JEDDAH — Nissan Saudi Arabia hosted an exclusive brunch event in celebration of international women’s day on Sunday at TAWA restaurant here. The event was attended by some of KSA’s leading female journalists, influencers and thought leaders to discuss topics pertaining to Nissan KSA’s efforts to empower females in the local automotive sector. The event celebrated international women’s day by highlighting the efforts of Nissan KSA’s female employees, as well as Petromin Nissan female employees, in elevating Nissan KSA’s standing in the market. Nissan KSA’s leadership team attended the event including Managing Director Bader El Houssami, Sales Director Albert Khreiche, Aftersales Director Ahmad Taha, and General Manager of Corporate Communication Hatoon Bushnaq. Nissan KSA aims to ensure diversity in the workplace, as it is committed to appointing women to all positions equally as men, and considers professional advancement without discrimination based on the belief in women’s ability to excel in every field they engage in. A prime example of diversity at the workplace is Nissan Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed General Manager of Corporate Communications, Hatoon Bushnaq. Her appointment is the first step among many aiming to promote diversity within leadership positions at Nissan KSA. El Houssami addressed the attendees at the event, saying: “It is a great honor for me to represent a brand that gives women the status they deserve and utilizes their capabilities in various aspects of the business. At Nissan KSA, we ensure that we provide customized services for our female customers to empower them on the road. We also believe our female counterparts are natural leaders, and we are committed to ensuring our female employees’ career progression to leadership positions in the company, as it is a key contributor to advancing the company"s business and ensuring its growth, as well as achieving workplace diversity." Bushnaq said: “I am proud to be a key player in a company that focuses on integrating and empowering women and giving them the tools they need to excel in the workplace. Therefore, I would like to thank Nissan Saudi Arabia for its trust in me and its faith in what I can add as a female to a sector that is predominantly male-oriented. On the occasion of International Women"s Day, I encourage all women to trust their abilities and seize the opportunities available to them, so that we can rise together in a society where everyone is equal." Over the past years, Nissan Saudi Arabia launched a series of initiatives that empower women and help them explore their full potential on the road. Among the most prominent of these initiatives is the #SheDrives campaign, which allowed a group of women to experience driving for the first time after the driving ban was lifted in the Kingdom. Nissan KSA has also launched the first female RSA (road side assistance) application, "Sanadek”, which is the only RSA application in the Kingdom that’s tailor made to fit the needs of female Nissan drivers, to empower them and give them peace of mind on the road. The application provides comprehensive solutions with various services such as towing, fuel delivery, battery charging and car maintenance. In line with Nissan KSA’s continued efforts to acknowledge fresh local talent in the Kingdom, the company has recognized two young Saudi female graduates and have enrolled them in Nissan Saudi Arabia’s bespoke two-year GT-R training program. This is in addition to the several other females that Nissan KSA has working across different departments, which is testament to their workplace diversity focus. Nissan KSA is also keen to support local talents in motorsport, as it seeks to encourage and develop the capabilities of local motorsport enthusiasts and harness their skills by providing support for competitions at the highest levels. Reem Al-Aboud, the first and youngest Saudi woman to drive a Formula E car in the race’s fifth season was trained and sponsored by Nissan KSA. Nissan Saudi Arabia will remain an active brand that is committed to maintaining diversity in the workplace and is continuously exploring innovative ways to empower women and increase their involvement in the local automotive sector, to cater to all the needs of the market. — SG