Debanjali Kamstra, Founder and Director, Veloche Interiors and Exhibition, Dr. Mahra Lutfi, Emirati influencer, Sara Bendida, International Influencer and Marcela Maresh, Co-Founder, Woman of the Earth Foundation.
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00:00Welcome ladies and gentlemen. I'm pleased to welcome you to the last panel
00:03discussion of the day where we'll be delving into your inspiring journeys
00:08across various domains where they've left a remarkable impact, particularly
00:13across the digital space and the pivotal role that the digital space has in
00:20promoting inclusivity and diversity.
00:25Let's kick off our discussion by exploring your inspiring journeys and
00:30the impact that you've left for females across these various fields.
00:34Marcella, can you please share with us some insights into how your work with
00:40the Women of the Earth Foundation has contributed to global environmental
00:44advocacy and philanthropy. Thank you Sarah and a very good evening to
00:49everyone. As a proud member of Women of the Earth Foundation, I am truly honored
00:55to share insights into how our work in environmental contribution has
01:01contributed to global advocacy and philanthropy. Our foundation, led by
01:08visionary leaders and dedicated individuals like myself, is committed to
01:14creating a positive impact on communities worldwide. Of course, through
01:21transformative initiatives and collaborative efforts, we aspire to
01:28promote environmental conservation, sustainability, as well as social
01:34responsibility. One of our primary focuses is on land rehabilitation
01:40projects in the Philippines, which aim to combat deforestation as well as to
01:47enhance biodiversity and mitigate the impact of climate change. By planting
01:55trees in degraded areas and promoting sustainable land management practices,
02:03we are working towards creating a healthier ecosystem and of course an
02:10environment which is more resilient for generations to come.
02:15Also Sarah, I am very proud that our foundation is also deeply engaged in
02:22supporting underprivileged communities, particularly in providing essential
02:28necessities like food, shelter, and education. We empower and we aspire to
02:35uplift people by providing the resources that we believe they need to thrive. So
02:42together, we really believe that we can make a difference and leave a lasting
02:47legacy and aspirations for the future. Thank you very much and good evening
02:53again. Thank you very much for sharing. That's very insightful. Devanjali,
02:59congratulations on being the first female representative of the UAE
03:05at a global competition. Devanjali was Mrs. World 2022. Congratulations on that.
03:13Mrs. World UAE. What inspired you to participate in this global
03:20pageant and what message do you aim to convey to young females through your
03:24work? First of all, I think that the word pageant, it's not well described in a
03:33normal crowd. People think that the pageant means beauty and fashion. I
03:42believe that the word pageant or the person who want to compete in the
03:47pageantry are the individual who doesn't want to become a model. They want
03:53to become a role model. So the reason I decided to compete for Mrs. World in
04:042021 and being an Indian, not holding an Emirati passport. I live in UAE for 15
04:12years but I had the guts to step forward and compete for Mrs. World.
04:19Representing UAE is because I totally believe that when you fall in love with
04:24the nation, you do not need a passport. You can fall in love, you can. So I always
04:33say that India gave me birth but UAE adopted me and I'm telling it from my
04:38heart and what I'm saying I'm getting goosebumps. So that's very organic. There
04:43are so many reasons why I, you know, choose to compete. Although I'm an
04:47entrepreneur, I have six organizations that I am the founder and a director. I'm
04:53a mother of two kids. I've been doing too much things nowadays. So the reason I
04:58wanted to compete is because I wanted to bring this subject in front of the world.
05:03The first subject was the finance, the financial independence for women which I
05:10believe is very important in nowadays. The second was confidence in beauty that
05:16we do not glam up to impress men. We glam up for ourselves. The third one was
05:22fitness mentally and physically. I lost 35 kilo after I gave birth to my second
05:27child and I believe if I can do, many women can do. And obviously to tell the
05:34world how beautiful is UAE where under one sky, hundred of nationalities are
05:40living together and we are very peaceful. So these were the five reasons that I
05:44competed for the global competition. Thank you. That's very inspiring. Thank
05:49you for sharing. Dr. Mahria, you're a trailblazer in the stem cells research
05:57field and you know this is a great achievement that you're the first
06:02Emirati stem cells research doctor in the UAE. What motivated you to as well
06:08pursue a career in this field?
