Into the future – Dubai Expo 2020’s Marjan Faraidooni
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Entrusted with the role of Chief Pavilions and Exhibitions Officer at the futuristic Expo 2020 Dubai, Marjan Faraidooni has the responsibility of making sure strategies for development and execution are implemented.
What is the source of your success in your career?
I feel privileged to have the responsibility of overseeing the exhibition spaces across Expo 2020’s pavilions that will excite and inspire visitors about topics that matter to humanity.
I have been blessed by the opportunities that have come my way over the years and can attribute much of my career growth to being consistent and diligent in delivering what was tasked to me, no matter how small. I have also proactively sought opportunities to improve my skills and knowledge through self-learning and learning from individuals who are specialists in their fields. With the added years of experience, I also understand the importance of building strong and resilient teams that recognise the value of cooperation and operate with respect and integrity at their very core.
Finally, I wouldn’t be where I am without the support and belief of the individuals who have entrusted me with the job, as well as my colleagues and my family.
What do you think of the progress of female empowerment in the UAE?
I am proud to live in the UAE, a country that is leading the region in gender equality, and where women hold senior decision-making positions that have a direct impact on the education, political, and economic sectors. The UAE has been ranked number one in the world when it comes to female representation in parliament, for example, with women making up 50 per cent of the UAE’s 40-member Federal National Council. Expo 2020 itself is led by a truly inspiring woman, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, who is the Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation. In total there are are more than 200 Emirati female employees and more than 600 female employees working at Expo 2020.
Expo 2020 Dubai has also dedicated a space to address the advancement of women both from a local and global lens. We have teamed up with Cartier to create the Women’s Pavilion in celebration of women change-makers all over the world.
Tell us about your view on Expo 2020’s impact on the future.
World Expos have long prided themselves on being catalysts for change, showcasing groundbreaking innovations that still impact the world today. When we consider what the world has been through in the past months and the challenges that lie ahead, Expo 2020 Dubai could not come at a more opportune moment, and our theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ could not be more fitting. Expo 2020 will bring together 192 nations to showcase and identify solutions to the most pressing and common issues facing humanity. Celebrating and galvanising global collaboration, we will host one of the biggest mega-events since the COVID pandemic, bringing the world together to address its impact, while also looking ahead. Taking place in the year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, the first World Expo in the Middle East will be a chance to celebrate our country’s achievements and look ahead to what can and must be done in the next 50 years.
We hope that each one of our visitors will make new friends from all over the world, and be inspired by the realisation that they each have a role to play in making the world a better place. But our impact will not stop there. Expo has been designed with an eye on the future and will evolve into District 2020, maximising Expo’s technological and physical infrastructure to ensure this new city-within-a-city continues to be a significant contributor to the UAE economy long after the six months of Expo 2020.
As a successful woman, and the Chief Pavilions & Exhibitions Officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, in your opinion what does it take to achieve a position like yours?
There are many factors. I have always been committed to ensuring my work is driven by respect and integrity, and I have learnt that it is essential to be flexible and resilient in the face of change, and welcome the challenges brought by it. I’ve mentioned the importance of teamwork and clear, open communication, and I strongly believe in bringing the human touch to the workplace and ensuring a healthy work-life balance for myself and my team. I’m always looking for ways in which I can support. For example, pre-COVID, I would surprise my team with lunches – either to celebrate milestones or share our concerns and issues. No matter how much pressure we’re facing, I make sure we find time to laugh and enjoy ourselves in the process.
During the COVID pandemic, my team’s wellbeing was – and continues to be – of critical importance, sometimes even more than their deliverables. Everyone has been getting by in very challenging situations, but each person’s circumstances are unique. We maintain regular contact via Webex meetings, and I make sure to bring the team together for updates on what is happening, talking through issues to do with their wellbeing, and making sure they have the opportunity to voice concerns.
What is your advice to young individuals aspiring to become successful in their respective fields?
Work hard with the highest level of integrity, stay ambitious, and be committed to every task, no matter how small. Be adaptable and flexible, because change is inevitable – as the saying goes, it’s the one constant in life! Keep your sense of wonder – learn every day, ask questions, seek advice, and opportunities to develop yourself professionally and personally.
What is the best way to empower women?
Part of empowering women comes from top-down recognition of women’s capabilities, talents, and the value we bring to the workplace and women must be provided with equal opportunities for jobs in different sectors.
However, ultimately it is we women who must support each other, lift each other, and always have each other’s back. Those of us who have achieved positions in leadership must take on that responsibility, be role models, and identify opportunities to mentor colleagues and students.
What is the best advice you’ve received?
Take it one day and one challenge at a time – and prioritise! Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and demonstrate empathy. This will broaden your perspective, strengthen your relationships, and improve collaboration. Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself! As long as you do your work with the best intentions, it’s ok if, at times, things don’t go the way they were supposed to. View these experiences as lessons you can learn from.
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