We hosted a panel discussion of senior female leaders from across Consulting and Financial Services organisations in the Middle East including Citibank, BCG, and Invesco. The Panellists were individuals featured in Forbes Top 50 Powerhouse Women in the Middle East region and discussed how organisations are moving towards gender equity in the region.
Our Guest Speakers shared their experiences and advice on:
- How are local and international companies increasing female participation in the workforce in the region?
- How do organisations attract senior female talent?
- How and why are businesses becoming more inclusive?
Watch the discussion now:
Our Panel included:
Shelly Trench
Managing Director & Partner – Middle East, BCG
Shelly Trench is a core member of the Energy practice at The Boston Consulting Group. She is the second female Partner at BCG Middle East. Shelly has led significant projects on strategy, large scale IPO preparation, sustainability, innovation, climate change, and cost management.
Through her BCG project work, Shelly has provided strategic advice to global leaders of the world’s largest public and private institutions. She helps shareholders and senior executives to deliver on corporate priorities through focused functional and operational projects. Shelly is committed to leading programs and projects on the ground, close to the assets.
Shelly started her career as a Petroleum Engineer and has had extensive experience with BCG across the US, Asia, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Basin, and the Middle East with clients including IOCs, NOCs, and PE funds.
Zainab Kufaishi
Head of Middle East, Invesco, UAE
Zainab is based in Invesco’s Dubai International Financial Centre office and is responsible for developing and leading Invesco’s wholesale and institutional business across the Middle East and Africa. She leads a team that represents Invesco’s full range of investment strategies across a broad set of asset classes and vehicles to private and retail banks, sovereign investors, pension funds, investment companies and family offices.
Zainab has more than 15 years’ experience in the asset management industry, spanning London and Dubai within sales, marketing and strategy roles. Prior to joining Invesco in 2009, Zainab was part of Fidelity International’s Middle East & UK Institutional Marketing and Sales team in London from 2005 – 2009. Prior to this, Zainab began her career as a Technical Analyst for Stockcube Research in London where she analysed Asia Pacific Equities and advised on market timing decisions.
Zainab holds a degree in Economics and International Studies from The University of Warwick, the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society UK, and the Certificate in Securities and Financial Derivatives. She is fluent in both Arabic and English.
Dana Alhozami
HR Country Manager, Citibank, Saudi Arabia
Dana Alhozami is graduate from King Saudi University with a bachelors degree in Business. Dana has worked in various HR roles within multinational companies in Saudi including roles overseeing other countries in the Middle East. Dana works currently as the HR Country Manager of Citigroup Saudi Arabia.
Our Chairs
Helen Tudor
MD, Consulting, Technology & Services and Global Lead Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Sheffield Haworth
Helen leads the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team and is an MD in our Consulting & Technology practice focused on Partner and VP level Executive Search for Management Consultancies and global corporates in transformation.
Abhishek Vats
Managing Director & Head of Middle East, Sheffield Haworth
Abhishek is Head of the Middle East region with expertise across the Asset Management, Alternatives Investment, Private Equity and Real Estate business in the EMEA region. Abhishek focuses on senior executive search and works in partnership with a range of clients including Institutional Investors, Pension Funds, Endowments, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Asset Managers, Alternative Investors, Private Equity and Real Estate firms. In addition, he leads the Corporate Officers and Financial Officers practice in the Middle East.
