April 2024 – Protocol Today

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“…The ‘opinion article’ has an introduction, which details the most salient points in a concise manner to place the reader in the field to be discussed; a body, which develops the analysis with foundations and examples and, finally, a conclusion or summary: it may contain a synthesis or a phrase inviting reflection. I suggest resorting, in the desire to provide expository quality, to casuistries, data, expressions and satires. This last one must be used with caution, not everyone has the solvency and enlightenment to understand its meaning.”

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WOMEN AS CULTURAL AMBASSADOR ENGLISH SESSION

28th March 2024, ENGLISH SESSION

The “Women as Cultural Ambassador” International Seminar, hosted by Protocol Today and Ibera Benicana’s Foundation, brought together distinguished speakers to explore women’s role in cultural diplomacy. The seminar aimed to highlight the importance of cultural exchange, communication, and collaboration in building bridges and fostering positive relationships on a global scale.

The seminar featured a lineup of distinguished speakers who shared their expertise and experiences on the vital role of women as cultural bridge-builders, drivers of change, and engines of economic growth.

Haifa Al-Kailani, the President and Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum spoke about the importance of cultural competency, communication, collaboration, and coalition building as a development economist and advocate for women’s leadership and economic empowerment. Sabine van Dijk-Schuizen, a female empowerment advocate and G100 country chair for the Netherlands, discussed the concept of “cyclic leadership” and the value of embracing feminine qualities like sensitivity and soft skills in today’s dynamic environment. Dr Cherin Jallis, a distinguished specialist in etiquette and business protocol in the United Arab Emirates, emphasised the significance of protocol, etiquette, and mutual respect in cross-cultural interactions and the need for women to take a more dominant role. Elsa Wilkin Armister, the Minister-Counselor at the Sanctus Kids and Nevis High Commission in the United Kingdom, delved into the theme of the positive impact of cultural diplomacy. Drawing on her expertise in cultural diplomacy, country branding, and international marketing, Elsa shared how cultural exchange can foster mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation for diverse cultures.

Key Takeaways from the Seminar:

Building Bridges through Cultural Exchange: Haifa Al Kaylani, President & Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum, shared her experiences promoting women’s leadership and economic growth globally. She underscored the value of cultural exchange, communication, and collaboration in bridging gaps between Arab and international communities, emphasising the pivotal role of these elements in achieving sustainable development and more robust international partnerships. Sabine van Dijk-Schuizen, a female empowerment advocate, spoke about embracing “cyclic leadership” and the feminine qualities of sensitivity, soft skills, and the ability to explain values and culture more understandably. She encouraged the audience to take on the role of cultural ambassadors, as “women are much more sensitive” and can make “others feel comfortable with them.” Embracing “cyclic leadership” and feminine qualities like sensitivity, empathy, and the ability to explain values and culture understandably is essential in today’s dynamic environment. Women can make their people and others feel more comfortable through their cultural competence and soft skills.

Cultural Diplomacy for Positive Impact: Elsa Wilkin-Armbrister, Minister Counsellor, emphasised the positive impact of cultural diplomacy in promoting international cooperation and understanding. She showcased how cultural exchange can lead to mutual respect and appreciation for diverse cultures, fostering a more harmonious global community. The speakers emphasised the importance of cultural competency, communication, and collaboration in promoting greater understanding between communities, businesses, and nations. Haifa Al-Kailani, President and Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum, shared her experience of how “communication, collaboration, cultural exchange, and coalition building have been pivotal” to her achievements and the forum’s success. Effective communication, collaboration, cultural exchange, and coalition building are vital for fostering greater understanding between communities, businesses, and nations.

Women as Engines of Economic Growth: Sabine Van Ditzhuijzen, G100 Country Chair, delved into cyclic leadership, guiding female leaders through insightful journeys and breaking taboos in leadership roles. She highlighted the importance of empowering women and fostering diversity in leadership positions to drive positive change across all organisational levels. The speakers highlighted how cultural diplomacy can be an “engine of economic growth” as it helps build stronger bonds of friendship, diversify economies, and advance a country’s political and cultural position. Elsa Wilkin-Armister, Minister-Counselor at the St. Kitts and Nevis High Commission, shared how a hot sauce competition at Expo 2020 Dubai led to a memorandum of understanding between St. Kitts and Nevis and the UAE, demonstrating the power of cultural exchange. Women can leverage their artistic competence, sensitivity, and soft skills to dominate as cultural ambassadors and bridge-builders.

Protocol, Etiquette, and Respect: Dr. Cherin Jallis, a specialist in etiquette and business protocol in the UAE, emphasized the significance of protocol, etiquette, and mutual respect in cross-cultural interactions. She stated that “it’s not enough” to have a historically male-dominated world and that “it’s time that women should take over this role, or at least to play a more dominant role in this setting of the world today.” Protocol, etiquette, and mutual respect are crucial in cross-cultural interactions and diplomacy. Women should take on a more dominant role in this area, as they are generally more sensitive and better at mastering soft skills than men.

Quotes for Modern-Day Women in Diplomacy:

Elsa Wilkin-Armbrister: “Cultural diplomacy is the language of understanding that transcends borders and fosters mutual respect.”

Sabine Van Ditzhuijzen: “Empowering women in leadership is not just a choice, but a necessity for driving meaningful change and inclusivity.”

