Dubai-based executive Amnah Ajmal has launched SheKnows, a new digital platform designed to connect senior women professionals with global C-suite leaders through private one-on-one sessions, as companies across multiple regions face increasing pressure to strengthen leadership diversity and governance standards.
The platform positions itself as a leadership and executive guidance network rather than a traditional mentorship or networking initiative. SheKnows aims to support women navigating major career transitions, including returning to work after maternity leave, pursuing executive leadership roles, or repositioning themselves after extended periods in the same organization.
Ajmal, who serves as founder and CEO of SheKnows, described the initiative as a way to help women gain direct access to experienced business leaders with real-world executive experience.
Amnah Ajmal, founder and CEO of SheKnows, said: “Leadership today is not just about having a seat at the table; it is about shaping the decisions that define industries and economies. SheKnows is built for women already in senior leadership roles but are at a career defining moment like returning from maternity leave or too many years in the same role. By connecting them with global leaders through private 1-1 sessions we enable them to move more confidently through life’s most defining career transitions.”
A Platform Focused on Senior Leadership
Unlike broader career development platforms focused on early-stage mentorship, SheKnows appears to target women already operating at senior management or executive levels. The company says the platform uses curated “Growth Navigators,” a network of executives and business leaders from industries including technology, hospitality, logistics, and financial services.
The platform also incorporates artificial intelligence tools intended to personalize leadership guidance pathways and connect participants with advisors aligned to their professional goals and regional market realities.
Leadership Diversity Remains a Global Focus
The launch comes amid growing global scrutiny over corporate leadership diversity, particularly at executive and board levels. While female workforce participation has expanded in many international markets over the last decade, representation in top leadership positions remains uneven across industries and regions.
In the Middle East and Africa, governments and private-sector organizations have increasingly emphasized leadership inclusion as part of broader economic modernization and governance agendas. Several Gulf countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have introduced initiatives aimed at improving women’s participation in business leadership, entrepreneurship, and public-sector management.
Rather than focusing solely on representation metrics, SheKnows is positioning itself around executive influence and decision-making capacity. The company says the platform is designed to help women move “from visibility to influence,” particularly during major career transitions.
Building a Cross-Border Executive Network
One of the platform’s core features is its international structure. Participating executives and Growth Navigators are based across the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, Poland, Hong Kong and other markets.
That cross-border approach may become increasingly important as leadership development shifts further into digital and hybrid formats. Executive coaching and mentorship services have traditionally relied heavily on in-person professional networks, which can limit access for professionals outside major financial or corporate hubs.
By moving leadership engagement into a digital environment, platforms such as SheKnows are attempting to reduce some of those geographical barriers while expanding access to international business perspectives.
The launch announcement also highlighted participation from executives including Amadou Diallo, CEO of Aramex Group, and Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer for Middle East & Africa at Marriott International’s luxury division, both of whom are listed as Growth Navigators on the platform.
Amadou Diallo, CEO of Aramex Group and a Growth Navigator at SheKnows, said: “Empowering women is the catalyst for global change. Each empowered sister sends ripples that transform communities and illuminate our future. With the launch of SheKnows, we celebrate the strength of women everywhere. Remember, injustice against women is a threat to justice for all. Together, we rise!”
Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Africa, Luxury, Europe Middle East & Africa and Global Leader, Design Hotels Marriott International, and a Growth Navigator at SheKnows, said: “Empowering women to lead, innovate and shape the future has long been something I am deeply passionate about. SheKnows is an inspiring initiative that supports women in building the skills and confidence needed to thrive and succeed. I am excited and humbled to be a part of it.”
UAE Positioning and Future Expansion
Although the company frames itself as a global platform, its operational identity is closely tied to the UAE, where the initiative was developed. The launch reflects the country’s broader positioning as a regional hub for technology-driven professional services and leadership innovation.
The UAE has spent recent years promoting itself as a center for digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technology adoption, particularly in sectors tied to artificial intelligence and future-of-work infrastructure. SheKnows’ AI-supported leadership model aligns with that broader trend toward technology-assisted professional development tools.
At the same time, the platform enters an increasingly crowded global market for executive coaching, networking, and career development services. Its success may ultimately depend on whether it can differentiate itself through the quality of its executive network and the exclusivity of its one-on-one engagement model.
The platform is expected to expand its list of Growth Navigators throughout 2026 while opening access to women professionals globally.