06:18Okay, so good evening everyone. Of course what motivates me as a doctor and
06:25researcher in the field of stem cells, it would be my passion and desire to
06:30alleviate symptoms, to improve human health globally. Of course stem cells can
06:35differentiate into many different cell types in the body and we know that stem
06:39cells can treat many different diseases like Parkinsonism, stroke and even some
06:43cancers like leukemia. Of course we have many challenges. There is technical
06:48challenges including understanding the complex biology of the stem cells and
06:53also ethical considerations and safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Of
06:59course in terms of the role of women, the terms of role of women in
07:06leadership positions, of course I definitely support leadership positions
07:11in women and it's very important to be diverse. So the importance of diversity
07:16and the scientific fields and also encouraging more women to pursue careers
07:23in stem fields. And of course we provide mentorship and support and
07:29address different systemic biases and barriers to advancement which is all a
07:34crucial step in harnessing the full potential of women in this advancing
07:39sector. And of course the future of stem cells and regenerative medicine holds
07:44immense promising and dedication and innovation of researchers from
07:50different diverse backgrounds as well including women. That's great. Thank you
07:56so much for sharing. And now Sarah, we know that having a digital presence
08:03today comes with a lot of challenges especially when it comes to you know all
08:08the different perspectives that people have you know online and across this
08:13domain. So what challenges do you face when it comes to communicating your
08:17messages through this content and how do you overcome them while still
08:21maintaining your true essence and being true to yourself and to the content that
08:25you create to share? First of all I want to thank Gulf News and Beansheen for
08:39this invitation as I'm deeply honored to stand with everyone extending and
08:46providing this platform for us to all to be together and amplify the voice of
08:53women empowerment. I started my journey with the desire to create a positive
08:59impact to change a world around me. I began volunteering in my community and I
09:07became more involved in the social activities. I realized that I have a
09:13unique platform in Instagram which it helped me to amplify the voices of
09:20others. I began sharing my thoughts and my experience with the world through my
09:29social media using blogging, public speaking engagement and becoming a
09:37goodwill ambassador. It's allowed me to use my voice and platform to shine it
09:43light on issue that not noticed in our society. It gave me the chance to connect
09:53with people from all the world of life and inspire a positive change on a
09:59global scale. Thank you, thank you for sharing.
10:07Marcella, coming on to the challenges as well, can you please also share your
10:12insights and from your experience what challenges that you faced along the
10:17journey of, you know, promoting your cause? Thank you, Sarah. Unfortunately in
10:23the realm of environmental conservation there are many challenges and I believe
10:28that one significant challenge is the fact that some people are not really
10:33genuine in the commitment to environmental conservation. Some people
10:38are sadly in fact using this for their own benefits and gain and I believe that
10:43to navigate these challenges requires discernment and we just really need to
10:49be true to ourselves and to stay true to our values. As for me, I strongly believe
10:55in leading by example and demonstrating my commitment to environmental
11:00stewardship through my actions and advocacy efforts. I also value the
11:06importance of fostering relationships and collaborations with individuals and
11:12organizations who share a sincere commitment to environmental conservation.
11:17And I truly believe that by aligning with our trusted partners we can amplify
11:24our impact and work towards meaningful solutions. Thank you very much. Thank you
11:31very much.
11:34Sorry, just one second. Devanjali, what advice would you give to young females that are
11:45aspiring to have the same goals and the same achievements that you have? They
11:49are, you know, big dreams but what advice would you share? So I'm still young but
11:59definitely for my, I would say the advice that I will give to the next generation
12:04the next generation, female, male, is that, yeah, you mentioned about
12:10entrepreneurship and activism. Yeah, I would definitely take the platform of
12:13entrepreneurship. The reason is that you should not choose to be an entrepreneur
12:20to only think of yourself. You should choose to be an entrepreneur where you
12:27contribute to the society. The way I contribute being an entrepreneur is by
12:32generating employment for more than 200 people in my organization. So when I
12:38generate employment that give them financial strength, that provide
12:42education for their kids, which somehow contribute to the society to have more
12:48educated children in future. So definitely go for entrepreneurship.
