Ā鶹APP

Her Excellency is the United Arab EmiratesĀ鶹APP™ Minister for Tolerance. She was previously Minister of International Cooperation and Development and was the first woman in the UAE to hold a ministerial position.

Sheikha Lubna is a member of the Education Commission that investigated the funding of global learning and has been a passionate advocate of womenĀ鶹APP™s rights and girlsĀ鶹APP™ education.

Who inspired you when you were younger? And who inspiresĀ you now?

As a young girl my mother and father inspired me the most. They bothĀ encouraged me to excel in my school.Ā 

My mother is very disciplined and my late father was creative and adventurousĀ and he travelled a lot.Ā I have my mother’s discipline and my father’s love for travel andĀ to see the world.

Two legendary women inspire me, for their power, charisma, wisdom andĀ influence on the world: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and International Monetary FundĀ Managing Director ChristineĀ Lagarde.

What challenges did you have to overcome to get where you are today?

IĀ hadĀ manyĀ challengesĀ inĀ myĀ lifeĀ asĀ theĀ first femaleĀ computerĀ engineerĀ andĀ firstĀ female government minister.Ā 

I managed well by committing to hard workĀ and showing results. This made it easy to be accepted and trusted.

WhatĀ鶹APP™s the best advice someone has ever given you? And what advice doĀ you have for younger girls and women?

Be true to yourself.Ā Respect others if you want to be respected and do not fear failure, you will learn better from it.Ā I would advise all young girls and women the same.

What has been your biggest achievement in life so far?

My biggest achievement in life has beenĀ opening doors for women in theĀ UAE.Ā Being an agent of change for young girls and women in theĀ UAE and Arab world.

What skills or attributes do you think women bring to the workplace?

I think women bring a lot to the workplace.Ā Positive energy and optimism,Ā good communication and aĀ culture of diversity and creativity.