Hold on to your briefcases, because a sobering new report by BoardEx reveals that women make up for only 5% of global CEOs. Err…this is still the 21st century, right? Despite the unwavering talent, drive and resilience of women in the corporate world, it appears that the C-suite is still a bit of a boys’ club.
Closer to home, a McKinsey report shows that less than 10% of senior managers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are women. Oh, you thought we were done? Over 85% of GCC-listed companies have zero female board members. Ouch. Seems like the glass ceiling could use a good shattering.
Thankfully, there are a number of powerhouses in the region carving out (a rather sizable) space in the Middle Eastern corporate world. So we sat down with 10 trailblazing C-suite women to get granular on their path to success. Prepare to be inspired.
Natasha Al Fadhli
Founder and CEO of Coffee Communications
Her Business
A Dubai-based strategic and communications agency offering bespoke, innovative and integrated solutions for brands across fashion, beauty, hospitality and lifestyle.
Her Bragging Rights
“I successfully brought together a bunch of strong-minded women under one roof, I’m self-funded and self-made. I built my company from the ground up and hustled in this competitive environment”.
How It Started
“I realised the inefficiency of having to go through several agencies for various services. This gave me the drive to build one that would house all the client’s needs under one roof”.
Why She Does It
“A significant aspect that fuels my passion is assisting small businesses and local brands in not just surviving, but thriving in their respective industries. I am driven by the opportunity to guide and provide younger talent with chances to shape their careers, and foster a workplace that allows my team to find joy in their roles”.
Her Motto
“We’re here to sell our services and not our self-respect”.
Desi Gonzalez
Co-founder, COO and in-house diplomat at Hyperspace
Her Business
A future forward entertainment attraction developer, that can e-design, build, operate, promote, and fund permanent ticketed experiential attractions.
Her Bragging Rights
“We are on the cusp of opening our third park in the largest mall in the world in Dubai, and are beginning our US expansion”.
How It Started
“Three of us decided to disrupt the entertainment attractions industry by inventing the destinations and experiences to meet the future demands”.
Why She Does It
“We get to shape the future with a lot of tools, imagination, and trust – bound together by a shared vision to build beautiful, wonderful, and impossibly unique worlds that create joy”.
Her Motto
“Build worlds. Induce wonder. Win hearts”.
Fatima AlMattar
Founder and CEO of Hello Explorer
Her Business
Travel consultancy creating bespoke experiences.
Her Bragging Rights
“I’m happy to have built something in which I would employ nationals in my own country, Kuwait, and train them to become the future travel consultants and entrepreneurs”.
How It Started
“By being in the social media, I’ve identified a few gaps and problems in the market in which I found my expertise of an added value. Trust, experiences and travel planning has always been useful and helpful to a big segment of the society”.
Why She Does It
“I love traveling. Traveling adds so much value to your own life and to everyone around you. Seeing people happy after every trip, every itinerary, hearing their experiences and how much you’ve added value to their life is just a beautiful feeling”.
Her Motto
“Dare to Dream, Dare to Do, Dare to Succeed”.
Youmna Khoury
Co-founder and CEO of Youmi Beauty
Her Business
A beauty online store selling hair extensions, coloured contact lenses and more.
Her Bragging Rights
“The continuous out-of-stock products I have. I really adore how my clients believe in our products and how we have a high client’s retention”.
How It Started
“I opened my own salon in Beirut called The Onyx, which turned into an instant hotspot. I’ve always been very passionate about all things beauty-related, which led to me eventually growing into a beauty influencer, and then business owner”.
Why She Does It
“I do it for myself, for the little girl in me. I am passionate about what I am doing. I really worked hard for what I have now, and I know I will achieve even more”.
Her Motto
“Fake it until you make it”.
Nora Achmaoui
Founder of SHEEO
Her Business
Global digital platform coaching women on how to build successful businesses.
Her Bragging Rights
“I’ve coached thousands of women from over 31 countries”.
How It Started
“I founded my first company in 2017, and then three more other companies shortly after that. While I was hunting for my purpose, a lot of women came to me for advice. Helping them gave me such a special feeling that I built an entire coaching business around it”.
Why She Does It
“It gives me purpose. It gives my higher self a vision and allows me to multiply joy. SHEEO community grows so fast and it makes me very proud. Also, I now have a bestie now in different parts of the world”.
