A panel discussion at the We the Women conference, organized by Khaleej Times in Dubai on Wednesday, featured inspiring stories of resilience and mental wellness. Emirati artist Asma Baker, who experienced profound grief after her father's sudden passing, shared her journey from deep depression to becoming an advocate for mental health. 'I want to tell people to never give up,' she said. 'Always look at the bright side and keep the people beside you close. Everything will pass.'
Asma was among the prominent speakers at the second edition of the We the Women conference, which was hosted by Khaleej Times in Dubai. The event, led by Emmy-nominated Indian reporter Barkha Dutt, brought together influential women from diverse fields to discuss various topics, including health and mental wellness.
During a session on self-care and wellness, mental agility coach Magda Snowden emphasized the importance of shifting the narrative from 'hero' to 'human' to better manage stress. 'The hero narrative stops people from asking for help,' she noted. 'Resilience is your long-term strategy. Stress is a fact of life and it is going to be there all the time, sometimes on a smaller level, sometimes on a higher level. A stress-free life doesn't exist. But when you develop these mental agility skills, you will develop long-term resilience.'
Emirati engineer Mariam Albalooshi, the first Arab expert in aviation environment and lead negotiator for aviation climate change, spoke about using painting as an outlet from her stressful work life. 'Every time I feel like giving up, I return to my art,' she said. 'Life is all about creating an outlet when the stress of life gets to you.'
Simona Peter, director of business development at Fleet Line shipping, discussed the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance in the logistics industry, which operates 24/7. 'For self-care, I break it down into bite-sized pieces throughout the day. So when I get ready, I spend five minutes, just meditating or in between work, I just walk around and catch up with the people around me.'
Hadil Al Khatib, who was on her way up the corporate ladder in human resources, shared her journey after becoming a mother and facing postpartum challenges. She is now a certified coach in gut health and founder of Broth Lab and Roost Rotisserie.
Dr. Leila Abdel Warith, CEO of National Reference Laboratory, emphasized the importance of managing energy over time. 'You have to be more energetic to achieve more,' she said. 'In order to be energetic, you need to eat well, exercise and look after yourself and your mental wellbeing, because then you are the best of your energy performance.'
The event also highlighted cancer awareness, with sponsors Novartis holding a session on the importance of regular testing for breast cancer. Dr. Ayda Alawadhi urged women over 40 to take a mammogram every two years, while breast cancer survivor Carisa Berry-Pope shared her story of early diagnosis saving her life.
