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Microsoft has announced it will hold a special online event, in honour of the recent International Women’s Day, to celebrate the contributions made by women in post-pandemic economic recovery, and to inspire continuing focus on diversity and inclusion issues in the coming years.
The virtual summit will run on 30 March, under the theme of “Women in Leadership – Inspiring our Future” and UAE Minister of State for Government Development and Future, Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, will deliver a keynote address.
Other keynotes will include those from Céline Brémaud, VP, Sales, Marketing and Operations, Microsoft MEA; Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAEand Maria Conceicao, Managing Director of the Maria Cristina Foundation. Panel topics and discussion areas will include social issues, healthcare, education, and technology in business.
“Microsoft’s mission to empower every individual and organisation on the planet to achieve more is inherently inclusive,” said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE.
“But while we have taken important steps to build diverse and inclusive workplaces and leadership teams across the world, we recognise that this is an on-going process. Everyone now knows that diverse workplaceshave the potential to spark innovation and economic growth. We all benefit, so we should all own these issues. I look forward to some inspiring conversations and insights at the upcoming summit.”
Microsoft is a long-time advocate of diversity and inclusion issues. In the Middle East and Africa region, the company’s Digigirlz programme is in its 19th year of training high-school girls in technology areas and has impacted 54,000 young women in 47 countries.
Microsoft also funds scholarships, work-experience opportunities, and internships to develop talent in young women. Its corporate recruitment strategy is based on attracting, onboarding, and retaining diverse talent and making mentorship available through networking and professional-development communities.
The ‘International Women’s Day Summit’ will take place on 30th March at 11:00 am- 2:00 (GMT+4), and participants are invited to sign up at International Women’s Day Summit • RSVPify
