As part of a CSR initiative, CM today and sister magazines Clean ME and Waste & Recycling Middle East and Africa hosted the first networking meet of The Voice campaign on Women's Day March 8 and we are re-publishing this article to mark Emirati Women's Day 2022.

The event, supported by leading names like AG Facilities & Contracting, Ejadah, Engie Solutions, Facilio, and iREC Holdings, saw the participation of almost 80 women from the built environment, commercial cleaning and waste management industries.

The voice campaign was first initiated by CM today in 2020 as a platform for women in the built environment. With the inclusion of the other two industries this year, the campaign seeks to reach a bigger impact with a wider reach.

The campaign aims to be a platform where women from the three industries can interact together and find support in both professional and personal front. Besides this, through the campaign, CM today wants to influence more women to enter the built environment and take on C level roles.

And part of the campaign, in this feature CM today gets up close and personal with some of the leading women in the built environment.

1. ANDREA YOKO, HEAD OF SOFT SERVICES, EJADAH

My cleaning journey started at an early age being the eldest of 5 siblings. My mother was a cleaner and during school holidays I joined her to the various homes she cleaned. It was during this time I learnt the importance of lifting and cleaning under sofa cushions and the magic cleaning power of ‘elbow grease’.... Read More

2. DARIA BATHISH, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, IREC HOLDINGS

My career started slightly differently to what it is today. My first job straight out of university was a financial auditor at PwC where I learned a great deal of discipline and the foundation for my analytical and financial skills. However, a couple of years into the job, it felt more like a stepping stone in my professional pursuit rather than the career that I hoped to have. I had some interviews set up when I visited the UAE in 2013 and by mere coincidence decided to shift careers and delve into the world of real estate when I was presented with a unique opportunity in this breathtaking country.... Read More

3. EVIE BOUSTANTZI, C-LEVEL EXECUTIVE, PRESIDENT OF LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL’S ALUMNI COMMUNITY - GULF REGION

My first job post-graduation was a happy accident.

It was the year 2000 in London when I tried to make a post in the local newspaper as a job-seeker graduate of architecture. Unknowingly I offered myself the “items for free”. A couple of days later I received a call for an interview at a pioneering startup that became the world leaders in 4D construction planning (virtual construction planning). I met visionary Barry, the owner entrepreneur, who explained to me that in order to qualify for the job I needed to know advanced 3D CAD modeling. I was honest about my complete lack of... Read More

4. JAVERIA AIJAZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR - HITEK, AND SENIOR DIRECTOR ICT - FARNEK

I never planned to get into technology. Cultural influence made us believe medicine was the most reputed industry for women at that time. It just happened by chance. Having male cousins going into IT, gave me a door opener for higher studies which wasn’t a family norm at that point. All the cousins choose technology so I had to too, which was quite exasperating since my inner self still wasn’t convinced. But I took the opportunity since.... Read More

5. JAYSHRI SINGH, HEAD OF COMMUNITIES, ELTIZAM - THREE60 COMMUNITIES

With the Dubai real estate boom, especially in the freehold sector through the early 2000’s, it  was inevitable that you could not be impacted. However, it was a fortuitous meeting with a  friend that gave me the entry into one of the most talked about projects at the time, The Palm  Jumeirah, as a Handover & Transition Facilitator for the amazing frond villas on The Palm.... Read More

6. NIRAL SUNIL JHAVERI, HEAD OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, BETTERHOMES

I come from a Gujarati family where it was not common for women to work and have a career. In my case, thankfully my Mom supported and encouraged me to work. Taking this opportunity and without having any expectations from the future, my career started when I decided to work for Loreal India as I also wanted to be independent. Then I got married and moved to Dubai in 2005. I joined Standard Chartered bank and worked with them for 3 years... Read More

7. SAM EMERY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, EMRILL

I started my career as a senior auditor at Grant Thornton in the UK. I knew at the outset that I wanted to be in a company and a role where I could make a difference, deliver a tangible service that benefits employees and clients and see a real output that adds value. Even at the beginning of my career, I knew that I wanted to transition into an industry that would allow me to have a positive impact on people's lives, and facilities management... Read More