How to help high-performing women grow with your business

Noora for networking: How to help high-achieving women grow with your business|Quote from and picture of Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai:

Suzanne Locke 19 July 2023

Insights

Women climb the career ladder when they have a strong network. But no network exists in the UAE purely for the corporate career woman. Until now.

Aurora50’s new NOORA network launches at the end of this month.

NOORA is the new membership community where like-minded and ambitious executive women can connect – both online and in person.

How to help high-performing women grow with your business

‘Networking is a valuable asset, with a good ROI’

With women accounting for just 31 percent of senior roles globally, Aurora50 believes that networking is the missing piece in HR retention strategy.

Corporations can buy membership packages for their high-performing women employees, whether they are first-time managers or managers of managers.

“Social capital – the value of your relationships – exerts a multiplier effect,” says Professor Dame Heather McGregor,Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

“If you are successful and well networked, you will be even more successful. This makes it a valuable asset, with a good return on investment.”

3x-Women-with-a-strong-inner-circle-3x-more-likely-to-be-promoted-1

The networking stats

Nearly a quarter of employees cite a lack of opportunities for advancement as the reason they would quit a company (Robert Half, 2014).
Women who have a strong inner circle of other women are nearly three times more likely to be promoted than those without that support system (Kellogg School of Management, 2019).
Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of women managers say they feel excluded by internal company networks (Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), 2022).

Did you know?

For the first time in history, in 2023 more than 10 percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women – and the newest five women CEOs were all promoted from within their business.

1992: Karla Lewis, now CEO & President, joined Reliance Steel & Aluminum
1996: Maria Black, now CEO & President, joined Automatic Data Processing (ADP)
1999: Julie Sloat, now CEO & President, joined American Electric Power (AEP)
2008: Jennifer A Parmentier, now CEO, joined Parker Hannifin
2019: Stephanie Ferris, now CEO & President, joined Fidelity National Information Services (FIS)

[Related: Diana Wilde: Why the Gulf needs a new women’s network | The business case: Well-networked women rise with strong ties]

Networking with NOORA: Creating a loyal, diverse and thriving workforce

NOORA helps create a positive change for talented women, giving them the support they need to rise from within.

It provides your star employees with a support system: a community where they can learn and grow.

It allows organisations to retain high-achieving women (HIPOs) and foster a culture where they grow with you.

And it showcases your brand as a gender balance changemaker, allowing you to achieve your gender balance goals and leverage diversity of thought in a future-proof workforce.

NOORA is a collective for corporates with two divisions:

a lobby for first-time managers
and a mezzanine for women who are managers of managers (normally director-level or above).

If you are looking to purchase an individual membership to NOORA, the doors will open soon. Join the waitlist

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For the second year running, Heriot-Watt University and Aurora50 present the only comprehensive and GCC-wide index of board directors for companies listed on all local stock exchanges.
‘Inclusion begins at the top’: How to enable people of determination for success in the workplace

Dr Fatma Ridene of M42 promotes the inclusion of people of determination in her team – such as typist Mariam Bint Jaber, who uses her feet to type.
The importance of community for people of determination

Social engagement and friendship are vital for the wellbeing of POD. Aurora50 speaks to Heroes of Hope and Best Buddies UAE about building inclusive communities.

How to help high-performing women grow with your business

‘Networking is a valuable asset, with a good ROI’

The networking stats

Did you know?

Networking with NOORA: Creating a loyal, diverse and thriving workforce

Related posts

The GCC Board Gender Index Report 2025: Women hold 6.8% of GCC board seats

‘Inclusion begins at the top’: How to enable people of determination for success in the workplace

The importance of community for people of determination