GAIA, the pioneering women’s leadership community founded in Dubai, has officially launched its operations in Abu Dhabi. This intentional expansion marks a significant step in the platform’s mission to create a deeply connected, cross-emirate network for senior female leaders.
A Deliberate Expansion into the Capital
GAIA’s entry into Abu Dhabi is tailored to the capital’s unique ecosystem, which is home to a high concentration of women in director-level, policy-shaping, and institutional leadership roles. The launch takes the form of a closed, Director+ Peer group, a format designed to foster a safe environment for honest and meaningful dialogue.
By limiting the cohort to senior leaders, GAIA aims to protect the quality of the conversation and ensure a shared level of experience, allowing for collective growth beyond professional titles. The inaugural peer session was held at Erth, with the Abu Dhabi cohort being led by Kerry Gird, GAIA Coach and Founding Abu Dhabi Lead.
Marisa Kamall, Founder of GAIA, reflected on the strategic move, stating, “We started in Dubai, but GAIA was never designed to stay in one place. Abu Dhabi is home to extraordinary female leaders—thoughtful, driven, and global in outlook. GAIA is here to amplify their voices, connect them deeply, and help them rise together. This is not Dubai replicated. It is Abu Dhabi shaped—its own rhythm, richness, and strength.”
Fostering Cross-Emirate Collaboration
While each city’s chapter will develop its own distinct character, GAIA plans to unite its Dubai and Abu Dhabi communities through shared gatherings. The organization believes that fostering these cross-emirate connections will transform the network into a movement, enabling diverse perspectives to generate bolder thinking, faster solutions, and wider opportunities for its members.
Demystifying AI with ChatGPShe
As part of its mission to build a comprehensive leadership ecosystem, GAIA also recently launched ChatGPShe, a bold initiative aimed at reimagining how women engage with artificial intelligence. The program brings women from various industries together to demystify AI through collective learning and shared real-world experiences.
The initiative focuses on empowering women to not only adopt AI tools but also to actively shape the development of ethical and inclusive technological approaches.
“With ChatGPShe, women don’t just adopt AI—they actively shape how it’s used,” says Kamall. “This isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about rewriting the answers AI gives the world.”
About GAIA
GAIA is a women’s leadership community with a mission to empower women to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and growth. It operates across two tiers: GAIA Elevate, a self-paced online learning platform for global members, and GAIA Leader, an intimate, in-person leadership network for senior professionals.
Source: My Startup World