12:52Activism is anyways going to happen. You know, people is going to talk, they're
12:56going to spread. So yeah, I think that's the way. Thank you. Thank you so much.
13:04Dr. Mahra, a question for you. What significant roles do you see upcoming in
13:10your field for females and particularly in the UAE? First, my
13:17journey and becoming the first Emirati stem cell doctor was not easy, of course.
13:22It wasn't without its challenges and it was marked by
13:27significant milestones and moments of growth. Of course, as I pursued my
13:33education, I graduated my bachelors in medicine and surgery from Gulf
13:38Medical University and then I continued to, they did my master's in stem cell
13:43research and regenerative medicine from King's College London and then I pursued
13:47my PhD in artificial intelligence in healthcare management. Of course, while
13:55training in the stem cell field, I encountered a lot of skepticism and
14:00doubt from some cultures because it was a relatively new field in the region, but
14:05I remained confident in myself. I committed to learning and honouring my
14:11skills with a passion to make a difference in life for patients. Of
14:16course, the most rewarding aspect of my journey has been witnessing the
14:20transformative impact of their life and patients experiencing
14:26improvements in their symptoms, whether it's patients having
14:31regaining mobility after a spinal cord injury or finding relief from chronic
14:36pain. It was incredibly gratifying. Of course, my achievement as a stem
14:43cell therapy doctor has helped me pave the way for other women to pursue
14:47careers in stem cell fields and particularly in the UAE, where there is a
14:53growing emphasis on diversifying the workforce and empowering women in
14:57traditionally male-dominated industries by breaking barriers, by breaking
15:02challenges and challenging stereotypes as well. So we hope to inspire more women
15:07to pursue their passions and pursue careers in fields like stem cell
15:12research, regenerative medicine and also, in addition to my clinical work, I'm also
15:17committed to advancing the field through research and education, of
15:22course, with collaborating with my colleagues locally and internationally.
15:26I contribute to collecting the body of knowledge in stem cell therapy
15:31and helping shape the future of healthcare in the UAE. Of course, my journey was a
15:38testament of power, perseverance, passion and, of course, you have to believe in
15:44yourself. As I continue to push boundaries and explore new
15:49frontiers in stem cell therapy, I am excited about possibilities that lie
15:53ahead and positive impact that we can make on the lives of patients and
15:57communities around the world. Thank you very much. I do have one more thing to
16:04add there that, Dr. Mahra, you're also an influencer. How do you balance the
16:10two and what inspired you to also explore that field? Okay, that's
16:16not easy. First thing, you know, you have to balance posting, you know, medicine but,
16:23you know, since a young age I'm really active on social media. Since I was like
16:2615 years old, I was active on Snapchat and Instagram and as I
16:30built my, you know, social media platform, it's basically my social media platform
16:35is totally different from my career platform. So, it's mostly
16:40about lifestyle, fashion, travel, luxury, which I'm also passionate about.
16:46But, you know, I try to balance it, you know. It's not easy but I try. That's
16:51great. You're balancing two careers that are, you know, not easy to keep up so
16:55that's great. Thank you so much. Sarah, can you please elaborate more on how you
17:02leverage your platform to inspire others and especially females through your
17:07content and how you, you know, want to maintain that moving forward given
17:16that now things are improving for females, especially in the UAE and that
17:20they're very supported by also the government here. Okay, so I want to be
17:26honest and clear. So, my journey for becoming influencer and a Goodwill
17:32Ambassador was not easy without its challenges. I have faced rejection, doubt,
17:39criticism and to avoid all this I have used criticism as an opportunity to
17:51create good content to chase a trend. I'm always myself. I'm using my traveling as
18:03an influencer. I've been traveling more than 40 countries in the world and it's
18:10allowed me to create different contents of vlogging and in the same time I've
18:18been doing charity which makes me reach to the stage as a Goodwill Ambassador
18:24and still I'm working on it. So, I'm trying to create a good impact in the
18:31social media and around the world as a woman. Thank you very much.
18:40With that, we've come to an end to the panel discussion. Thank you so much for
18:45being here with us today and thank you to our lovely speakers. Thank you.