Applications are now open for the second edition of The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal, a dedicated six-month initiative designed to prepare senior female marketing and communications professionals in the UAE for future C-suite positions.
Jointly organized by The Marketing Society UAE and communications agency Weber Shandwick MENAT, the program will select 15 women for its upcoming cohort, scheduled to run from January through June 2027. Submissions will close on September 25, 2026.
Bridging the Gender Leadership Gap
The program comes as industry data highlights a continued need for greater gender parity at executive levels across the region. According to the 2025 Think Equal Survey conducted by The Marketing Society and Weber Shandwick, only 27% of marketing and communications professionals in the GCC reported equal or near-equal representation of men and women within their management teams.
Think Equal was created specifically to address this imbalance by equipping women with the capabilities and networks needed to step into boardrooms and top executive roles.
"Our mission remains to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women to step into senior leadership roles across marketing and communications," said Amina Taher, Chair of The Marketing Society UAE. "The incredible talent we saw in the first cohort showed just how important The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal is in helping build a more equitable future for our profession."
Program Structure and Participant Impact
Built around three core pillars — Community, Capability, and Clarity — the curriculum blends leadership workshops, virtual sessions, in-person events, and direct mentorship from prominent CEOs and Chief Marketing Officers across the GCC region.
The inaugural edition of the accelerator drew over 90 applicants for its 15 available spots, with participants citing significant growth in executive confidence and strategic visibility.
• Anismita Ghosh, Marketing Manager at Abu Dhabi Biobank (M42), highlighted her key takeaway from the program as understanding "the power of network, executive visibility, growth mindset, and intuitiveness about what makes female leaders different."
• Roxana Nicolescu, VP of Brand Marketing, Social Media, and PR at Wego.com, described the initiative as "one of the best contributions to my personal and professional growth."
Application Details
• Target Audience: Senior female marketing and communications professionals based in the UAE.
• Cohort Size: 15 selected candidates.
• Program Duration: January – June 2027.
• Deadline to Apply: September 25, 2026.
