How did you manage to create such a successful venture as Lectera.com?
The success of Lectera wasn’t immediate or easy. During our first years, growth was slow, but I had a vision. As a teaching expert and employer, I understood that traditional education lacked the latest knowledge needed in a rapidly evolving world.
It took us six years to tailor our product, which is based on AI and our intellectual property, and we now add around 200-300,000 new students every month. We built Lectera internationally from day one and now offer courses in five languages, with plans to expand to 17 languages, including Arabic, by the end of 2023.
Lectera is lesser known in the UAE, why is that?
We have about 2% of students from the UAE, mostly women who come to us for our courses on female leadership. There are many government programmes in the UAE that provide access to the latest knowledge, but not all countries have that advantage. Our major customers are in India, Bangladesh, English-speaking countries in Africa, and Latin America. In essence, we thrive in markets where job competition is fierce, and we need to constantly upskill in order to compete.
You made a sensation when you organized the WE Convention in Dubai in March. Now, whenever women talk about Mila’s and her initiatives, everyone understands they are referring to you. How did you become so successful?
As a philanthropist, I founded the Women’s Empowerment Council and organized the WE Convention in March 2023, to let women learn from one another and empower one another. We made a very successful and useful conference that raised the right questions and gave women leaders a platform to speak.
Women’s empowerment is best promoted by showcasing successful women role models, and I am glad this simple idea resonated with so many women. MENA and the UAE have plenty of successful women stories untold, which is also why the WE Convention was so successful. The more powerful women who care and balance their family and work duties, the better lives the country, and this is very much about the Middle East region.
So, more WE Conventions to come?
We are planning the next WE Convention Dubai for April 20-21 2024, and we are considering expanding to other countries as well. We are already doing one of the biggest women conferences in the world, and we aim to keep the bar high.
In 2024, we are planning an even more impressive speaker lineup, and we will put a particular emphasis on money, personal development, successful career paths, women entrepreneurship, and financial independence. I can only reveal that much for now, but it is going to be the place to be in Dubai.
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