Women Of Influence 2025: Hub71's Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri

As the Head of Value Creation at Hub71, Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri has been fostering connections between startups, corporates, and regulators at Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem since she joined the team almost four years ago. “The most important decision in my professional journey was my choice to join Hub71,” she tells Inc. Arabia. “This decision was guided by two fundamental principles I have consistently valued: making a positive impact on people’s lives, and leveraging my knowledge and experience to drive that impact.”

Coming from an entrepreneurial family, AlDhaheri gained early insights into business from her father—an influence that significantly shaped her career direction. She also worked for nearly 11 years at the Abu Dhabi-headquartered Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, an experience she credits with opening her eyes to the unique needs and challenges of startups in the UAE. “At Hub71, I’ve been able to leverage my background effectively, facilitating market access, securing investments, and enabling regulatory advancements, ultimately creating tangible growth opportunities for startups,” AlDhaheri says. “This decision has allowed me to merge my personal passion for impactful work with my professional capabilities, marking a decisive and rewarding turning point in my career.”

AlDhaheri’s efforts at Hub71, which have included creating synergies between startups and corporate partners and engineering collaborations between startups and government bodies, have played an instrumental role in bolstering the innovation ecosystem in the UAE capital. One of her proudest achievements, she shares, has been facilitating the Angel Investor Package, which she believes has helped to create a more conducive environment for early-stage investment activity in Abu Dhabi. “A positive outcome from this initiative is Qora71, the region’s fastest-growing angel investment network that launched with support from Hub71, and was recently acquired by Stryde [a UAE-based digital investment platform] and rebranded as Stryde71. This initiative significantly enhanced early-stage investment activity in the region and empowered high-net-worth individuals to actively participate in the tech ecosystem as investors.”

But AlDhaheri’s vision of a thriving ecosystem extends beyond investors and startups—it is also about ensuring that women have a stronger role within it. “The growing role of women of influence in the tech industry has uniquely contributed to fostering greater inclusivity and empathy within the business ecosystem,” she says. “At Hub71, for instance, we’ve actively onboarded numerous female founders, highlighting our intentional efforts towards greater gender representation in a traditionally male-dominated field. Women in leadership roles bring a distinct approach characterized by resilience, empathy, and a focus on relationship-building. These traits are particularly valuable in fields like value creation, where successful collaboration relies heavily on understanding diverse perspectives and effectively managing stakeholder relationships.”

From AlDhaheri’s perspective, the business ecosystem has generally reacted positively to the increasing role of women in tech. “There is a noticeable shift towards prioritizing capability and talent over gender, reducing historical biases and resistance,” she notes. “Organizations, particularly within fields like data science and investment, are increasingly recognizing and valuing the contributions women make, resulting in greater acceptance and more diverse hiring practices.” Plus, as more female leaders become visible, AlDhaheri notes that they are leading by example and paving the way for others to follow. “Women in leadership positions profoundly impact other women by building confidence, providing inspiration, and creating an empowering environment,” she says. “Witnessing women succeed in influential roles encourages other women to aspire and pursue similar or greater achievements. This collective empowerment creates an uplifting environment, driving continuous personal and professional growth among women in the industry.”

Lessons Learned: Q&A with Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri

Looking back on your journey, if there is one piece of advice you’d give yourself before you embarked on your career, what would that be? Additionally, if you could go back in time and tell yourself something that you should avoid or simply not do, what would that be?

Reflecting on my journey, if I could give one piece of advice to myself before starting my career, it would be to never underestimate the impact of even the smallest actions. Often, something you might perceive as minor, such as making an introduction or sharing a piece of advice, can profoundly influence someone's life. I've learned from experience that seemingly small gestures or connections can lead to significant positive outcomes. Recognizing and valuing the impact you can have, no matter how modest it may seem at first, is incredibly important.

Additionally, something I would tell myself to avoid would be underestimating my own abilities and potential. Early in my career, I sometimes doubted my capacity or held back from fully expressing my authentic self. My advice would be to embrace authenticity fully, as each individual's uniqueness is precisely what makes them valuable. Avoiding self-doubt and confidently being true to oneself can open doors to greater opportunities and meaningful achievements.

Pictured in the lead image is Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri, Head of Value Creation at Hub71. Image courtesy Hub71.

Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri was one of the female leaders celebrated in Women of Influence, a special list built for Inc. Arabia's August 2025 issue. For the full list, please click here.