The rise of female leaders

The Life: A total of 25 women from the region recently completed a programme to prepare them for leadership positions. But what can it teach someone who has been in business for more than two decades?

Huda Al Matroushi, an Emirati and vice president of Gasco, took part in a leadership programme for women. Sammy Dallal / The National

They come from vastly different backgrounds, but Huda Al Matroushi, an Emirati and vice president of Gasco, and Nancy Pelosi, a former speaker of the United States House of Representatives, have at least a couple of things in common.

They are successful working mothers who stood for public office in their home countries.

Ms Al Matroushi was one of 25 women from the Middle East and North Africa, 19 of them from the UAE, to take part in a programme called Fostering the Next Generation of Women Leaders.

It offered the participants the chance to meet successful women in Washington - one of whom was Ms Pelosi.

"I compared my experience [with hers] because I went through the [Federal National Council] election last year," says Ms Al Matroushi. "I did not win. But I came to the conclusion that it was very early for me to go for the election. I needed to … go through intensive social responsibility programmes so that people would know about me."

Having worked for two decades, Ms Al Matroushi was not sure what she would gain by taking part in the leadership programme. But she is glad that she participated.

"Whatever I have learnt through my career was completely different," she says.

The programme included an examination of theories and models of leadership and communication styles. One of the most valuable aspects of the course was the chance to network.

"I have met with different people who I am sure I will keep in contact with. That was one of the weaknesses I used to have," adds Ms Al Matroushi.

The initiative was led by the Centre for Development and Population Activities (Cedpa) and sponsored by ExxonMobil.

Its aim was to empower the women. But most of those who took part had already accomplished a lot, says Carol Peasley, the president of Cedpa.

"They were very impressive. We joked at the reception that they got the nickname the Amazing 25," says Ms Peasley.

The participants' backgrounds surely prove that women have made great strides in their advancement, so are programmes such as Fostering the Next Generation of Women Leaders still necessary?

Women often do not have enough self-confidence, and such training programmes help to instil a sense of empowerment, says Ms Peasley.

"I think that was less the case for these women than it is for the normal group we work with. But it is a good reminder for all women, and I have felt the need during my lengthy career to have this kind of refresher work," she says.

ExxonMobil has sponsored the Global Women in Management programme for the past seven years. About 400 women have taken part so far, among them Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Trade.

ExxonMobil sees supporting women as important because of the positive impact this can have on society.

"You may have heard that economists or social scientists talk about the multiplier effect," says Morten Mauritzen, the president of ExxonMobil in Abu Dhabi.

"When you invest in women, you are actually investing in her family and by doing so her community as well," he says. "We are a strong believer that by engaging the women in societies it also ultimately helps the business community because the whole community gets engaged."

twitter: Follow and share our breaking business news. Follow us

iPad users can follow our twitterfeed via Flipboard - just search for Ind_Insights on the app.