Spotlight On...

Haifa Al Kaylani

The Arab International Women's Forum is proud to congratulate Chairman and Founder, Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani on her new milestone achievement and for being recognized as one of the hundred most powerful women in the Arab World.  

Mrs Al Kaylani's efforts both personally and those that she leads as Chairman of the Arab International Women's Forum have and continue to contribute to the advancement of the cause of women and to driving the agenda of equal opportunity and empowerment.

Hafia is seen by many as a female role model in Middle East. She spotlights leadership in ‘cultural and gender issues’ which are of certain importance and speculation in the Eastern World.

Al Kaylani is responsible for setting up the Arab International Women’s Forum, which is an umbrella organisation that brings together 1,500 associations, individuals, corporation and partnerships based in 45 nations and six continents of the world. The organisation is a base where women of Arab origin can come together and build relationships, exchange ideas and knowledge, take more participation in both local and national government, develop business potential and promote their organisations. The bottom line, Al Kaylani says, to help Arab women to increasingly become “part and parcel of international community.”

Since its establishment in 2001 the institution has helped change many things about the Arab world for women. They have become more heard and voiced. In September 2005, a report from the Forum asked Arab governments to help equal men and women by removing the barriers between the two gender groups.

The inaugural Power 100 List, published this week on the occasion of International Women's Day by Arabia Monitor, is compiled by CEO Middle East and Mrs Al Kaylani's recognition forms part of an exclusive countdown of the world’s 100 most influential Arab women primarily from the business world and from science, media, entertainment, arts and sports and is believed to be the most definitive list ever published on the power of Arab women. 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

TIAW MEMBER WINS UK SHINE AWARD

 
 
Gina McAdam, incoming TIAW Board Secretary and Director of Stratemarco, received a coveted SHINE Award for Talent Management in the UK Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry at a ceremony held at the London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre on 26th November 2008. 
 
Gina was named ‘Outstanding Mentor of the Year’ for her work in mentoring women managers of the Hilton Group and the Museum of London. Organised by Shine People & Places and sponsored by American Express and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, SHINE is the only national award that celebrates women in Britain’s travel, tourism and hospitality sector for their efforts in retaining, attracting, and developing talents.
 
Accepting the award, Gina said, ‘I would not have got to where I am without the help, personally and professionally, of some very selfless women.  For me, mentoring is all about helping others go forward and opening doors. It’s sharing ideas and offering opportunities, even if sometimes that means taking a risk. These informal or unofficial connections can make all the difference.’
 
With Gina at the ceremony were Diane Morris, President of TIAW, and Silvia Cambie, TIAW 2nd Vice President and Regional Director EMEA.  In her speech, Gina thanked Diane for being her mentor and a key role model.
 

Deborah Koehler



Editor: Why did you join TIAW?

DK: I am working in Nepal running a Himalayan herbal products company. TIAW provides me a network to other women running businesses, who are interested in international connections. Also I was a member of TIAW when I was working in Japan and my former friend and colleague Diane Morris encouraged me to do so.

Editor: What do you do professionally?

DK: My job is Managing Director of a small village private enterprise that employees 90 percent literate women to make herbal body care products to sell in the global market.

Editor: What does it take to be successful in your field?

DK: (1) Building relationships with distributors for these products and delivering a unique quality product. (2) Negotiating in a less sophisticated environment with few government regulations where corruption overshadows ethical norms. (3) Setting standards of quality where everything in the culture is adaptive to limited resources. (4) Being interested in what is possible and open to new ways of thinking while at the same time knowing what is required by the global customer.

Editor: What are some life lessons that you have learned so far?

DK: Business is fun when you are passionate about what you do and have the opportunity to make a difference in others lives.
Editor: Why did you make the shift from Boston to Katmandu?
DK: My children all were grown - the youngest now a freshman in college in the USA. I have loved Nepal for 25 years - it has been a place where I found sustenance and because I believe in private enterprise and not donation - I decided to take my business expertise to Nepal and help develop a local business into a global voice using the natural products and skills of the women in Nepal.
Editor: How difficult was it for you to adapt to your new environment?
DK: I did not find it difficult. It was joyous. I live simply, have time for refection, and have wonderful exercise in my own backyard.

Editor: What are some programs in Nepal that benefit women?

DK: I believe in women working in clean/safe environments, where they can contribute their ideas and problem-solve. Non Governmental Organizations provide work for women to do but this is very different than women using their skills and knowledge to create the culture and affect the development of a company. With a micro-credit fund I would like to spin off more such businesses so that women -by their labor - prosper.

Editor: How important is volunteerism?

DK: It is such a great way to unravel complex desires. Sometimes we want to do something but we just don't have the skills, recommendations, experience that form the language for us to talk about what we want to do. Volunteering gives us that language to articulate the new work we want to take on. Then when we encounter friends or go for the job interview - we don't speak from what we have done - but we can use the volunteer experience as a way to transition into the type of work we really want to be doing.

Editor: What are your hobbies?

DK: For now I work 24/7 but I do love taking the motor bike up into the mountains and then turning off the engine and coasting down the mountain roads in silence.