01 February 2003
Sheikha Lubna Discusses Tolerance for Diversity, East/West Relations and Leadership Issues at WEF Event in Davos
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tejari, www.tejari.com, the Middle East’s premier business-to-business marketplace, has participated in a number of key sessions at the recent World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which took “Building Trust” as its central theme. For the third consecutive year, she acted as a panellist and moderator at the global business summit, which attracts the world’s commercial and political leaders.
Sheikha Lubna acted as a panellist during “The Limits of Tolerance” session, which explored whether societies can truly respect the differences, whether political, racial, or religious, of their citizens. Using the UAE as a model, she outlined how tolerance for diversity can be created and maintained, especially in a culturally mixed Islamic nation.
Other panel participants included Shafeeq Ghabra, Professor of Political Science and Director, Center for Strategic and Future Studies, University of Kuwait; Anthony C. Grailing, Reader in Philosophy, Birbeck College, University of London; and Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Richard M Smith, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Newsweek, was the moderator of that session.
At an evening dinner during the World Economic Forum, Sheikha Lubna chaired a roundtable focused on ‘Arab and Western Women: Building Trust Together’ from a business, cultural, and political perspective. Sheikha Lubna’s role at this function involved demystifying the different roles of women in traditionally Islamic countries, and rectifying potential misconceptions about the equality, opportunities, and personal rights that women enjoy in Muslim communities.
Her Majesty, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, also spoke at this event, and other women leaders chairing tables included Lubna al Olayan, CEO, Al Olayan financing company; Vaira Vike Griberga, President of Latvia; Marylin Nelson, Chair and CEO of Carslon companies; Jennifer Dunn, Congresswoman from Washington, US House of Representatives; and Yvonne Haddad, Professor of History of Islam, Georgetown University, USA.
The third session at Davos in which Sheikha Lubna took part was a brunch centred on the principles and qualities of effective leadership. The debate highlighted the qualities necessary to be an effective leader, and the different leadership styles exhibited by men and women. During this event, Sheikha Lubna acted as a moderator, and shared her perspective as Tejari’s CEO and the role of women as leaders in the Middle East region. Other participants at the function included Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan; James Copeland, CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmasu; and Laura Tyson, Dean of London Business School.
“World events over the last year have demonstrated the vital global need for tolerance and trust-building between different communities. In order to combat polarisation and marginalization of individuals, we need to understand each other’s unique perspectives, and accept our differences, and this concept was a fundamental theme at the recent WEF Annual Meeting,” noted Sheikha Lubna.
“Participating in the Davos events enabled me to promote the UAE as a thriving example of a diverse, tolerant society, with leaders that regularly demonstrate their respect for cultural, religious, and racial diversity,” she continued.
“The WEF’s Annual Meeting is an extremely powerful forum for debate, and I was honoured to represent both Arab women and the business community from a largely Muslim region. Discussing leadership issues and the synergies between Eastern and Western women enabled me to accurately portray the progressive business community in the Middle East, and the strides that women are making within that environment,” Sheikha Lubna added.
Previously, Sheikha Lubna participated at the WEF 2002 event in New York as a speaker at the “Women Leaders: The Next Generation” workshop, as well as on the “Women in the Muslim World” panel session.
At the 2001 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Sheikha Lubna lead a live mock Tejari auction to demonstrate the features and functionality of the online marketplace for more than 250 key global decision-makers.
-- ENDS --
About Tejari
Tejari is the Middle East’s primary online business-to-business marketplace, facilitating procurement throughout the region. Tejari provides the sourcing, negotiation and transaction environment for a dynamic community of regional buyers throughout the Middle East, and international suppliers to the region.
Visit Tejari at http://www.tejari.com.
Sheikha Lubna Discusses Tolerance for Diversity, East/West Relations and Leadership Issues at WEF Event in Davos
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tejari, www.tejari.com, the Middle East’s premier business-to-business marketplace, has participated in a number of key sessions at the recent World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which took “Building Trust” as its central theme. For the third consecutive year, she acted as a panellist and moderator at the global business summit, which attracts the world’s commercial and political leaders.
Sheikha Lubna acted as a panellist during “The Limits of Tolerance” session, which explored whether societies can truly respect the differences, whether political, racial, or religious, of their citizens. Using the UAE as a model, she outlined how tolerance for diversity can be created and maintained, especially in a culturally mixed Islamic nation.
Other panel participants included Shafeeq Ghabra, Professor of Political Science and Director, Center for Strategic and Future Studies, University of Kuwait; Anthony C. Grailing, Reader in Philosophy, Birbeck College, University of London; and Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Richard M Smith, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Newsweek, was the moderator of that session.
At an evening dinner during the World Economic Forum, Sheikha Lubna chaired a roundtable focused on ‘Arab and Western Women: Building Trust Together’ from a business, cultural, and political perspective. Sheikha Lubna’s role at this function involved demystifying the different roles of women in traditionally Islamic countries, and rectifying potential misconceptions about the equality, opportunities, and personal rights that women enjoy in Muslim communities.
Her Majesty, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, also spoke at this event, and other women leaders chairing tables included Lubna al Olayan, CEO, Al Olayan financing company; Vaira Vike Griberga, President of Latvia; Marylin Nelson, Chair and CEO of Carslon companies; Jennifer Dunn, Congresswoman from Washington, US House of Representatives; and Yvonne Haddad, Professor of History of Islam, Georgetown University, USA.
The third session at Davos in which Sheikha Lubna took part was a brunch centred on the principles and qualities of effective leadership. The debate highlighted the qualities necessary to be an effective leader, and the different leadership styles exhibited by men and women. During this event, Sheikha Lubna acted as a moderator, and shared her perspective as Tejari’s CEO and the role of women as leaders in the Middle East region. Other participants at the function included Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan; James Copeland, CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmasu; and Laura Tyson, Dean of London Business School.
“World events over the last year have demonstrated the vital global need for tolerance and trust-building between different communities. In order to combat polarisation and marginalization of individuals, we need to understand each other’s unique perspectives, and accept our differences, and this concept was a fundamental theme at the recent WEF Annual Meeting,” noted Sheikha Lubna.
“Participating in the Davos events enabled me to promote the UAE as a thriving example of a diverse, tolerant society, with leaders that regularly demonstrate their respect for cultural, religious, and racial diversity,” she continued.
“The WEF’s Annual Meeting is an extremely powerful forum for debate, and I was honoured to represent both Arab women and the business community from a largely Muslim region. Discussing leadership issues and the synergies between Eastern and Western women enabled me to accurately portray the progressive business community in the Middle East, and the strides that women are making within that environment,” Sheikha Lubna added.
Previously, Sheikha Lubna participated at the WEF 2002 event in New York as a speaker at the “Women Leaders: The Next Generation” workshop, as well as on the “Women in the Muslim World” panel session.
At the 2001 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Sheikha Lubna lead a live mock Tejari auction to demonstrate the features and functionality of the online marketplace for more than 250 key global decision-makers.
-- ENDS --
About Tejari
Tejari is the Middle East’s primary online business-to-business marketplace, facilitating procurement throughout the region. Tejari provides the sourcing, negotiation and transaction environment for a dynamic community of regional buyers throughout the Middle East, and international suppliers to the region.
Visit Tejari at http://www.tejari.com.
© Press Release 2003
