Ambitious Developments led by Ambitious Women

By Zainab Hamidaddin, Senior Engagement and HR Business Partnership Director at Red Sea Global (RSG)

Empowering Women in the Workplace 
At The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), we constantly attempt to challenge norms and set new standards in everything we do. Our commitment to world class standards is not only limited to leading the growth of regenerative tourism and our ground-breaking progress on the ground, but also - and perhaps more importantly - to fostering a workplace that is inclusive throughout.

As an equal-opportunities employer, we strive to be inclusive, and whilst women account for a quarter of the company’s staff which we are proud of, that number is not enough and needs to increase. At TRSDC we are proud of our pool of intelligent and bright women working in roles spanning across every sector of the business including risk and resilience, security, engineering, design, legal, and project management teams - to name just a few. 

Being a development company, many of our sectors and their associated roles are recognized globally as not typically held by women. For example, in the US, according to research conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, the construction industry accounts for only 1.3 percent of employed women compared to 11.1 percent of men.

As we work towards significantly increasing our percentage of female workers at the company, we have attempted to ensure that the recruitment process is fair and impartial from the outset. TRSDC has procedures in place which scrutinize and assess every job posting and remove any elements of gender bias before they are published. This attention to detail makes job advertisements accessible for wider audiences and attracts exceptional talent from all walks of life.

Once employed, TRSDC management continues to empower employees by running rigorous training and development programs. These training work to inspire young talent in the company and equip them with the essential skills they need to one day become future leaders. 

The importance of female networks 

In light of International Women’s Day, I recently shared my thoughts about the role of female networks in the workplace and how organizations can amplify and reinforce their commitments to build an inclusive working environment. 

It is essential that businesses are spaces where dynamic and passionate networks of women are encouraged to come together to offer support, influence one another and foster future leadership. 

We can ensure women’s voices are heard in the workplace by inspiring others, setting an example by fulfilling our own ambitions. From working hard to achieve an additional degree, to speaking up in meetings and offering valuable insights, we can climb the ladder to the top and manifest the change we want to see.  

At TRSDC, women are encouraged to lead by example, and we are offered a platform to demonstrate the incredible value we bring to the business. We have valuable contributions to make, and it is important to always remember that we are not hired because it makes the workplace more inclusive, we’re here because we are individuals who have earned respect and deserve a place within leadership and executive teams. 

Championing inclusivity 

By creating a workplace that champions inclusivity, TRSDC is actively working to become an advocate for its female workforce. Our organization hopes to inspire a change in attitude amongst other companies by encouraging them to make similar commitments, recognizing the essential value that women offer as employees.