Abu Dhabi to host Forbes event celebrating female leaders

The global media company will stage first of three 30/50 Summit events in March next year

Abu Dhabi will host a global summit from 2022 to 2024 celebrating the achievements of women. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Abu Dhabi is to be host a trilogy of global gatherings celebrating the achievements of generations of female leaders.

The Forbes 30/50 Summit - bringing together top achievers from the magazine's 30 Under 30 and 50 Over 50 lists - will be staged in the capital for three years, starting on March 8, 2022, which is International Women's Day. A venue was not confirmed.

The announcement was made during a special 50 Over 50 celebration featuring a keynote conversation U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and Mika Brzezinski, who has supported efforts to empower women through her Know Your Value movement.

Ms Brzezinski will chair the new event in the UAE.

The summit aims to provide a high-profile platform to establish cross-generational mentorship opportunities which will offer leadership, guidance, and insights to women at every stage of their career.

Activities held as part of the conference will include a day of service at Zayed University and programmes at Louvre Abu Dhabi.

On International Women’s Day itself, hundreds of summit participants will reveal their most important lessons, which will then be shared on the Forbes platforms.

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  To mark International Women's Day, this is a series of photos depicting women performing roles or working in professions more traditionally held by men. In this picture, Ana Sousa, 45, TAP Air Portugal pilot for 11 years, poses for a portrait at a TAP hangar in Lisbon. Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP Photo

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  Nicol Gomez, a guardian at the La Esperanza prison, poses for a portrait in front a group of prisoners practising yoga in San Salvador. Marvin Recinos / AFP Photo

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  South Sudanese cattle herder Mary Amer poses with her child in a camp in Mingkaman, South Sudan. Stefanie Glinski / AFP Photo

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  Argentine referee Estela Alvarez de Olivera poses at the Boca Juniors football team stadium "La Bombonera", in Buenos Aires. Juan Mabromata / AFP Photo

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  New South Wales state emergency services (SES) volunteer Michelle Whye posing in uniform in front of an emergency vehicle at their headquarters in Sydney. Peter Parks / AFP Photo

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  Ran Namise, a firefighter belonging to a command squad in Tokyo, poses in front of a fire engine at Kojimachi Fire Station. Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP Photo

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  Somali football coach and player Marwa Mauled Abdi, 24, poses at the football ground of Ubah fitness center, the first football field exclusively opened for women, in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia Mustafa Saeed / AFP Photo

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  Sarah Achieng, a professional boxer and sports administrator poses after her training session at Kariobangi social hall gym in Nairobi. Patricia Esteve / AFP Photo

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  French rejoneadora Lea Vincens, poses at the Aracena bullring, in Huelva, southern Spain. Cristina Quicler / AFP Photo

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  Zahida, a Pakistani female police Assistance Sub-Inspector (ASI), poses for a photograph at a police academy in Peshawar. Abdul Majeed / AFP Photo

Forbes launched the 30 Under 30 list in 2011 to showcase the most influential young leaders around the world, with 50 over 50, highlighting those making their mark after the age of 50, following a decade later.

“Over the years, Forbes created a global community with thousands of innovators, game-changers and rule-breakers around the world through its 30 Under 30 list,” said Mika Brzezinski, who is also co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe programme in the US.

“This year, in partnership together, we introduced 50 Over 50 to shine a bright light on the women who are rewriting the rules for success and shattering the prevailing misconceptions about age and gender in the workforce.

"By merging the two communities, we’re in a unique position to activate a worldwide, multigenerational community of leaders who can bring about meaningful change that benefits women everywhere.”

Randall Lane, chief content editor at Forbes, said the event will provide a fitting celebration of International Women's Day.

“For so long, International Women’s Day was celebrated virtually and through a hashtag, but now we’re giving a true home where conversations can drive change,” said Mr Lane.

“This is the first time that International Women’s Day will have a physical headquarters where women leaders can build something together and pay it forward to future generations. And we’re doing it in a way that allows insights to be shared with women around the world.”