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Global Change in Dubai
East met West in Dubai as women practitioners, faculty and students representing more than 60 countries and a variety of faiths and cultures from around the globe converged in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the Women as Global Leaders Conference hosted by Zayed University in March 2008. And, a number of Regent University women were among these global leaders.
Faculty, students and alumni of Regent's Schools of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship (GLE), Education (EDU) and Divinity (DIV) were selected to lead several sessions on leadership topics that included shared and cultural values, God's design, understanding our life purpose and experiential learning.
Participants included Regent faculty members Dr. Myra Dingman (GLE), Dr. Doris Gomez (GLE) and Dr. Linda Grooms (EDU); Regent GLE doctoral student Julianne Cenac; Regent alumni Dr. Melissa McDermott (GLE) and Lea Carawan (DIV) and Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, former Regent leadership dean.
According to McDermott, the conference provided a unique venue that allowed people from different faiths and cultures to unite with the common goal of learning to be better equipped as women leaders so they can create change in their own communities and families.
"It was wonderful to see them [Middle Eastern women] experience similar challenges in their own leadership that women here would face and that they were looking for a reason to explain it and practical ways to overcome it," said Cenac.
Despite anti-American comments uttered by keynote speakers from the U.S., the Regent contingent served as salt and light to those with whom they interacted, sharing truth and dispelling misperceptions about American women and Christians.
"The goal of several of the Regent presenters was to connect with the Middle Eastern women as mothers, as wives and as women in leadership -- and we did just that," said Dingman.
"Women have a unique ability to communicate with each other and build bridges of understanding based on common experiences and challenges," observed McDermott. "Women from all cultures and faiths seem to share the desire to care for our families and friends while also being part of a vision that is greater than ourselves and will make a difference in our community and the world."
During a Regent-led workshop, members of the Regent team shared their personal testimonies of overcoming obstacles and were thrilled when several of the Muslim women shared openly about their dreams and struggles as well.
"There are many courageous women in the Middle East who have overcome challenges and are making a difference in their region," said McDermott. "We were all inspired and given a broader perspective of the needs of women in the Middle East. Perhaps we will be able to collaborate together in the future with leadership development programs in the region."
