Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi Explores Women’s Leadership and Social Impact
The pioneering Emirati leader and former minister discusses the importance of team-building, delegation and meaningful contribution to society at House of Wisdom in Sharjah
House of Wisdom in Sharjah recently hosted Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, a trailblazing Emirati leader and the first woman to serve as a minister in the United Arab Emirates, for an illuminating dialogue exploring how women can exercise meaningful leadership and create lasting impact within society.
Presented as part of the esteemed “HoW Talks” series and timed to coincide with celebrations of Emirati Women’s Day, the session was aptly titled “Emirati Women: Leading More, Creating Impact”. During her address, Sheikha Lubna expounded upon her belief that genuine impact transcends individual accomplishment, instead emerging from the cultivation of capable teams empowered to assume responsibility, exercise judgment and sustain their endeavours independently.
Drawing upon her own experience navigating the corridors of government, she underscored the significance of assembling specialist teams, broadening inclusive participation and distributing authority thoughtfully—thereby fostering a professional environment anchored in knowledge, mutual trust and collaborative responsibility. She articulated a powerful conviction that a person’s true value derives not from rank or title, but from their capacity to enrich their environment and contribute positively to the wider community.
Acknowledging the profound influence of maternal and grandmaternal figures, Sheikha Lubna reflected upon how mothers and grandmothers shape future generations through transmitting essential values: generosity, social solidarity, neighbourly consideration, tolerance and mutual respect. She recognised the invaluable societal contribution of women devoted to raising children, whilst emphasising that professionally active women shoulder an equally vital responsibility to harmonise their careers and family commitments, ensuring meaningful dialogue with their children to strengthen cultural identity and awareness.
The distinguished speaker stressed the necessity of nurturing responsibility and altruistic inclination from childhood, encouraging young people to engage constructively within their communities. Describing her own educational journey, Sheikha Lubna recalled her formative passion for mathematics, physics and literature, along with her studies in the United Kingdom and subsequently in the United States. She attributed her development of self-reliance, accountability and cultural openness to studying internationally, supported by the consistent encouragement of family members and academic mentors.
Reflecting upon historical context, she observed that opportunities for higher education—particularly for women—were substantially more restricted in earlier periods, contrasting markedly with the diverse array of universities, specialist institutions and internationally acclaimed centres now flourishing throughout the UAE. Achieving excellence in these enhanced educational environments, she emphasised, demands transparent ambition, persistent dedication, disciplined methodology and an unwavering commitment to intellectual development, embodying the nation’s strategic prioritisation of human capital investment and capability advancement.
Source: WAM