Breaking barriers and Changing the Future by Marisa Kamall.
When I left my corporate career, I didn’t just step away from a Managing Director title, I stepped away from a system that wasn’t built for women to thrive. After almost two decades in leadership, I’d seen too many talented women stall in their careers. Not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked support.
That’s why I founded GAIA in the UAE. This country is a true crossroads, a place where people from every culture and background live and work side by side. That richness of perspective is what makes the Emirates unique, and it’s also why it’s the perfect place to reimagine what women’s leadership can look like.
For women in industries like construction and infrastructure, the challenges are familiar: being the only woman in the room, feeling pressure to “fit in,” or struggling to find mentors who understand their context. The game-changer is networks, spaces where women can be honest about real challenges, hold each other accountable, and build the confidence to lead authentically.
Women stepping into executive roles, leading diverse teams across cultures
I’ve seen the impact within GAIA: women stepping into executive roles, leading diverse teams across cultures, and learning to communicate with clarity and presence. These aren’t outcomes of generic training. They happen because of connection, because women feel supported to push past limits.
This is especially true of Emirati women. I have learned so much from them, their openness, their willingness to share, and their commitment to study and leadership is unparalleled. More than 70% of all university graduates in the UAE are women, and 61% of STEM graduates are female, one of the highest rates in the world. In the country’s pioneering space sector, women make up 50% of the workforce, an extraordinary reflection of both ambition and opportunity. These aren’t just statistics; they are proof of a generation ready to shape the future.
Diversity, inclusion, and innovation as central to growth
The UAE and Saudi Arabia’s own vision for the future emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and innovation as central to growth. To deliver on that ambition, it’s not enough for women to be present in the workforce — they must be prepared, empowered, and positioned to lead.
For organizations, the message is clear: if you want more women leading projects and teams, you can’t just hire them — you must equip and support them. That means investing in leadership development, yes, but also creating access to peer networks, sponsorship, and resources designed with their realities in mind. It also means recognizing that wellbeing and sustainability are not “extras” but prerequisites for long-term impact.
The future of industries in the Emirates will be shaped by diversity not as a slogan, but as a competitive advantage. Diverse leadership teams don’t just improve culture; they deliver better results. And women, when given the right tools and support, won’t just take up leadership roles, they’ll redefine them.
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