03/03/2023
As the halls of the business campus quiet down during the February break, there’s an excitement in the air, an anticipation we just can’t ignore and an opportunity we won’t let sli For the second year running, we will host our Women in Leadership panel discussion and listen to a panel of leaders who have made an impact in education, politics, business, and entrepreneurship. And so, as we eagerly wait and wonder about the stories we will hear and how they might inspire us, we have interviewed Jose van Euwijk and Amir Ghasemi, who are part of the organizing team and have been tirelessly working to make this years event as successful as its’ predecessor.
The Women in Leadership panel started out like many great things, with an idea. Jose was approached by Maja Pesikan, one of our corporate engagement ambassadors, who was looking for an event to create for students to connect with companies under the theme of Organization Leadership and Change theme. The gender gap was an issue they felt was important to address and touched about many themes like diversity and inclusion. “For women leaders who have broken through these barriers, it often means that they have had to work harder, be more resilient, and overcome more obstacles than their male counterparts. They may have faced doubt, criticism, and outright opposition, but they persevered and pushed through to achieve their goals,” said Amir. It is these very stories of reaching your goals is what they hope will inspire all students not to be afraid to move towards an ambition or career that they are attracted to even if it seems daunting at first. “I see these women as role models for our students. When positions throughout organizations are a representation of society, societal challenges could be tackled from different perspectives, which in my opinion will create more creative and sustainable solutions that will bring us all forward.”
The panel discussion from last year hit the mark as students crowded around each speaker eager to connect. Their connections proved fruitful, as some of the panellists have now become mentors to those very students. Both Jose and Amir were inspired by the turnout, “Since I started at AUAS, about ten years ago, I had never seen such interactivity with the audience in the auditorium. It was packed during the drinks and people did not want to leave.” exclaimed Jose, as Amir added, “Majority of our young students could see at least a panel member as a role model to look at. Students could simulate the path that each panellist had to become a leader in their mind and try to learn from their experiences.” Jose was also inspired by how male students and colleagues were asking how they can help bring about change and contribute.
We also touched upon the theme this year being, “Breaking Barriers” and what it means to them. Amir highlighted, “These women are often trailblazers and pioneers, carving out paths for other women to follow and helping to pave the way for greater gender equity and diversity in leadership positions and how through their experiences can we learn to overcome obstacles and be more resilient. Jose emphasized the importance of overcoming beliefs and feelings that hold you back from moving forward in life as she has also struggled with feelings of doubt when making decisions about her future. “I find comfort in discussing these with family, friends and colleagues who are supportive, think along and help me out.”
Both Amir and Jose see the Women in Leadership event as a way of bringing together the entire community as it brings together different stakeholders who may otherwise not meet and creates a positive discussion for a better tomorrow. Jose encourages everyone to attend and “be proud of who you are and what you have to share, sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone takes practice, but if we support each other, we all win.” Amir is eager to hear about how our panel overcame their challenges and reached their goals, as he says so beautifully, “Every individual is like a book filled with unique experiences, and by listening to their stories, we can gain valuable insights and knowledge. So enjoy listening to the book of Women in Leadership"
