Empowerment of women grows stronger with ‘Heya’

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

A Dubai-based consultancy, the Human Net­work International (HNI), has launched a programme ‘Heya’ to give support to the empowerment of women.

Talking to Gulf Today, Hanan Nagi, Founder and CEO of HNI said, “The new programme has been created to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 5, Gender Equality. Heya is designed for women, by women, and aims to establish global practices of gender balance in the regional workplace to promote diversity, equality and inclusion.”

Participants are taken on a holistic journey of self-awareness, simulation-based learning, and leadership skills development, to graduate with the knowledge and understanding to succeed as a woman in leadership.

Explaining the inspiration behind the programme, she said, “Studies have demonstrated that companies with greater gender balance, specifically among senior leaders, are significantly more profitable than those without. Although tremendous strides have been made in workplace gender equality. To help grow and sustain female leadership, women need support to sharpen their knowledge and develop their business skills to maximise their potential, and this is when Heya steps in.”

Building on HNI’s reputation for digital innovation, Heya incorporates tablet-based and VR training activities, to create a more inclusive and supportive environment that enhances training outcomes. The programme also uses uniquely designed simulation activities that place learners in a business-like situation, where they practise weighing information against outcomes. Immersing participants in such hypo­thetical situations delivers an experiential learning technique that sustains knowledge far beyond the training, enabling women leaders to thrive.

Among those women who have benefited from Heya were female leaders at pharmaceutical giant SPIMACO in KSA.

Sharing her experience, Randa Alawi, Director of IP, said, “Thanks to this remarkable programme, I was equipped with the essential tools and mindset to transition from being a manager to a true leader in the business world. With a clear focus on leadership development, the programme provided invaluable guidance and resources to help me embrace a leader’s perspective. I now confidently navigate the challenges and complexities of the corporate landscape, armed with the skills and mindset necessary to drive success and inspire my team. This programme has been a game-changer for my career, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated.”

Designed for both existing and aspiring women leaders in the UAE and across the region, Heya offers a number of benefits  number of benefits for employers, as well as employees.