In today’s world, the empowerment of women is a transformative force that transcends boundaries and reshapes societies. Women have found their voice and power through education, breaking the glass ceiling and stepping into the spotlight. Now, more than ever, women in the Middle East are leaving their mark on the world, challenging norms and blazing trails.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into the insights and experiences of Lara Tabet and Kubi Springer, two remarkable female leaders who have harnessed the power of education, determination, and resilience to carve their paths in the corporate world.
As very influential women, that are dedicated to push the envelope and break the norms and perception about the major role women play in the current society, Lara Tabet and Kubi Springer decided to become a platform for women empowerment, that’s how Sisterhood was born, a TV Show they both host and in every episode, Lara and Kubi receive female occupying entrepreneurship and leadership roles in various fields, ranging from business to science.
For this interview, Kubi and Lara share their views on the evolving landscape of women’s empowerment and offer valuable perspectives on mentorship, self-motivation, and closing the gender disparity gap.
A contemporary Perspective on Women’s Empowerment
Lara Tabet believes that education is one of the key elements for women empowerment, the accessibility to education for women increasing over the years plays a major role to help women around the globe to prove their real values and how good of an asset they are to the progress of the current society as a whole.
“Today, women are empowered through education and increased visibility, particularly in the Middle East. Gender equality at work has improved, with women in senior and ministerial roles across various sectors. Special funds support women entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and sharing through empowerment platforms.” Lara shared.
“Women’s empowerment has evolved through the economic power we have yielded through our careers and entrepreneurial endeavors. This new power gives us access to resources, training and opportunities that previous generations were not privileged to. What’s more, globalization and the advancement of technology has enabled women to see the journey of successful women around the world and learn from them, further empowering the notion that it can be done” Kubi added explaining how globalization and technology had a major role for this process.
And they are completely right, numerous studies and reports indicate a positive trend in women’s representation in leadership positions and high-level roles across various industries and in the political landscape. And it is very evident all of the positive impacts that women occupying in leadership positions bring to organizations. Studies have shown that women occupying leadership positions within organizations increased organizational performance, bringing to the table a broader range of perspectives and ideas, Improved Decision-Making, Legal and Ethical Compliance, Higher Profitability and the list goes on.
Mentorship as a Mean for Empowering Women to Succeed in Business
When asked what they believe is a good framework that can be adopted to help women succeed in their business endeavors, Lara and Kubi explained that mentorship has the potential to be an amazing mean to help not only women but, everybody in general, to pave our way to success, not only in a business perspective, but in every element of our lives that we want to develop and improve. Kubi expressed her point of view saying:
“Mentorship is imperative for success as no-one can do this journey alone. It provides women with access to strategies and winning methodologies that enable their careers and businesses to flourish. Plus, it exposes them to the character building and resilience needed to pursue and stay the course to success. But mentorship should not just be about women-to-women, we need our male allies to mentor their female counterparts and provide insights and alternative perspectives and approaches that will lead to success.”
“Mentorship as a tool to develop human talent is very powerful and has been used in corporations for many years. Whether it is for women or men, the concept of mentorship provides a platform for an experienced person to guide and assist another person to grow, develop and to consider pathways that would not be otherwise visible. So, mentorship is in my view extremely valuable. ” Lara added.
Overcoming Barrier as a Female Leader
Barriers and obstacles are a common thing and a very recurring element of our lives, and things get much harder when you’re a woman embarking on a business journey. Lara deeply believes that we can overcome every single barrier we face in our journey, as long as we have grit and really believe in our own selves and capacities.
“As a female, the biggest barrier you can have is yourself. Every human, whether a man or woman, faces barriers, whether it is lack of resources, lack of funds, lack of access, lack of time, etc. You must have your own drive and motivation to make things happen for yourself. No one owes you a favor, whether you are a man or a woman”.
Kubi expressed her personal experience and shared how her ethnicity and being female initially caused self doubt in terms of acceptance but then, she learned to use it as her superpower.
“As a black woman from a modest middle-class background in London, England, I faced the challenge of accessing rooms historically closed to women who looked like me. My ‘double negative’ – being black and female – became my superpower. Embracing my difference as strength transformed my mindset and approach in every room I entered. This shift allowed me to fully embrace opportunities, connect with others, and foster exceptional business relationships, leading to significant personal and professional growth.”
To Womenpreneurs Starting Their Entrepreneurial Journey
“Do it. Don’t be afraid!” That’s the message Lara Tabet gives to every aspiring womenpreneurs who just embarked on their journey to start their own businesses.
“But be sure you have a passion for what you do, be prepared to work hard and to prioritize and be determined, self-motivated and do whatever it takes to make your dream come true. Running a business is not easy and there is no short cut to success.” She added expressing how much she values the act of taking action and also emphasizing how major of a role the act of being very motivated, focused, never giving up, disciplined and passionate about what you do is.
To Kubi, a good plan and strategy are fundamental elements just like being able to get everything from the beginning, the numbers, audience and aggregate value to the audience’s life. Solving real world problems that people really face in their life is one of the most essential foundations.
