Welcome to the NOORA diaries.
NOORA – Aurora50’s dynamic network connecting and empowering corporate women across the GCC – offers its members a unique experience.
Throughout their year-long membership, NOORA members gather at least every two months for enriching workshops, networking opportunities and discussions.
This blog post will serve as a window into their journey, a rolling diary capturing the highlights, insights and inspiring moments from each NOORA gathering. Join us throughout the year.
19 March: Webinar: Anxiety & chronic pain – Taking back control
APRIL TBC (week 17): Site visit: Emirates Expo City
30 April: Webinar: Career progression stages and strategies
MAY TBC (week 19) Workshop: ‘Find your voice’ coaching
MAY TBC (week 21) Networking: Speed mentoring, Dubai
JUNE TBC (week 25) Workshop: Negotiation skills & storytelling
JUL (WEEK 29) Webinar: Corporate wellness – Employee wellbeing & work-life balance
SEPTEMBER TBC: Graduation ceremony for cohort 2
SEPTEMBER: NOORA cohort 3 begins
SEPTEMBER TBC: Networking/ workshop, Dubai
OCTOBER TBC: Webinar
OCTOBER TBC: Site visit
NOVEMBER TBC: Workshop: Upskilling, Abu Dhabi
DECEMBER TBC: Webinar
Find out more about NOORA at aurora50.com/noora – we offer corporate packages and individual places for corporate GCC women. There are at least six face-to-face meet-ups per year.
Our NOORA community experienced something truly special at Dubai Logistics City. We weren’t just touring Aramex’s regional headquarters – we were immersed in powerful conversations that left us inspired and energised about the future of workplace inclusion.
The magic began when Roxane Deschambault, Aramex’s Global Learning & Development Director, opened our hearts and minds with her expertise on psychological safety. “Rewarded vulnerability” was the phrase that resonated throughout the room as she painted a vision of workplaces where everyone feels safe to learn, contribute, and challenge conventional thinking.
But the journey didn’t stop there. The male allyship panel blew us away with its candour and commitment. Senior leaders Nicolas Sibuet, Mike Rich and Nizar Zouhairi didn’t just talk about supporting women: they challenged all of us to move beyond mentoring to active sponsorship. Their message was clear: women shouldn’t have to change who they are to succeed, and the younger generation of men is already showing us what true partnership looks like, both at work and home.
The day concluded with a celebration of Aurora50’s partnership with Aramex, which they beautifully described as “an important step in our journey towards female celebration.”
We held a relaxed, outdoor meet-up for our NOORA women’s community in the serene gardens of University of Birmingham Dubai, blending meaningful face-to-face networking with an insightful workshop on navigating the return to work after extended leave.
We delved into managing the emotional conversations that often arise during this transition, creating a safe space for open dialogue and shared experiences. A huge thank you to coach Bibi Sheikh for guiding us with wisdom and warmth. As she beautifully said, “Thank you for your vulnerability, honesty, time and support for each other.” 🌱
It is several months since the 2023/24 cohort of NOORA left but its members remain deeply connected and supportive of each other. This footage, taken by NOORA leader Tijana Pejak Krizanovic, is from an informal desert gathering the women themselves organised.
It is a testament to their commitment, and shows how powerful it is when women build, nurture and treasure their professional relationships.
A special shout-out to Fawzia Al Hashemi, from The Emirates Group, for continually stepping up since the first NOORA workshop in September 2023, and organising monthly meet-ups for the community.
Aurora50’s content strategist, Suzanne Locke, gave a one-hour session on using LinkedIn to manage your professional brand, with tips and tricks to grow your reputation, network, connectiond and career, to answer the question we commonly ask NOORA members: How are you presenting yourself online – and does it matter?
You can find out more in the blog post she’s written on LinkedIn tips and tricks.
A transformative day of learning, inspiration and connection, this time in collaboration with our knowledge partner and workshop host Hult International Business School in Dubai.
The day was packed with thought-provoking discussions, including a powerful session by Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai on the importance of social capital – how building meaningful relationships and leveraging networks can shape careers and foster success.
Namrata Kamath, dean of HULT University Dubai, led an engaging workshop on mastering communication, offering practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations with confidence and clarity, challenging members to practice and show their voice on the spot.
We were also honoured to have two male managers, Sergey Akhmetov, EVP Midstream from EGA, and Ben Lindley, Vice President of EK Airport Services from Emirates Group, joining us as male allies, bringing fresh perspectives and contributing to our conversations on inclusivity, growth and women empowerment.
Find out more about male allyship in our blog post
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Speakers at Arora50’s Inclusive Workplaces Summit – including HE Hessa Abdulrahman Tahlak and HE Abdulla Al Humaidan – say the UAE is on a journey to inclusion.
Iman Al Qasim, who graduated from Aurora50’s Pathway20 accelerator in 2021, has become a non-executive, independent director of TAQA, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.
International bank Citi has appointed Emirati woman Shamsa Al-Falasi as its CEO of the UAE onshore branch.