Haifa Al Kaylani: “In a world interconnected by diversity, communication, collaboration, and cultural exchange are the pillars of building lasting bridges and successful partnerships.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the “Women as Cultural Ambassadors” International Seminar provided a powerful platform to celebrate the contributions of women as cultural diplomats and to inspire participants to take on the mantle of cultural ambassadorship in their spheres of influence. Through the expertise shared by distinguished speakers, we have gained valuable lessons on leveraging cultural exchanges to build bridges, foster international cooperation, and strengthen relationships between nations. As we reflect on the significance of embracing diversity, communicating values, and fostering understanding across cultures, we are reminded of the positive impact that cultural diplomacy can have in shaping a more interconnected, harmonious world. The recognition of the contributions of individuals and nations in promoting cultural relations and international cooperation paves the way for a future built on mutual respect, collaboration, and shared prosperity. Let us continue to champion the role of women as cultural ambassadors, celebrate our cultural heritage, and work towards a more inclusive and interconnected global community. The lessons and perspectives shared will continue to resonate and guide women in pursuing greater cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.

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Category: Diplomacy

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WOMEN AS CULTURAL AMBASSADOR SPANISH SESSION

28th March 2024 SPANISH SESSION

Recently, PROTOCOLTODAY and the International Honoris Causa Foundation organized the International Seminar “Women as Cultural Ambassadors”, which was held virtually from the Netherlands on the occasion of International Women’s Day. This important event, broadcast in English and Spanish, brought together a wide audience from more than 30 countries.

Adriana Flores, executive director of PROTOCOLTODAY, highlighted the professional prestige of the speakers and the quality of the topics shared. In her turn, Marco Tardelli, president of the International Honoris Causa Foundation, pointed out that women are active protagonists in the significant changes in society. “We want them to occupy a significant space to promote their effective Hispanic American leadership in the United Nations Organization,” he emphasised.

Berenice Rangel (Mexico), executive director of Latin America Invest, spoke on “Crosscultural Wealth: Wealth Management Strategies with Global Intelligence for International Businesses.” She referred to the business strategies: “We are looking to diversify assets due to the changes that have occurred in Latin America in recent times.” Financial and fiscal complexity drives global wealth transformation. “The new generations are looking to invest in technology companies,” she stated. She explained the phenomenon of globalisation and its influence on the wealth management administration. Businesses are increasingly complex due, among other reasons, to the knowledge revolution reflected through “artificial intelligence.”

She added: “After the pandemic, we are looking for digital business innovation to unite markets and move from one place to another, taking advantage of the situation in the region. To do this, mechanisms must be used based on the financial reality and political changes in the countries.” Consequently, the “country brand” is essential and “favors the business climate and allows a stable tax regime.”

For her part, Ana Navarro Ramos (Spain), Director of Protocol of the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business, presented the topic “Women as ambassadors of change: Impact on international protocol.” She emphasised that she “plays a vital role in all areas of society. “We play a significant role in the current vicissitudes.” She recounted her career as a member of the Spanish army in the European Union and indicated that there are multiple missions abroad in which women participate. She explained that 35 years have passed since the female military presence in Spain. She also shared her expertise in the Ministry of Defence protocol area and her countless functions with foreign delegations.

The protocol is the “first face of the institution to the outside,” she highlighted. She said, “the national holiday is an important event that unites the Spanish people and is characterised by the military parade led by the kings.” She recounted her journey in other government sectors that allowed her to “explore the concept of protocol, get to know the world, participate in events and extend my vision of protocol” and, in addition, prepare business events and ministerial summits. At the end, she asked herself, “Where are they? In 2018, an initiative was created to promote its visibility through advertising actions.” She highlighted: “Women have empathy, a unique perspective, effective communication, creativity and expression and, in addition, communicative leadership.”

Edith Cortelezzi (Argentina), a trainer at the ISEN Institute, discussed the topic “Business Protocol”. In her presentation, she emphasised specifying that the protocol and ceremonies are updated and not out of fashion. “Today, there is a protocol for the digital world, cell phones, and computers. Now, women also handle these issues, and they are not exclusive to men as they were for a long time,” she pointed out. People increasingly understand the validity and magnitude of the protocol in commercial travel. She stressed: “Women must value the collaboration of men in a woman’s life.” She emphasised the importance of appreciating and recommending the permanent application of protocol, good manners and courtesy above time and distances.

Likewise, Emilia Zaballos (Spain), president of Zeballos Abogados, supported the presentation “If you want it, you have it!” She began by remembering that we always talk about “equality.” She stated: “Equality is giving everyone the same instruments to achieve what they want. Each one will see how far he can go depending on our capabilities and commitments.” She alluded to the disproportion and indifference to current social problems.

When presenting her experience, he commented: “My soul projection has been the Foundation for Constitutional Rights, which is now well established in the Spanish community, to help change the reality that affects certain human groups. She stressed the imperative of including social commitment and sharing our experiences to serve the common good. “Give back to the community what we have achieved in life. In my life, values such as courage, perseverance and training have helped me understand at the beginning of our careers and learn daily. Have the will to collect what contributes to our survival,” she stressed. She ended by referring to the need to accentuate the participation of women. “We must be better, compete and know how to give recognition. When they are the best, they must make them known, and they will be visible, making it easier for them to continue fighting to fulfil their dreams.”

In short, a successful contest – “made with the heart”, according to Adriana Flores – filled with enriching learning, experiences, reflections and contributions aimed at revaluing the performance of women; an opportunity to collect instructive experiences that inspire us to continue in this ongoing fight for gender parity. Your involvement will contribute to defining a fair, empathetic world framed by values that are unavoidable to recognise and encourage, such as reciprocity, respect, and acceptance.

Let us have the unwavering determination to strengthen will, perseverance, and dedication to this noble and imperious task. In this sense, the expressions of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, come to mind: “Gender equality is more than an objective in itself. It is a precondition to face the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, and building good government.”