Dubai, UAE – The Women’s Empowerment Convention (WE Convention), held in Dubai on
March 7-8, was a remarkable success. It brought together 65 renowned speakers and over
1500 women from 47 countries to get empowered and discuss important issues facing
women today. The convention, organized by the Women’s Empowerment Council, featured
keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interviews aimed at empowering women to take
charge of their lives and make a positive impact in the world.
The WE Convention kicked off with a powerful keynote speech by Mila Smart Semeshkina,
the founder of the Women’s Empowerment Council, discussing the importance of
recognizing successful female role models. This was followed by a personal speech from
Maye Musk, who shared her inspiring story of achieving success at any age. Maye
confessed to the audience that she is most proud of her children, and that this is her greatest
success in life. The importance of motherhood was further confirmed by a keynote from
T atyana Bakalchuk, the founder and CEO of Wildberries, a $10 billion company, who boldly
stated that “The first thing I am is a mother before I am a businesswoman”
. Natalia
Vodianova, a supermodel and philanthropist, gave a moving speech about how to reinvent
oneself and shared her journey from a fashion icon to an impact investor. Finally, Elena
Cardone, CEO of Build an Empire, gave a motivational speech that provided actionable
steps for guests to take as they begin to build their own empires.
A special focus of the WE Convention was to honor the great progress made by the MENA
countries in a short period of time. Social entrepreneur Sophia Swire delivered a keynote
address sharing how her work has enabled tens of thousands of women in the Islamic world
through education, skills development, and the creation of opportunities for talented Arab
women entrepreneurs. A fireside chat featuring Samar Alshorafa, CEO of She is Arab, Dr.
Eng Suaad Al Shamsi, the first female aircraft engineer in the UAE, and Jouhayna AlMheir,
an Emirati air traffic control officer, discussed how Arab women are becoming trailblazers.
The conversation also delved into the role of Arab women as global challengers, including
the Saudi Wonder Women Project founded by Xinyi T ong, as well as the impressive
achievements of Emirati Formula Racing Driver Amna Al Qubaisi, Nelly Attar, the first Arab
woman to summit K2, and Aisha Al Mansoori, the first Emirati female captain of a
commercial airline.
The WE Convention also featured a wide range of speakers and panelists who spoke among
many about the importance of investing in women, power of impact investing and
philanthropy. The convention also included discussions about creative potential in business,sustainability and disruption, and the importance of female leaders in power and
decision-making. There were panel discussions on personal style and identity, content
creation, and the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal life.
The Startup Stage celebrated the MENA region as a vibrant startup hotspot. Women
entrepreneurs, investors, and startup ecosystem enablers shared their insights, stories and
practical advice. Panel discussions and talks covered gender investment gap, community
building, converting ideas into businesses, brand development, and more. Founders shared
their twisted stories about shattering taboos, overcoming challenges, and pursuing their true
passions. Speakers also explored how AI and FemT ech are reshaping the future.
On the evening of March 7th, distinguished guests, including HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said,
real estate mogul Elena Cardone, supermodel Natalia Vodianova, and actress and film
director Renata Litvinova, attended a signature event of the WE Convention at Armani hotel.
The event featured a vibrant blend of live music, networking, and a gourmet dining
experience. One of the highlights of the Gala dinner was the vintage Chanel exhibition, and
a stunning runway show featuring the latest LEFFERS designs inspired by iconic designers
of the past.
The Women’s Empowerment Council is delighted to have organized this exceptional event
with Women in T ech. The WE Convention was a wonderful opportunity for women to come
together, share their stories, and learn from each other. It is our sincere wish that the lessons
learned at this event will continue to inspire women to make a positive impact in the world.
