QIYADA

In this third Masterclass, we explore one of the most complex – and yet crucial – dimensions of contemporary leadership: how to navigate difficult work environments. Led by Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace, Harvard-certified executive coach, and expert in ethical and inclusive leadership, this session offers a clear-eyed and powerful perspective on microaggressions, unconscious bias, inappropriate behaviour, and other subtle forms of discrimination that weaken professional dynamics, erode trust, and hold back talent.

With a pedagogical yet deeply human approach, Guila defines what hostile work environments really are – often invisible, but profoundly destructive – and shares practical...

In this Masterclass, Hiba Rajha shares the key insights drawn from 40 interviews with inspiring women leaders, centered on a universal and often taboo theme: the balance between professional and personal life. The session gives voice to those who have had to juggle professional ambition, family commitments, and the search for meaning. It’s not a lesson in perfection, but a behind-the-scenes look at human leadership, where doubts, choices, sacrifices – and strategies of resilience – come to light.

Among the most powerful takeaways, we learn how to break free from self-imposed limits to succeed across different spheres of life, why...

In this Masterclass, project partners Dr. Hiba Rajha and Dr. Luise Fischer unveil the results of their qualitative study conducted with 40 women leaders from around the world. Their goal? To understand the invisible barriers women face on their path to leadership – and, more importantly, to uncover the concrete strategies they use to overcome them.

Drawing from in-depth interviews, the Masterclass highlights three levels of challenges. On the personal side: self-doubt, impostor syndrome, perfectionism, and the struggle to align personal values with traditional leadership norms. On the interpersonal level: a lack of role models, limited solidarity among women, persistent...

This episode explores the origins and ambitions of the Qiyada podcast itself, in a conversation between the host, AGYA member Dr. Hiba Rajha, and her project partner, Dr. Luise Fischer, AGYA alumna and expert in Human & Historical Geography, Education, and Sustainability at Leipzig University, Germany. Together, they reflect on personal motivations, the development of their joint AGYA project, and the challenges on the path to building more inclusive spaces in academia and beyond. Join this inspiring dialogue on collaboration, leadership, and the pursuit of meaningful change.

Learn more about the project here: https://agya.info/research/research-projects-by-year/inclusive-leadership-a-digital-approach-to-bridging-the-gender-gap