Some events stay with you long after they end. Not because of the speeches or the panels, but because of the people, the conversations, and the small moments that quietly change how you see the world. For me, the Creative Women Forum became one of those moments.
It was a space where leadership, sustainability and change were not just topics on a program, but instead they were lived experiences unfolding in real time. Over the course of the forum, three encounters in particular reshaped how I think about responsibility, contribution and what it really means to lead in a rapidly evolving world.
I arrived on the first day full of anticipation. I expected to listen, learn and take notes on conversations about leadership, sustainability and global change.
But as the forum began, I made a quiet decision: I didn’t want to only absorb information. I wanted to observe the atmosphere around me, the interactions between people, the energy in the room, and the subtle moments where ideas turned into inspiration.
A Girl in the Front Row
She was only 15 years old, sitting in the front row, confidently participating in the conversation. When she spoke, people listened. She shared her ideas openly, asked thoughtful questions, and the room responded with genuine attention and respect.
Watching her was a powerful moment for me. It made me realize something simple but important: youth participation is not really about age, titles, or waiting for permission. It’s about trust. It’s about creating spaces where young people are not only invited to speak, but are truly heard.
Young people in Saudi Arabia were not standing on the sidelines observing the conversation, but they were a part of it. They were contributing ideas, challenging perspectives, and helping shape discussions about innovation and the future. Because when young voices are taken seriously, participation stops being symbolic. It becomes real.
A Young Woman Finding Belonging
Another conversation that stayed with me was with a young migrant woman who had come to Saudi Arabia searching for direction.
She spoke honestly about the uncertainty she felt when she first arrived. Navigating a new environment, a new culture. Yet as she described her journey, what stood out most was the sense of belonging she had gradually discovered.
She told me that empowerment was not something that had been promised to her in words. It was something she experienced through opportunity. As she was included in conversations and initiatives helped her build the confidence to invest in her own future, she began to see possibilities for herself that she had not imagined before. Through meaningful participation felt in everyday life, people choose to grow and to contribute.
Her story made me reflect on how powerful it can be when people feel seen and valued in their communities. Empowerment, I realized, is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it happens quietly when someone is given a chance, when they are trusted, when they are encouraged to grow.
Her conversation stayed with me because it reminded me that belonging is not only about where we come from. It is also about where we are given the opportunity to contribute and build something meaningful.
A Woman Who Spoke Beyond Titles
Dr. Al Hazzaa is known as one of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering medical leaders, an internationally respected ophthalmologist who has dedicated her career to advancing medical research, education, and healthcare. Over the years, she has not only broken barriers for women in medicine, but also opened pathways for future generations of scientists and professionals.
Yet what resonated with me most was not her achievements, but the perspective she shared. She spoke about something many young people quietly struggle with, the feeling that our worth is tied to titles, positions, or recognition, but her message challenged that idea.
She reminded us that our value is not granted by institutions or job titles and therefore it cannot be taken away by them. Influence, she said, begins from within.
Listening to her, I found myself thinking about how often young people, especially students feel that their contributions must wait until they are older, more experienced, or more established. But her words suggested something different. She spoke about empowerment not as something external, but as something deeply internal. A sense of purpose, creativity, and conviction that exists regardless of the labels attached to us.
Her own life reflected that philosophy. Through decades of dedication to science, research, and education, she had built a career defined by impact rather than status. She emphasized curiosity, discipline, and humanity as the foundations of leadership.
As I listened, it became clear that empowerment does not begin the moment we achieve something impressive. It begins the moment we recognize our own value.
What I Took With Me
The three women I encountered represented very different stages of life. One was a teenager confidently stepping into conversations about the future. Another was a young migrant discovering belonging and purpose. And the third was a globally respected leader whose life’s work has shaped opportunities for others.
Yet all three reflected the same truth. When people are trusted and taken seriously, they show up fully. For me, the experience reshaped how I think about sustainability and leadership. It is not only about systems, policies, or institutions. It is about creating environments where people feel empowered to contribute, grow, and make a difference.
Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls for gender equality, ensuring women’s full participation and leadership across every sector. When empowerment is reflected the impact can be profound.
Those simple moments that intersect during my role at the event are like a snowball; they start small and may seem subtle moments if we don't pause to reflect on them,until they gather and grow into something full of momentum, as a grand sphere.
And as a young woman, I left with a new understanding of what empowerment can look like. Sometimes it begins with a voice in the front row. Sometimes it begins with finding belonging in a new place. And sometimes it begins with realizing that the value we bring to the world has always been within us.
About the Joint SDG Fund’s Youth Corner:
The Youth Corner is a platform hosted by the Joint SDG Fund to amplify youth voices, celebrate their impact, and foster meaningful engagement in sustainable development. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Joint SDG Fund, the United Nations, or its partners. View the extended version of the website policies here.
