Yara Milbes, Vice President – Marketing, Lucidya

With accountability going beyond empty promises; companies should publish annual gender pay audits and the pay gap must not only be corrected but made illegal, with governments enforcing criminal penalties for wage discrimination. Closing the leadership gap is also crucial—boardroom diversity mandates must be industry standards. In the Middle East, policies must go beyond “flexibility” to include extended paid parental leave, childcare support, and strict anti-discrimination laws. Real change demands enforcement, transparency, and consequences—because equality should never be optional.