“I would say they firstly need to get clear on the vision and the numbers. Having a dream is one thing, but costing out that dream and being clear on the financials is the thing that will make or break the business. Secondly, they need to understand what problem they are truly solving and for what specific audience they are solving this for. The specificity of messaging and the audience segment will allow them to not waste money later in their marketing and promotions. Lastly, they need to be able to sell the vision; to team members, customers, potential investors and suppliers. The ability to bring people on the journey is important as money doesn’t drive business, people do. Money underpins opportunities, but it’s the people that make the dream come true. The saying that ‘your dream can only go as far as your team’, is something all start-ups should remember.”
Lara also expressed how important it is to team up with other like-minded women and support each other.
“There have been women leaders throughout history and there will be women leaders who will do exceptional things in the future as well. Why not you?”
Lara went further explaining how networking plays a major role on this journey, being one of the main elements that lead to success.
“Women should use networking and collaboration to help themselves. Why wouldn’t they? The tools of collaboration and networking have proven that they are effective. So it would be silly not to tap into those processes to help others and also to help oneself.”
Unity is Strength
“My favorite quote by Oprah Winfrey is “behind every successful woman is a tribe of other women”, and I believe women should empower each other because two or more women united can move mountains. Women can empower each other by collaborating, by being there for each other in the time of need and by supporting each other.” Lara shared when explaining how important women sharing their strength is a perfect means to elevate each other, to empower other women and make a real impact on our society.
“They need to create safe-spaces for one another to talk through the challenges they are facing. Women have multi-level changes that intertwine between being mothers, wives/partners and workers. Oftentimes it’s the woman who still has to juggle the child- care, whilst also trying to juggle her career deliverables. It’s the women who have societal pressures on ‘being a good wife’, whilst also trying to break down the glass-ceiling in business. It’s women who have to learn how to compete in the corporate world, whilst men are taught how to compete from when they were boys. It’s exhausting for women and only other women know the true extent of this exhausting. So safe spaces need to be created for women to lean on each other and come together to support one another within the organization.” Kubi added.
Creating a More Inclusive and Empowering Environment
It is a fact that inclusiveness and empowerment in businesses leads to diversity. And diversity in organizations is crucial for fostering innovation, making better decisions, and creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment. It’s not just a matter of good practice, it’s a source of competitive advantage in today’s globalized world, and both Kubi and Lara share the same opinion:
“ Businesses should recognize that an empowered workforce enhances success. A direct correlation needs to be made between the organization’s profit and loss and its workforce being filled with motivated and empowered women. To create inclusive and empowering environments, businesses must understand this connection. It’s up to women and their male allies to present the business case on how these changes boost the bottom line. For example, flexible working for mothers retains experienced female leaders who offer fresh perspectives, attracting top talent and delivering exceptional results. Addressing the problem requires a business-focused solution.”
“Whilst it is only correct that organizations promote by merit, organizations should create opportunities for women to shine because diversity is crucial. Explicit policies should be in place to encourage the recognition of women and other diverse team members. Ultimately, organizations benefit from these efforts” Lara extended to Kubis point.
Closing the Gender Disparity
With a commitment to equality, Lara Tabet calls for the explicit recognition of equal rights and opportunities for all.
“Recognize that gender diversity is a strength and encourage it because it benefits everyone.” She added, explaining how it benefits not only women but society as a whole.
Kubi extended this point stating:
“It requires getting into the rooms of power and influence and presenting a case that enables them to see the disparity and how it’s harming their growth. Until those who hold the power see it, and are impacted by it, they won’t change it. So, as history shows us with all change that has happened; we need to come together collectively. It is not an individual job. It requires women and our male allies to collectively present solutions that make the change important to those who can change it.
What does success in business really mean?
According to Lara, there is no “one-size-fits-all” definition of success, it all depends on one’s own goals on a personal level.
“Success is relative and it can mean different things to different people. Some are after material success, whereas others pursue academic excellence or pursue more social goals. What is so great is that each of us can define success on an individual level and have the freedom to pursue their own meaning of success.”
Kubi extended expressing how her perception of success changed over time:
“I used to believe success was a checklist of achievements—pass exams (check), work in New York City (check), get a higher-paying job (check), buy a home (check), earn a master’s degree (check), attain the director’s position (check), win industry awards (check), write a book (check), sell over 100,000 copies (check). I used to view success as an ever-expanding list of accomplishments that validated me. But now, success isn’t just about the list; it’s about who I become in the process. Success, for me, is being kind, loving, nurturing, and empathetic while achieving. Business can sometimes dehumanize people in pursuit of results, but my superpower as a woman lies in these qualities, and using them to achieve results is true success. Being a servant-based leader every day, showing empathy to clients every week, and ensuring my team’s mental health while meeting demanding targets every month—this is what defines my success. It’s no longer just about my checklist; it’s about the impact on others and how I navigate it that determines my success. As a woman in business, I aim to show that we can do business on our own terms.”
In this feature, we had the chance to explore the dynamic landscape of women’s empowerment in today’s world from the point of view of Kubi Springer and Lara Tabet. Education, mentorship, and unity emerge as essential tools in the journey towards gender equality. By harnessing these forces and embracing diversity, Lara and Kubi exemplify the potential of women in business. With a vision for a brighter future, their words resonate as a call to empower women, define success on individual terms, and work together to create a more inclusive world for all.
