Women leaders were found to be more compassionate and people-focused than their male colleagues, with 64% of UAE women prioritizing investments in the skills and competencies of their employees. This contrasts with just 24% of males, who prioritize investing in new technologies.

According to the most recent edition of the KPMG 2022 Women Business Leaders Outlook, which polled female executives from 50 nations, including the UAE, this is the case.

Compared to 60% of men, 72% of UAE women leaders felt that their company had a duty to assist in re-skilling the workforce to prevent layoffs.

The findings of the KPMG report are in line with other studies that have found that women leaders are more likely than men to prioritize investment in their workforce. For example, a recent study by the Harvard Business School found that companies with female CEOs are more likely to invest in employee training and development, and are also more likely to have policies in place that promote gender diversity.

Configuring and securing

According to the poll, UAE women executives are prioritizing digitalization, connectivity, and cyber security resilience while redesigning and safeguarding the supply chain. In contrast, the UAE's male CEOs listed digitalization as their top priority, followed by protecting capital and input costs from inflation and enhancing the employee value offer to draw and keep talent.

As they pursue aggressive M&A plans, UAE women leaders are optimistic about their companies' futures, with 74% stating that new collaborations are essential to maintaining the quick pace of digital transformation in the wake of the epidemic.

In addition, more than half of the UAE women surveyed believed that their employers needed to be more open about equal pay. Up to 82% of respondents feel that much more work needs to be done to increase gender diversity on boards and in executive positions, and 62% had encountered bias and stereotyping in the course of their daily job.

Thankfully, the UAE government is taking significant steps to improve the number of women in senior positions. Recent studies have revealed an increase in female leadership in UAE boardrooms over the previous two years.

Women's Empowerment

"The participation of women in the UAE government is among the highest in the world, highlighting the UAE's strong commitment to empowering women. Without a question, women in leadership roles in both the public and private sectors contribute a new perspective and priceless insights.

Women leaders bring a fresh perspective to the workplace with their empathy-driven management style and people-centric leadership.

The rise of women leaders in the workplace is a welcome change for many organizations. These leaders bring a fresh perspective to management with their empathy-driven style and people-centric leadership.

Women leaders are often more collaborative than their male counterparts. They tend to be more inclusive in their decision-making and more open to input from others. This approach results in better morale and more engaged employees.

Furthermore, women leaders tend to be more attuned to the needs of their employees. They create an environment where people feel valued and supported. This leads to increased productivity and creativity.

Overall, women leaders bring a much-needed breath of fresh air to the workplace. With their compassionate management style and focus on people, they are making a positive impact on organizations around the world.

It is quite heartening to see that the female executives in the UAE are confident in the potential for future growth as they meet the obstacles brought on by the pandemic. Additionally, they have shown pragmatism regarding technology and innovation, which will be crucial for business as it faces the challenges ahead.

Regarding ESG difficulties, male and female leaders had different opinions. In contrast to just 5% of men, 29% of women said that the lack of a generally recognized worldwide framework for evaluating and revealing ESG performance was the most urgent problem. It is encouraging to see that all corporate leaders, regardless of gender, expressed a desire to address diversity-related challenges.

Social Concerns

As the world changes, so do the standards by which we hold corporations accountable. In the past, companies could get away with unethical practices as long as they were profitable. But today, thanks to the internet and social media, the public is more aware of corporate wrongdoings, and they are demanding that companies be held accountable for their actions.

As a result, stakeholders are increasingly scrutinizing companies' performance on social issues. According to the survey, two-thirds of both men and women in the UAE agreed that stakeholders will continue to increasingly scrutinize the company’s performance on social issues.

There are several reasons for this shift. First, people are more aware of the global interconnectedness of business. What happens in one part of the world can have an impact on people half a world away. Second, the public is more educated and has higher expectations for businesses. They want to see companies taking a stand on important social issues, and they are willing to hold businesses accountable when they don't.

Finally, social media has given people a powerful platform to voice their opinions and hold businesses accountable. When a company does something wrong, it is now impossible for them to hide it from the public.

The increased scrutiny from stakeholders is already having an impact on corporate behavior. In the UAE, we are seeing more companies taking a stand on social issues, and we can expect this trend to continue in the years to come.

So why are women in the UAE more likely than men to prioritize investment in their workforce? There are several possible explanations.

First, it could be that women are simply more aware of the importance of investing in their employees. In a region where the majority of the population is young and educated, businesses must invest in their workforce to stay competitive.

Second, it could be that women leaders in the UAE have a different leadership style from men. Studies have found that women tend to be more collaborative and consensus-oriented than men, and this may lead them to prioritize investment in their workforce over other forms of investment.

Whatever the reason, the findings of the KPMG report suggest that businesses in the UAE would do well to invest more in their female employees. With women increasingly taking on leadership roles in the country, it is clear that they are an important part of the UAE's business landscape.

Furthermore, women leaders tend to be more attuned to the needs of their employees. They create an environment where people feel valued and supported. This leads to increased productivity and creativity.

Overall, women leaders bring a much-needed breath of fresh air to the workplace. With their compassionate management style and focus on people, they are making a positive impact on organizations around the world.