Romina Shokouhmand
Romina Shokouhmand is a Master's student graduate of Business Psychology with Coaching at Heriot-Watt University. She is currently working in Talogy in Dubai. Her experience is in the HR field and talent management consultancy, assessment centres, and recruitments. She has a background in working as a digital marketer and researcher on consumer behaviour. She is interested in gender diversity and does research on gender equality at the workplace. Her dissertation, as part of her MSc at HWU, is an exploratory study on barriers an enablers women have in reaching leadership positions. Her goal is to explore what enables women to break the glass ceiling to get into managerial positions so other female employees can use their experience in advancing their careers and at the same time what is hindering them in achieving leadership positions so offering solutions to facilitate their growth.
Empowering female managers in the Digital Era: Overcoming barriers, harnessing opportunities
Introduction:
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has brought both opportunities and challenges for female managers in the Middle East, including the UAE. This panel discussion seeks to address the multifaceted barriers and opportunities that arise in the digital era and explore strategies to empower and support the career advancement of women in leadership roles.
Barriers and Challenges in the Digital Era:
The panel will delve into the unique barriers that women face in the digital era, including the digital gender divide, biases in algorithmic decision-making, online harassment, work-life integration challenges, and digital skills gaps. The discussion will analyze the intersectionality of these barriers and their impact on women's career progression.
Support Mechanisms in the Digital Landscape:
The panel will explore the digital support mechanisms and initiatives designed to foster the development of female managers. This includes virtual mentoring programs, online leadership development courses, digital networking platforms, and remote work policies. The discussion will highlight successful digital initiatives and their impact on supporting and empowering women in the workplace.
Strategies for Empowerment in the Digital Era:
Building upon the identified barriers and digital support mechanisms, the panel will propose strategies to empower female managers in the digital era. This may include advocating for digital literacy and upskilling programs, promoting inclusive digital workplaces, leveraging digital platforms for networking and visibility, and harnessing digital tools for remote collaboration and flexible work arrangements.
Key Issues for Debate:
The panel discussion will encourage thought-provoking debate on several key issues, such as the impact of digital transformation on gender equality, the role of digital leadership in fostering inclusive workplaces, the ethical implications of AI-driven decision-making, and the potential for digital solutions to address work-life integration challenges.
Conclusion:
This panel discussion aims to explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by female managers in the digital era and propose strategies to empower and support their career advancement. By embracing digital technologies and fostering an inclusive digital culture, organizations can create an environment where women can thrive and succeed in leadership roles in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.
Keywords: female managers, UAE, Middle East, barriers, support mechanisms, digital era, digital transformation, gender equality, diversity, female empowerment, digital leadership, workplace challenges.