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Mila Semeshkina, founder and CEO of Lectera, the Women’s Empowerment Council, and WE Convention, has been named to Gulf Business magazine’s Top 50 Leaders and CEOs of 2026 list.

In its profile, Gulf Business describes Semeshkina as an international entrepreneur, investor, EdTech innovator, and leader working at the intersection of education, executive skills development, and women’s economic empowerment. The publication highlights her contribution to practical online education, her advocacy for lifelong learning, and her work in building a global ecosystem for women leaders and entrepreneurs.

One of Semeshkina’s flagship projects is Lectera, an international learning platform serving more than 7 million users worldwide. Under her leadership, Lectera has developed multilingual programs in business, sales, digital marketing, leadership, financial literacy, career development, and soft skills.

Gulf Business also emphasizes the importance of this educational model for human capital development, particularly across the GCC, where innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development remain strategic priorities. In this context, Lectera is positioned not only as an educational product, but also as part of a broader professional development infrastructure.

Beyond EdTech, the publication recognizes Semeshkina’s role in developing the Women’s Empowerment Council and WE Convention, an international community that brings together more than 50,000 women leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and public figures. The platform provides a space for networking, mentorship, knowledge exchange, and the development of leadership opportunities for women across different countries.

In 2026, Semeshkina’s strategic priorities include expanding access to practical education through Lectera and strengthening the international presence of the Women’s Empowerment Council.

One of the key upcoming events will be WE Convention 2026 in Dubai, taking place on November 28–29. The event is designed for women seeking not only inspiration, but also practical tools, meaningful knowledge exchange, and new opportunities for growth in business, leadership, technology, and the future of work.

The full Gulf Business profile of Mila Semeshkina is available on the publication’s official website: https://gulfbusiness.com/en/2026/lists/top-50-leaders-and-ceos-of-2026/mila-semeshkina/

Since the last WE Convention, which took place on November 1–2, 2025, in Dubai at the renowned Atlantis The Royal hotel, the event has continued to make headlines internationally: according to monitoring data, the conference has already received more than 70 million mentions in various media outlets and public spaces. This interest is particularly fueled by major business publications: Gulf Business, for example, published a detailed overview article on the WE Convention, covering all aspects of Mila Semeshkina’s innovative event in the field of women’s leadership.

The Gulf Business article highlights the scale of the event: more than 2,500 participants from 100 countries and over 100 speakers. Tickets sold out almost a month before the start! The 2025 program was held under the theme “ALL IN: Career, Money, and Life” and included dozens of formats — from grand performances by stars on the big stage and industry roundtables to workshops and mentoring meetings. Among the most anticipated figures at the forum, the publication highlights Dame Anna Wintour (global chief content officer at Vogue) and Candace Bushnell (author of the original Sex and the City book). The magazine also notes the participation of leaders from the public sector, business, culture, and sports.

Undoubtedly, WE Convention continues to reinforce its status as one of the key international platforms for discussing and advancing women’s leadership. And judging by the scale of the response and media coverage, the project has even more compelling stories, powerful headlines, and new achievements ahead.

Check out the full Gulf Business article on the WE Convention and the key figures at the forum at: https://gulfbusiness.com/dubais-we-convention-redefines-womens-leadership/

WE Convention 2025 received extensive coverage across leading media outlets — including a special on-site feature in the December issue of Inc. Arabia. The report captures the atmosphere and momentum of the conference, held on November 1–2, 2025 in Dubai, which brought together more than 2,500 participants, includingbusiness leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts, from over 100 countries. Once again, WE Convention affirmed its position as one of the world’s most influential platforms dedicated to women’s leadership, career growth, and financial independence.

At the core of the story are the women who took the WE Convention stage and the lessons they shared from their journeys to success. Inc. Arabia spotlights key participants including Mirna Arif (Microsoft), beauty entrepreneur Mina Al Sheikhly, Mary Gukasian (Kraft Heinz), Moon Baz (Meta), Vogue’s Global Editorial Director Anna Wintour, and WE Convention Founder Mila Semeshkina. The publication also notes a broader shift in modern leadership, increasingly shaped by empathy, personal values, and the ability to build strong, resilient teams.

The magazine further emphasized the depth and intensity of WE Convention 2025’s program, curated by WE Council around the theme All In: Career, Money, and Life. Across two days, participants explored the future of business, women’s role in innovation, artificial intelligence, brand building, and personal resilience, alongside dozens of workshops, panel discussions, and masterclasses. WE Convention once again reinforced its status as a landmark global event in the women’s leadership space a status Inc. Arabia both recognized and amplified through its dedicated coverage.

Read the full feature in the December issue of Inc. Arabia: https://online.fliphtml5.com/vehbh/IncArabia_Dec2025_Jan2026/#p=55

Mila Semeshkina, founder of the international educational platform Lectera and creator of the WE Council and the famous annual WE Convention, has been included in Entrepreneur Middle East’s The 100 list — a special edition dedicated to leaders shaping the future of the Gulf countries (the key states in the region are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and their neighbors). This recognition once again highlights Mila Semeshkina’s influence on the development of EdTech and projects that are changing the industry on a historic scale.

