Women’s leadership development programme

Help high-potential women step into supervisory, management and senior roles with confidence and support.

Women are now a large and growing share of the skilled workforce across the Gulf, and many organisations want more of them in supervisory, management and senior roles. This programme runs over four to six months and combines practical leadership workshops with real stretch projects, peer learning and a senior sponsor for each participant. It covers leading and influencing, career strategy, communication and negotiation, and building a network. A separate session for sponsors and line managers makes sure the organisation’s systems support progression, including clear promotion criteria and fair access to stretch work. The programme can run as a women-only cohort or alongside mixed leadership programmes.

Who it is for: High-potential women in professional, supervisory and early management roles, with sessions for their sponsors and line managers.

What it covers: Leading teams and influencing decisions; Visibility, sponsorship and career strategy; Communication, negotiation and executive presence; Building a network and a personal development plan.

Leading and influencing: Leadership style and strengths, Leading former peers and new teams, Influencing without formal authority, Making and communicating decisions.

Career strategy: Understanding how promotion decisions are made, Visibility and making your work known, Mentors and sponsors, and how to use both, Personal development plan.

Communication and presence: Speaking up in senior meetings, Negotiating for resources, roles and pay, Presenting with confidence, Handling pushback and difficult conversations.

Support around the participant: Sponsor and line manager briefing, Stretch project with senior visibility, Peer learning circles, Final presentation to senior leaders.

Outcomes: More women ready for and moving into leadership roles; Stronger sponsorship from senior leaders; A visible, supported pipeline of women leaders.

Should the programme be women-only? Both work. A women-only cohort builds peer support and open discussion; mixed programmes build wider networks. Many organisations run both.

Is it only about confidence? No. It builds leadership, career and communication skills, and it also works with sponsors and managers on fair promotion and stretch opportunities.

How long does it run? Usually four to six months, with monthly workshops and work on a real project in between.

Can it be delivered in Arabic? Yes, in Arabic, English or both.

Contact OPDEV UAE · ask@opdev.ae · United Arab Emirates (WhatsApp +44 7440 585456)