Women in The Middle East Finances - Layal Halkal Tells About Women’s Role In the Sphere

A financial expert Layal Halkal, one of a few Lebanese women who managed to build a fascinating career, has told us about the situation with women in the Middle East. 

Unequal Opportunities
The Middle East is a heterogeneous and complicated region. Both rich oil-producing Persian Gulf states and territories being in financial straits, like Lebanon or Palestine, are situated here. 

However, despite the status of development and economic situation in the state, women here frequently face insuperable obstacles on their path to financial independence. 

According to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs data, at the beginning of the 21st century, the region was the last but one in women’s economic activity, and the second in the gender gap in the same category. 

As Layal said, despite the slow liquidation of the inequality between men and women in education, it is still significant in the sphere of employment. 

Layal’s Story
Taking into account the longstanding traditions and culture implying a woman’s role as a life transmitter and guardian of the hearth, modern women must see more inspiring examples. 

One of such examples is Laylal Haykal’s life and career. She managed to develop a career in the Lebanese financial sphere independently. She achieved the recognition of male colleagues as well. 

Layal occupied one of the leading positions in the international fund Euromena Funds. She organized the workflow and was responsible for the procedure and department inner politics establishment.

During the crisis and fall of the Lebanese lira exchange rate, Layal showed she could work in conditions of severe stress and uncertainty. She caught up and took the finance management of the whole company upon herself. 

Being a witness of businesses collapsing one after another and banks refusing to originate loans and blocking accounts, Layal managed to save the operational availability of a company. 

However, to become equal to men, Layal had to work long and hard. Along with the constant solving of the workload assignments, she continued developing and raising her qualification.

The financier passed masterclasses, courses, and tutoring training sessions to become a valuable specialist. Her experience has become a pattern and example for many Lebanese women. 

She passed through the incomprehension in society and rejection as an equal specialist on the men’s part. At last, after getting successful, Layal is sure about all the efforts being worth that.