Women in Construction Brunch Dubai | WE Global Network

WE Global Network, in collaboration with its She Builds Power Circle, hosted an intimate Women in Construction Brunch at The Grazer, Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai, bringing together 10 professionals for an engaging discussion on human resources, workforce management, employee retention and women's leadership in the construction industry. 

The session featured Shibu Abraham, Director – Human Resources at Kreston Menon, as the chief guest. The discussion offered participants an opportunity to explore real workplace challenges, exchange professional experiences and gain practical insights into managing people and building effective teams.

Unlike a conventional seminar, the brunch encouraged open dialogue, allowing attendees to raise questions, share their experiences and discuss challenges encountered in their respective organisations.

Addressing HR Challenges in the Construction Industry 

The construction industry relies on a diverse workforce, ranging from blue-collar workers and skilled technicians to engineers, managers and other white-collar professionals.

Managing such a workforce presents distinct challenges, particularly when it comes to recruitment, employee engagement and retention.

During the brunch, Shibu Abraham shared insights from his experience in human resources, addressing the practical realities of managing people across different organisational levels.

The discussion explored several important areas:

• Hiring and retaining employees in the construction industry.

• Workforce challenges involving blue-collar workers, technicians and white-collar professionals.

• Understanding employee expectations and improving retention.

• Managing teams and strengthening workplace relationships.

• Women in leadership positions and how their roles are perceived within organisations.

Participants discussed the challenges they encounter in their businesses and workplaces, creating an opportunity to examine HR issues from both an employer's and an employee's perspective.

Shibu shared practical recommendations that participants could consider implementing in their day-to-day operations, making the conversation particularly relevant for business owners and professionals responsible for managing teams.

Women in Leadership: Exploring Perceptions and Workplace Realities 

An important part of the conversation centred on women in leadership roles, particularly within industries such as construction, where women continue to navigate established workplace perceptions.

Attendees explored how women leaders are perceived, the challenges they encounter while managing teams and the importance of creating professional environments where leadership is recognised through capability and contribution.

The discussion also provided space for participants to share their personal experiences and perspectives.

Rather than focusing solely on broad leadership concepts, the session connected these conversations to practical workplace situations and everyday management decisions.

Meet the Chief Guest: Shibu Abraham

Shibu Abraham is a human resources professional associated with Kreston Menon and Kreston Global. 

In addition to his role as Director – Human Resources at Kreston Menon, he chairs the Leadership Team of the HR & People Network at Kreston Global and serves as a member of the Industry Advisory Council for Human Resource Management at the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE.

His participation brought an industry-focused HR perspective to the gathering, connecting the challenges raised by attendees with practical approaches to people management.

The interactive format allowed participants to engage directly with him, ask questions and explore solutions relevant to their organisations.

She Builds Power Circle: Creating a Space for Women in Construction 

The Women in Construction Brunch was organised under the She Builds Power Circle, an initiative of WE Global Network dedicated to connecting women working across construction and related industries.

The Power Circle is led by Geena George, Client Relationship Manager at Eagle Nest Pest Control.

Through She Builds, WE Global Network aims to create opportunities for women across the construction ecosystem to connect, exchange industry knowledge and develop meaningful professional relationships.

The initiative brings together women from different areas of the built environment, encouraging conversations that extend beyond conventional networking.

By creating smaller, focused gatherings, She Builds provides an environment where participants can openly discuss professional challenges, learn from experienced industry leaders and build connections with others working in the sector.

The September brunch reflected this approach, with a group of 10 attendees engaging in an interactive discussion that allowed each participant the opportunity to contribute.

Attendees Share Their Experiences 

The event received positive feedback from participants, who appreciated both the professional insights and the opportunity to meet new people.

Rubab Jamal, an interior designer, shared:

"Great session. I’m glad I came and got to meet so many inspiring individuals! Looking forward to the next one! ❤️"

— Rubab Jamal, Interior Designer

Aarsha Ravindran, Chief Operating Officer at Feather Touch Interiors, highlighted the openness of the conversation and the opportunity to connect with new professionals. 

"I really loved the turned out today. More new faces, new stories.

I really appreciate how honest our chief guest was in giving insights into HR's world. Loved how organic our conversations were."

— Aarsha Ravindran, COO, Feather Touch Interiors

The feedback reflected the value of creating smaller, interactive gatherings where professional learning and relationship-building can happen naturally.

The brunch also brought together professionals including Sundus Mahak, Noor Kalaji ,Harpreet Pruthi ,Sena Souleyici and Alic Rachel Bangera .Their participation added diverse perspectives to the discussion and created opportunities for meaningful professional connections within the She Builds community.

The Grazer Joins as Venue Partner 

The event was supported by venue partner The Grazer, located at Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai.

The venue provided the setting for the brunch, bringing together participants over food and conversation in a relaxed environment.

WE Global Network acknowledges The Grazer for its support in hosting the gathering and contributing to the event experience.

About WE Global Network 

WE Global Network is a Dubai-based business community dedicated to connecting women entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals across the UAE and internationally.

With a vision of bridging the gap between SMEs and the corporate sector, the network creates opportunities for business connections, industry knowledge-sharing and professional collaboration.

Through initiatives such as WE Connect, WE Boardroom, global networking programmes and industry-focused Power Circles, the network brings together entrepreneurs and experienced professionals to exchange knowledge and explore business opportunities.

The She Builds Power Circle extends this mission into the construction sector by creating a dedicated platform for women to connect with industry peers, share professional experiences and access insights from established leaders.

The Women in Construction Brunch on 19 September marked another gathering under this initiative, demonstrating how focused, smaller-format events can encourage meaningful conversations around industry-specific challenges.

To learn more about WE Global Network and its upcoming events, visit www.weglobalnetwork.com