Divya Kumar : In its new Women of Progress initiative, Franklin Templeton presents a captivating set of true stories dedicated to shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women in the UAE. At the heart of the series lies the conviction that progress knows no boundaries, and the UAE is a testament to this belief. From pioneering entrepreneurs to groundbreaking sportswomen, their stories transcend limitations and challenge the status quo. Through their resilience, determination, and unwavering pursuit of excellence, they have shattered glass ceilings, paved new paths, and become beacons of hope for countless others.

Areej Al Hammadi’s love for football burned brightly from a young age. Growing up in Sharjah as the only girl in her family, she spent hours watching World Cup matches, and re-enacting them with her brothers and cousins. But even as she dreamed of one day playing for her country, she was being told that the sport was not meant for girls.

Undeterred, she pushed past these limiting beliefs and prejudices to play for her university team, then in the local leagues, until one day, she had the chance she had dreamed of as a little girl – to try out for the UAE national team. And true to form, she seized it, becoming a member of the team and representing UAE worldwide.

Areej is part of the video series by Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest investment managers, called Women of Progress, honouring the achievements of women in the UAE, shining a spotlight on their unique strengths, struggles, and journey to success.

Seven years ago, Saana Azzam took a huge risk and quit her steady banking job to found MENA Speakers, a visionary platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of individuals from the region. But her biggest challenge was yet to come – attempting to find a balance between motherhood and work, even if it meant having to take the call of a client in crisis just hours after giving birth to her daughter.

Today, MENA Speakers has a global team in multiple countries, and as founder and CEO, Azzam has personally given talks in over 20 countries. And this is just the beginning – striving to make an impact on the world while balancing career and family is a lifelong journey for this mumpreneur. “Though it might be uncomfortable and challenging at times, it’s ultimately what brings us the greatest sense of fulfillment and joy,” she says.

At the young age of 19, when most of us are still trying to figure out our future, Latifa Bin Haider had already embarked on her mission to empower women. While still a senior in college, she founded Baytukum, a powerful platform to help women navigate the world of real estate investment and achieve financial independence.

Inspired by her father from childhood, Latifa always knew she would grow up to create something that would have a positive impact on society. And though juggling her studies, entrepreneurship projects and social life hasn’t been easy, she has absolutely no regrets. “I’ve learnt that in this path there are ups and downs, and every failure is a lesson and a little step towards reaching my goals,” she says.
Challenge the unknown

Kamiya Jani, founder of Curly Tales, took a leap of faith when she gave up her media career to follow her passion and establish a food, travel and lifestyle content platform that would make a mark in the industry. Just two years into the venture, she made the bold decision to expand beyond India and launch Curly Tales in the UAE, venturing into a market unfamiliar to her. Today, the company that began in Kamiya’s study as a dream of reaching out to fellow food and travel enthusiasts has six million followers across all media platforms, with a reach of nearly 50 million.

Women of Progress

These four stories exemplify the accomplishments of women across the UAE who have defied norms, shattered stereotypes, and made significant strides in their respective fields, which is why they were such a natural fit for the Women of Progress series. The brainchild of Franklin Templeton’s regional marketing team, and created in collaboration with Mashable Middle East, this inspiring video series is a rousing celebration of women achievers.

It also serves to shine a light on UAE’s transformation into a global hub of diversity and innovation, where women who dare to dream today have the tools, they need at their disposal to fight and rise above the limitations of gender inequality and discrimination. News Gulf News

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