The Marketing Society UAE has announced the 15 outstanding candidates chosen for the first cohort of The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal, following a rigorous multi-stage selection process.

The prestigious six-month programme, developed in partnership with TikTok and Weber Shandwick MENAT, is designed to propel high-potential female professionals in marketing and communications into senior leadership positions.

Exceeding expectations

A total of 94 professionals submitted applications for the programme, surpassing the expectations of the judging panel, which was composed of representatives from ten different organisations.

Think Equal is an industry initiative by The Marketing Society that aims to accelerate gender equality in leadership across the marcomms industry in the GCC. The Leadership Accelerator is a key pillar of this initiative, helping to accelerate the careers of talented female marcomms professionals.

Meet the 2026 cohort

The 15 UAE-based candidates selected for Group 2026 of The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal are:

• Alka Winter, Vice President, Destination Marketing & Communications, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
• Anismita Ghosh, Marketing Manager, Abu Dhabi Biobank, M42
• Anna Varley Jones, Senior Director, Strategy & Intelligence, Weber Shandwick
• Damayanti Purkayastha, Head of Strategy, MullenLowe MENA
• Ishana Tolani, Head of Brand and Marketing, Abu Dhabi Airports Company
• Jessica Schroeder, Head of Corporate Communications & Government Relations, Middle East & Egypt, BASF
• Lindsay Johnston, Senior General Manager, Corporate Marketing, Abdul Latif Jameel International
• Lobna Saad, Head of Brand Build MEA, Kraftheinz
• Mallika Gaur, Group Account Director, Serviceplan
• Neda Lazic, Marketing Network Operations & Capabilities Senior Director, Eurasia & Middle East, The Coca-Cola Company
• Noura Haggag, Tech and Alliances Marketing Lead, PwC Middle East
• Ozge Onur Aboughali, Senior Director Marketing MENA, LIPTON Teas and Infusions
• Roxana Nicolescu, VP Brand Marketing, Social Media & PR, Wego.com
• Sara Aref, Brand Director, Aujan Coca-Cola Company
• Setarah Abbas, Senior Integrated Marketing Manager, G42, Microsoft

"This programme is about unlocking potential and creating real pathways for women to lead with confidence and impact," said Amina Taher, CMO of Wio Bank and Chair of The Marketing Society UAE. "Seeing such incredible talent step forward reinforces why initiatives like The Leadership Accelerator matter, they spark progress and build a more inclusive future for our industry."

Amina added: "I love seeing women invest in themselves, and I deeply admire every woman who made the decision to apply. The calibre of applicants for this first edition has been outstanding, and I'm grateful to the judges and our partners whose support makes this programme possible."

What to expect

Through a blend of transformative workshops, in-person events, virtual sessions and world-class mentoring, the selected professionals will gain skills, confidence and networks to lead with greater impact. This annual initiative will connect participants with some of the region's most influential CMOs and CEOs, whilst helping shape a more equal future for the marketing and communications industry.

Why this matters

Advancing female leadership in regional marcomms is an area with opportunities for improvement. In findings released at a Think Equal event last year, only 27% of GCC marcomms professionals said leadership teams in their organisations or divisions have equal or near-equal male-female representation, defined as 40-60% in favour of any gender.

Development of specific capabilities is vital. Confident communication, persuasive influence and negotiation were identified as the top three skills women need to focus on to help drive their strategic power.

The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal is part of The Marketing Society's Think Equal initiative, working to accelerate gender equality in leadership across the marcomms industry in the GCC.