Celebrating Leadership and Purpose: Women’s Pavilion Return to Work Programme

The Women’s Pavilion, in partnership with HSBC, supported by Expo City Dubai Foundation and delivered by C3 – Companies Creating Change, has proudly launched Phase 2 of the Return-to-Work Programme - an eight‑week initiative empowering 20 experienced women as they step confidently back into professional life.

The programme brings together in‑person sessions, interactive online workshops, mentorship, and tailored career guidance to help participants rebuild confidence, refresh their skills, and access meaningful employment pathways. Following the remarkable success of Phase 1- which attracted nearly 1,000 registrations- Phase 2 received close to 200 applications, from which 20 exceptional women were selected to embark on this transformative journey.

The launch event featured an inspiring panel discussion with our very own Nadine Halabi de Francesca , Director of DBWC, alongside fellow panelists Marjan Faraidooni, Chief HR Officer and Chief of Education and Culture, and Cara Nazari, CEO of AmCham Dubai and Member of the Global Network of American Chambers of Commerce. Together they shared powerful reflections on resilience, career transitions, and the importance of creating workplaces that recognise the depth of women’s experience and potential.

Reflecting on the event, Nadine highlighted the value of collaboration, knowledge‑sharing, and access to opportunity, reaffirming that DBWC will continue to support initiatives that strengthen collective efforts to ensure talented women across the UAE are met with encouragement, inclusion, and meaningful professional pathways.

Through partnerships such as these, the ecosystem for women returning to work grows stronger, more compassionate, and more impactful- reminding us all that experience never disappears; it simply needs the right environment to thrive.