policies, language, and other societal frameworks to respect and acknowledge all gender identities.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, It could take 131 years for the world to close the gender gap. Studies show diverse and inclusive teams outperform their peers by 80% in terms of business performance. Yet, only 27% of women globally are represented in senior management positions. These numbers aren't just figures; they represent a stark reality that demands our attention and action.

The Voice Meet began with an impactful opening keynote delivered by Aarti Dange, a senior customer experience professional at Emerson. She is leading customer engagement efforts in the Middle East and Africa region and serves as the DE&I leader for MEA at Emerson. The keynote set the tone for the discussions that followed, on why the perspectives of all matter. Through relevant illustrations, her presentation effectively conveyed how innovation thrives within an organisation when multiple views, beliefs and values are integrated
Intersectionality at Work

The panel discussion that followed ensured a detailed discussion on ‘Intersectionality at Work: Why Focusing on Women Isn't Enough.’

The panelists Malak Trabelsi Loeb, Founder and President, Vernewell Group, Maria Flouda, Founder, Sustainability Switch & Board Co Chair, Lean In Equity and Sustainability, Global Women Empowerment NGO, Trishna Hundal, Cluster Executive Housekeeper, IHG Dubai Festival City and Maya Tawil, Director of Business Development, Veolia represented four different industries.

Adeptly moderated by Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director, HITEK -  a company that leads FM companies through successful digitalisation journeys, the session explored several dimensions including the urgency of implementing intersectional approaches in the workplace, and actively working towards recognising and addressing diverse experiences within the female population.

Tawil drew upon her experiences as a young Arab woman within the heavily male-dominated waste sector. “We have the notion that developed countries are able to support, but statistics point out that the highest percentage of working women come from developing countries.”

“We need to accommodate varying needs of the workforce right from the design stage of a building,” she added.

Flouda shared her experience of working within the built industry for more than two decades before starting her entrepreneurial journey. “Organisations need a DE&I framework that implements it as a part of the culture,”  she said and went on to point out how women are contributing immensely to the economy and humanity as a whole, mentioning her favourite quote that can be found in Dubai Expo City — "When women thrive, humanity thrives."

The panel discussion explored how women of colour, women with disabilities, and those from different socioeconomic backgrounds may face additional barriers that a gender-only approach might overlook. “Women bring varied skill sets and contribute their knowledge of various socio-economic backgrounds,” said Aijaz. 

The panel highlighted how an inclusive approach benefits not only individuals but also contributes to a more innovative and dynamic work environment. They shared the examples of some inspiring women that they consider their role models.

On the question of benefits of a more inclusive environment, Loeb remarked, “Allowing people to thrive within their environment and creating the culture of inclusivity will help bring different ideas.” She further touched on the aspect of technology such as AI making it better or worse for inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

Hundal emphasised the need for a fresh approach, commenting that organisations need to look at people based on their merit or achievements, rather than gender.

The audience also voiced their opinions on the need for employees from diverse backgrounds to have training programmes and the question of psychological safety promoting productivity.

Power of collaboration

The activities conducted during the event were met with enthusiastic participation, as the attendees were immersed in teamwork to bring out the best efforts.

The Voice Meet further brought to the fore, the invaluable contributions of women across various industries through a fireside chat highlighting the journeys of pioneering entrepreneurs who embody resilience, innovation, and excellence in every aspect of their work.

This session was moderated by Madhusmita Nayak, Strategic Planning and Corporate Performance Manager. Imdaad, a leading integrated facilities management company. The participants —- Katherine Athreya, Managing Director, ROAR and Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director, HITEK, gave the audience a peek into their journeys as entrepreneurs and how they were able to overcome challenges to emerge successful.

The Voice Networking Meet once again reinforced the power of collaboration in bringing dynamic change, contributing towards ensuring that the efforts for inclusion continue to gain momentum.