Inspired by the first ever UN Women Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Industry Forum 2017 that took place at the SAP Leonardo Center New York on September 14, 2017, SAP and GEMS Modern Academy partnered to bring the #sheinnovates movement to Dubai.

Introduced to the Middle East by GEMS Education and SAP Next-Gen, the first ever #sheinnovates event was organised to bring together women industry leaders and independent entrepreneurs. More than 270 school students from Grades 9 to 12 were inspired by corporate leaders and academics from SAP, Expo 2020, GEMS Education, Women’s, American University of Beirut, General Electric, McKinsey & Co, who shared their challenges while making a name in the male dominated fields of innovation and technology.

In her powerful inspirational speech, the keynote speaker, Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder and chairperson of UAE Genetic Diseases Association, highlighted the reasons why more women need to join the innovation and technology movement for the betterment of the human race.

As part of this event, the teachers of GEMS Modern Academy conducted an introductory session for the students to learn block based coding using SNAP. Students were also given a challenge to produce a piece of animated art linked to UN Global Goals. What the girls achieved in their first attempt of coding with SNAP was phenomenal and has inspired them to code more. The challenge was won by the girls from Al Khaleej National School with Cambridge International School, Dubai achieving Runner-up and GEMS Modern Academy achieving second Runner-up positions.

NargishKhambatta, Principal, GEMS Modern Academy, said: “I have always believed that girls in the field of innovation and technology can make a huge difference in the perspective from which the problem is being looked at and help the team achieve better results. She Innovates is a medium to drive more girls to get inspired to join this field. We are delighted to have partnered with SAP Next-Gen and SAP Young thinkers program who brought this to Dubai and the UAE and are hopeful that more institutions around the world will join the movement”.

The event was also attended by SAP’s Wissam Kadi, Regional Director of SAP NexGen in Sothern Europe, the Middle East, Africa who applauded GEMS Modern Academy and all the participating organizations for their efforts into women empowerment.

“SAP is always excited to partner with our extensive ecosystem including GEMS Modern Academy on various youth and innovation initiatives that address the United Nations Sustainable Goals (UNSDG’s) and notably Goal #5 that calls for Gender Equality. SAP is fully committed to empower and prepare young girls for the digital economy”, said Wissam Kadi.