Greatest leaders are those who can adapt to change, says Rania

Abu Dhabi: Leaders, thinkers and students from over 80 countries gathered yesterday at the opening of the second student international leadership conference entitled "Women as Global Leaders: Communities in Transition," organised by Zayed University.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minster of Higher Education and Scientific Research, inaugurated the conference that was held at Emirates Palace. Queen Rania of Jordan also delivered a keynote address at the conference, discussing the challenges and benefits of women's multiple roles in society.

Global understanding

Rania spoke of her personal experiences with women who inspired her throughout her life to help solve problems.

"The greatest leaders are not the ones with spines of steel," said Rania. "They are the ones who know how to adapt to change and bounce back from frustration or failure, because life inevitably brings surprises that knock us off our feet."

Shaikh Nahyan said that the increasing necessity for international understanding demonstrates how important it is for women to spend time exploring and sharing ideas around the topic of leadership. "You have opportunities to share ideas, discuss values, analyse problems, form coalitions and participate in worldwide communities that aim at changing the world for the better," he told conference attendees.

Other keynote speakers at the inaugural ceremony included Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human rights, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, and Cherie Booth, Human Rights Advocate and wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Robinson is the current Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL). She announced the establishment of the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum (WLIF), a five-year commitment to be launched in September at Columbia University in New York.

"I have seen the UAE develop beyond a petroleum-based economy, and transition from a regionally-focused nation to the true global player that it is today," said Shaikha Lubna. "But what has been truly engaging for me is to see how Arab women have played a role in that transition."

Dr Sulaiman Al Jasem, Vice-President of Zayed University, told Gulf News that the "Women as Global Leaders" conference will be held once every two years in the future, according to directives from Shaikh Nahyan.

This move comes in order to accommodate the growing number of countries; last year's conference, held in Dubai, drew participants from 40 countries, while this year, a total of 87 countries were represented.