stc Bahrain collaborates with Kingdom’s women business leaders on the role of Bahraini women in innovation and digital transformation
In a virtual panel discussion led by stc Bahrain on the role of Bahraini women in innovation and digital transformation, Her Highness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Member of the Supreme Council for Women, the Chairman of the Women in Financial Technology (Fin-tech) Bahrain committee shared her views as a keynote speaker. The discussion also witnessed other key panelists including Her Excellency Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain International Federation of Business and Professional Women – Bahrain; Ms. Ahlam Janahi, President of Bahrain Businesswomen’s society and Ms. Sara Khonji, Chief Human Resources Officer of stc Bahrain.
The stc Bahrain 'Women in Innovation and Digital Transformation' webinar explored topics within the framework of Bahrain’s digital vision and focused on policymakers and business entities playing a vital role in creating sustainable gender balance industries.
During the virtual session, the panelists discussed the wide-ranging impact of a balanced gender workforce on the business environment. This is a huge growth area to broaden our talent pool and empower the female workforce, especially in technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
In her keynote speech, Her Highness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Member of the Supreme Council for Women, stressed on the Kingdom’s efforts to keep pace with the local and international developments to further position Bahrain as the leader in the field of digitization and modern science. This is in line with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, to build a solid framework for innovation, increased productivity for future aspirations, and a road map of economic development towards building a better life for all Bahrainis based on three guiding principles: sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness.
Her Highness added:” The Supreme Council for Women is collaborating with official, private, and civil authorities in the country to launch a range of initiatives, projects, and awards to support achieving gender balance in the fields of future sciences. One of the most important initiatives is the National Initiative for Gender Balance In future sciences, which aims to support the efforts of digital transformation in the Kingdom and build a knowledge economy”.
Her Highness further added in her keynote speech:” The Supreme Council for Women developed the Women in Fin-Tech committee which aims at achieving a number of objectives including empowering the female workforce, especially in technology, innovation, and digital transformation, by creating sustainable gender balance as well as proposing areas for development, mechanisms for accelerators and incentives for potential creative projects in the field of financial technology.
Talking about stc Bahrain’s role in leading the discussion, Eng. Nezar Banabeela comments, “It is our honour that Her Highness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, who joined us for a crucial discussion as our keynote speaker, with our other esteemed panelists on gender balance in the workforce. This is an important topic that presents a significant opportunity for the Kingdom’s future, with Bahraini women accounting for 49% of the workforce, surpassing the global average and implements 64% of SDG indicators related to women.”
“Moreover, we believe in the leading role of women in digital transformation and empowering them in different sectors, especially technology and innovation. For that reason, we at stc Bahrain have developed a clear strategy to uplift and attract female talent and further developing their technical and professional capabilities, which will significantly support the Kingdom's digital transformation journey and economic development,” he added further.
