Muscat – Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) hosted a seminar on leadership and management development on Monday, emphasising how individuals can grow into effective leaders and underlining the importance of empowering women in business. Held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib bin Khalid al Said at W Muscat Hotel, […]
Muscat – Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) hosted a seminar on leadership and management development on Monday, emphasising how individuals can grow into effective leaders and underlining the importance of empowering women in business.
Held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib bin Khalid al Said at W Muscat Hotel, the event brought together government officials, entrepreneurs and international experts to discuss leadership in a fast-changing world.
Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of OCCI, said the initiative reflects the chamber’s commitment to building national talent and equipping business leaders with modern skills in line with Oman Vision 2040. “Leadership today is about more than managing resources. It is about inspiring, innovating and turning challenges into opportunities,” he said.
Areej bint Mohsin al Zaabiyah, Chairperson of the Chamber’s Business Women’s Committee and a member of the Board of Directors, said the forum aligns with OCCI’s efforts to improve the business environment and support women leaders. “Leadership today is a science and an art. It is about inspiration, change management and building resilience to handle crises with wisdom,” she said.
Swati Mandela, Chairperson of the Mandela Institute for Humanity, delivered a keynote address on ‘Inspirational Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World and Crisis Management’. “Leadership is not tested in calm waters, but in storms,” she said.
Recalling the resilience of her grandmother Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, she stressed that leadership is forged in adversity and called on young leaders to embrace challenges with courage and vision.
Aisha Alfardan, Vice Chairwoman of the Qatar Businesswomen Association, said empowerment begins with self-belief and self-leadership. “True empowerment is not given; it is built. The moment one believes in oneself, life’s equation changes entirely,” she noted, adding that Arab women hold vast untapped potential and can become catalysts for economic and social progress.
Panel discussions featuring business leaders including Ayman bin Hamad al Busaidi, Vice Chairman of SABCO Group, and Dr Aflah bin Said al Hadhrami, General Manager of Petroleum Development Oman, explored how inspirational leadership translates into workplace culture. They spoke on empowering employees, fostering innovation and navigating high-pressure environments with resilience.
Dr Amer bin Awadh al Rawas, Chairman of Concordia Group, said, “Leaders must not only anticipate risks but also turn change into sustainable growth.”
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