Tribune News Network
Doha
The inaugural Women in Leadership conference wrapped up at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, with a session to build a network of professionals in higher education who support women in leadership.
Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, believes the conference has been an essential first step: “There is clearly more work to do. I hope that the discussions over the past few days will trigger a shift in our understanding of the issues, and serve as a foundation to build a more supportive community for women in higher education in Qatar.”
Throughout the conference, sessions took place to showcase thought leaders in Qatar and to build a network of women in higher education.
Annette Vincent, associate dean of diversity and climate at CMU-Q, stressed the importance of community. “As educators, we know how mentorship can guide our students. Mentorship is just as valuable for younger professionals who are navigating their careers in higher education. The most important takeaway from this conference is the network we are building.”
During the conference, speakers focused on several themes. On the first day, held at Georgetown University in Qatar, the discussion opened with the challenges that female academics face in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, particularly in the MENA region. The discussion continued on the topic of gender and diversity in higher education leadership.
The second day took place at the CMU-Q building in Education City. The conversation began with the topic of championing female leaders, including the importance of male allyship. The final theme focused on taking action to support women as they pursue careers in higher education.
Vincent sees the Women in Leadership conference as a foundation for growth: “At CMU-Q, we openly talk about issues of diversity, inclusion and equity in a way that is thoughtful and constructive. This conference opens the discussion up to the rest of Education City, and I am excited to see what comes next.”
