UAE youth told to believe in themselves and commit to achieve career success

Speaking at the event, which preceded the Emiratisaton Summit 2013, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development's Chief Sustainability Officer, Khuloud Al Nuwais, shared the benefits of her 15 years' experience in the private and philanthropic sectors, and highlighted the importance of active contribution to the community.

"Learn the small tasks and then grow into the bigger ones This will enrich your experience and give you confidence in eventually "achieving anything," Al Nuwais noted.

Adding, "If you aspire to a great future, you have to equip yourself with the right skills and competences and more importantly excelling at what you do stems directly from your level of commitment and dedication."

Al Nuwais, who holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Advertising Management and Marketing, was named among the 'Top 20 Most Influential Women in the UAE' by the Abu Dhabi-based, English-language newspaper, The National in 2008.

She played a pivotal role in setting up the Emirates Foundation in 2005; is a former Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council that spearheads the government's efforts in building a sustainable Emirati workforce; and is credited with creating up the Emirati youth programme, Tawteen, now known as 'Kafa'at', empowering young Emiratis to pursue career paths in the private sector.

Her many side projects include the restructuring of the 'Children without Parental Care Organisation' (Dar Zayed for Family Care).

Al Nuwais told more than 100 forum attendees, "Emirati youth must invest in themselves so they can become globally competitive! 'Work hard, prove yourself and opportunities will come your way' As a working mother she also highlighted that we "We are privileged to have our leaderships support particularly to encourage and support women to purse their careers across different industries."

"As the late Sheikh Zayed said Emiratis are the wealth of the nation. And hence the emirates foundations belief in engaging, inspiring and guiding young people of the UAE to secure the nation's sustainable future," she added.

She concluded her presentation saying: "You have to believe in your capabilities and qualifications and work hardly to enhance your skills. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough you will get it."

Previous to her current role with the Emirates Foundation, Al Nuwais was a Senior Analyst in the Corporate Planning Department of Dolphin Energy Ltd, the company supplying gas from Qatar to the UAE. She has also served as a Market Analyst at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).