Her Motto
“Growing through giving”.
Samara Iqbal
Director and founder of Aramas International Lawyers
Her Business
A boutique family law firm based in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh that deals primarily with International Family Law.
Her Bragging Rights
“I am one of the rare British family lawyers who has gained my Sharia qualifications from the Islamic Seminaries of Damascus Syria, studying an MA for over 4 years also coupled with my unique experience of working the UAE Court system. We have won several awards and I have recently been shortlisted for the British Muslim awards”.
How It Started
“It has always been my desire to be my own boss and when I started a family, and I wanted flexibility. I made the decision to start locally and set up the main head office in Manchester and have now set up three further offices in the GCC.”
Why She Does It
“I genuinely love to help people who are in extremely tough, emotional and challenging situations in their life and one of the most life changing for them. I want to help them navigate this journey in the best and most effective way and support them so they understand their legal rights”.
Her Motto
“You are the greatest project you will ever work on”.
Selina Ved
Co-founder and Director of Nysaa
Her Business
Born from a collaboration between Apparel Group and Nykaa (India’s beauty giant), Nyssa is a beauty retailer selling a curated selection of beauty products.
Her Bragging Rights
“Since opening in City Centre Mirdif, Nysaa’s on fire. We’re talking plans to open 100 more stores in the next five years across the GCC. Customer love? Check. Big expansion dreams? Double-check.”
How It Started
“The groundwork for this journey began in the basement of my house with NESSA, my first business. With just a couple of friends and endless cups of coffee, we launched an app and website, showcasing 12,000 products and bringing over 250 brands into the fold. Starting Nysaa felt like connecting the dots between my journey with Nessa and what I dreamed could be the next big thing in beauty shopping.”
Why She Does It
“Because beauty should be for everyone. At Nysaa, we’re building a community that celebrates every shade, shape, and style. Of course, it helps that I am makeup obsessed hence it doesn’t feel like a job at all”.
Her Motto
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.”
Gbemi Giwa
Managing partner and co-founder of Dancebody DXB and AfroBowls
Her Business
Dancebody Dxb, a female-only dance fitness community, and AfroBowls, a nutrition coaching service focused on helping people make healthier choices with ethnic foods.
Her Bragging Rights
“Building a team that I’m responsible for. When you realize that the salaries you pay are what feed people and their families, it’s a very humbling big-girl moment. I’ll never take that level of responsibility for granted”.
How It Started
“Starting my business was almost a fluke. I launched our first pop-up shop in response to my blog community wanting to try my food, and the rest is history. I’ve always turned my hobbies into businesses and when I found the gap in the dance fitness industry, I knew Dancbodydxb was needed and here we are 5 years later.”
Why She Does It
“Work feels like magic when I get to create and see my products and creations being used by actual people and making their lives better. It’s surreal.”
Her Motto
“I’m a Libra, so it changes every so often, but right now, it’s ‘just keep going.’”
Denise Williams
Founder and International Real Estate Broker
Her Business
A real estate company focused on servicing clients’ residential & commercial real estate needs in Atlanta, GA & Dubai, UAE.
Her Bragging Rights
“I am the most influential liaison between the USA and the UAE in the real estate sector”.
How It Started
“I started my real estate career in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. I then opened an independent real estate firm in 2018. A few years later, I expanded my real estate firm internationally to Dubai”.
Why She Does It
“I have not only assisted my clients with making sound investments, but I have also made life-long friendships”.
Her Motto
“You Can’t Deposit Excuses”.
Marriam Mossalli
Co-founder and CMO of Powder Beauty
Her Business
Powder Beauty is the region’s first true clean beauty e-tailer platform.
Her Bragging Rights
“We are not just selling products; we are creating a community.”
How It Started
“My career began as a journalist and features editor, establishing the “Life & Style” section in the Middle East’s largest English daily, Arab News. I built a successful network through founding Niche Arabia, Saudi’s leading Marcoms firm, and I’m also the founder of consultancy CSuite Advisory. As a successful entrepreneur, I bring the business acumen and a local lens to the table”.
Why She Does It
“I believe in the power of authenticity and empowering others. Powder Beauty allows me to merge my passion for beauty, clean living, and empowering women”.
Her Motto
“True growth is uncomfortable. Don’t be scared to be uncomfortable.”