Abu Dhabi: The second edition of News9 Global Summit UAE Edition, began in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday with dignitaries, personalities from Bollywood, and other industry leaders marking their insightful presence. TV9 Network MD and CEO Barun Das  delivered the opening remarks for the News9 Global Summit’s SHEconomy Agenda, centered around spirit of empowerment and inclusivity.

During his address, Mr Barun Das observed that today’s society is driven by intellectual superiority across all walks of life. While women have broken many glass ceilings, he noted that much more remains to be achieved.

“Why is it that we still have mostly men in leadership positions” TV9 Network’s MD & CEO @justbarundas #SHEconomyAgenda #News9GlobalSummit pic.twitter.com/rQ5smJ5lGr

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“Today, the society is driven by intellectual superiority, which includes vision, knowledge, adaptability, resilience, empathy. There is belief that man possesses these qualities in greater proportion then why is it that we still have mostly men in leadership positions in all walks of our lives. We have covered some ground, women have shattered many glass ceilings, but a lot more remains to be done. Equity, which is in the heart of empowerment, is not a favour. It is a necessity for a just, a progressive, and a dynamic world. We often call the women the better half in the context of marriage but if you look around aren’t women the better half in every aspect of our society. Women led businesses and proved resilient in turbulent times. Women leaders are often the steady hands guiding institutions, communities through crises. When women rise, the whole society rises with them and let me say this clearly that women are better half not because of men, they are better half despite men. When women rise, humanity rises with them,” said Barun Das.

Mr Das also shared an anecdote about former PepsiCo President Indira Nooyi on how her mother reacted when she informed her selection to the company’s top post.

“When the former CEO and President of PepsiCo Indira Nooyi, when she got elevated to the post of President in her company, she was very excited, she rushed back home to share the news with her family. As she reached home, her mother, instead of celebrating, told her that the milkman didn’t arrive this morning, you were supposed to bring milk, where’s the milk? And she said, but you know, I just became the President, we’re supposed to celebrate. Her mother said, leave your crown in the garage before you come in. When you are inside this house, you’re a mother, you’re a wife, and you’re a daughter. Does this ring a bell to the women present in this room? I think we all know the answer,” the TV9 Network MD and CEO said.

The News9 Global Summit celebrates the women who transitioned from participants to changemakers, driving innovation, shaping industries, and redefining growth from grassroots to boardrooms.