Entrepreneur Middle East notes her work as CEO of Lectera and her contribution to the creation of the international WE Council and WE Convention communities, which together promote access to education and the development of female leadership. Along with Mila, the special issue also features other female entrepreneurs: Noor Sweid (founder and managing partner of Global Ventures), Farah Zafar (co-founder and CEO of Lyvely), Joelle Mardinian (founder of Joelle Group), and Amira Sajwani (managing director of sales and development at DAMAC Properties, as well as founder of PRYPCO and Amali Properties).

The 100 project by Entrepreneur Middle East brings together visionaries, entrepreneurs, and innovators whose ideas and achievements set new standards for the region and stimulate market growth. Mila Semeshkina’s inclusion in this list is further confirmation of her status as one of the prominent international leaders in the field of education and women’s entrepreneurship.

You can find the full list and Mila Semeshkina’s story at:

Mila Semeshkina, founder of the international educational platform Lectera and the WE Council organization, has been included in the Power Women 50 list by Khaleej Times, one of the most renowned English-language publications in the UAE, which has been published in Dubai since 1978 and is considered one of the most prestigious English-language daily media outlets in the country. In its debut ranking, the editorial team selected female leaders who are currently setting the direction for the Emirates’ development in a wide range of areas, from government decisions and diplomacy to technology, education, culture, sports, healthcare, and public initiatives.

The list includes entrepreneurs and executives whose work has been highly praised for their economic contribution to the UAE, the introduction of innovations, or the social changes they have initiated. Along with Mila Semeshkina, the list also includes: H.E. Reem Al Hashimy (UAE Minister of International Cooperation), H.E. Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei (UAE Minister of Entrepreneurship), H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui (UAE Minister of Community Development; COP28 Youth Climate Champion; Chair of the Zayed University Board of Trustees), H.E. Mona Al Marri (Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council; Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council), Ola Younis Doudin (Co-founder and CEO of BitOasis), Melike Kara (CEO of e& Money), Nadine Mezher (co-founder of Sarwa and NAWA), Sahar Cooper (CEO of ALDAR Education), as well as Katy Holmes (CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai) and many other brilliant and remarkable women leaders.

See the full list of Power Women 50 at:

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/leadership/top-leaders/power-women-50-uaes-most-influential-female-leaders?_refresh=true

Mila Semeshkina, CEO and Founder of the WE Convention, has been honored with the title of “Woman Leader of the Year” at the Gulf Business Awards 2025. This prestigious annual event, recognized as the leading platform in the region for celebrating excellence, highlights the outstanding achievements of companies and individuals across the Gulf countries. The award acknowledges relentless dedication, innovation, and leadership that significantly contribute to the region’s economic development, offering winners the opportunity to stand among the most influential figures in the Gulf.

The Gulf Business Awards 2025 ceremony took place on September 24 at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, bringing together business leaders, innovators, and visionaries who are shaping the future of the region. Winners were selected by an independent panel of esteemed judges, including: Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief, Motivate Media Group; Mishal Kanoo, Chairman, Kanoo Group; Jawad Jalal Abbassi, Head of MENA, GSMA; Renita Dass, Partner and Senior Vice President, Frost & Sullivan; Gareth van Zyl, Group Editor, Gulf Business.

Mila Semeshkina’s win in such a significant category highlights her remarkable contribution to business development and her exceptional leadership, which has made a profound impact on the industry. Ian Fairservice remarked, “Over more than a decade, these awards have become the benchmark of excellence, recognizing visionaries, trailblazers, and organizations that are shaping the region’s future.” This recognition is not only a personal milestone for Mila but also a landmark achievement for the entire WE Convention community, whose core mission is to expand the global network of women leaders and empower female voices around the world.

Inc. Arabia, the Middle Eastern edition of the renowned American business magazine Inc., has included Mila Semeshkina — founder and CEO of the international educational platform Lectera — in its list of the Most Influential Women of 2025.

In her interview, Mila shared her inspiring journey from employee to entrepreneur, the challenges she faced in transforming her mindset, and valuable advice for those just starting their business path.

She emphasized that one of the toughest yet most important decisions in her career was leaving employment to build her own company — a transition that required a complete shift in thinking and professional identity.

Mila also highlighted the growing role of women in business ecosystems worldwide, stressing that their influence will only accelerate in the coming years as female leaders not only build companies but also foster supportive communities and healthier workplace cultures.

“Looking back, I would give my younger self from ten years ago one key piece of advice: believe in yourself, trust your strength, and have confidence, and you will succeed,” Mila told Inc. Arabia.

Read the full interview with Mila Semeshkina on the official Inc. Arabia website: link.