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Zain Named “Best Workplaces for Women” in Fast Company Middle East’s
Inaugural List

Zain Group has been honored in theFast
Company Middle East's Best Workplaces for
Women 2024 list as the winner of the large
Enterprise category; an acknowledgement
that signifies more than just an award as
it validates Zain’s unwavering commitment
to driving diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI) into all aspects of the business. Fast
Company Middle East is one of the region’s
leading business media brands, focused
on innovation, technology, business,
and leadership. The organization hosts
awards and events such as Most Creative
People in Business, World Changing Ideas,
Most Innovative Companies, and Best
Workplaces for Women. The inaugural
edition of Best Workplaces for Women
recognizes companies across the Middle
East that are empowering women by
creating an inclusive environment, and the
presence of Zain Group on the list, among
other reputable companies, is an affirmation
of the company’s corporate leadership
in this area. A company statement noted,
“Women are such an integral part of the Zain
success story. From increasing leadership is an important topic for the Zain, which • WE Disrupt, where 50% of employees will
positions, a revolutionary HR policy and has embedded this issue into the DNA and undergo disrupt training, transforming
other innovative talent development heart of the company’s corporate strategy. mindsets through awareness programs
programs, Zain’s focus of integrating Highlighting several examples of why Zain and curated training sessions on DEI.
women fully into all aspects of the business is such an encouraging place for women • Women in STEM programs focusing
is proving to be an enormous benefit to the to work, some of the extended benefits on technical rotations, datathons and
culture and productivity of the company. and programs implemented within the hackathons, and the development of AI
Zain is proud of the serious stance taken company include: solutions for DEI
on DEI activities, and this award recognizes • Significant HR policy changes including Notably, Zain’s support of women
not only the impact on just women, but the extending family leave and baby bonding empowerment also extends to outside
impact on all the talented 8,000 people Zain • Succession Management under the WE the organization, whereby the company in
employs.” Zain Group, under its DEI women Succeed program upskilling women 2021 launched the Women-in-Tech STEM
empowerment (WE) pillar, has been a talents program, targeting the mentoring of 120
pioneering force for women empowerment • Introduction of a Centered Leadership female university students in each of its
regionally since 2017. This gender diversity Program targeting women in leadership markets studying science, technology,
initiative was created at a time when only roles engineering, and mathematics. Ravi Raman,
14.5% of Zain’s leadership comprised of • Women's Empowerment is embedded Publisher of Fast Company Middle East
women, and a target was set to increase into the agenda of the Board of Directors said, “Best Workplaces for Women was an
this percentage of women leadership to and prominently featured on CEO initiative we were really proud to launch,
25% by 2025. Three Zain operations have Scorecards across all Zain operations recognizing organizations that are striving
already achieved their WE leadership • Introduction of the DEI University towards gender equality and we were
targets, Zain Kuwait at 26.9%, UAE based program with Spain’s IR University to thrilled with the number of nominations
ZainTECH at 27.0%, and Zain Jordan at bridge the digital skills gap with 12% of received. This list reflects the massive
27.3%. For some time now, women have all women employees enrolled strides the Middle East is taking to create
represented the higher proportion of • Zain was among the first companies to more inclusive cultures, and we are happy
university graduates in the region, yet this sign up for the UN Women Empowerment to spotlight their success and congratulate
does not translate into positions within Principles, demonstrating its dedication Zain for this inaugural award.”
the workforce, let alone senior positions. to ensuring the equal and progressive
Hence, the issue of women’s empowerment treatment of women

26 JANUARY-MARCH 2024