By Efe Onodjae
Renowned actress and entrepreneur, Carolyna Hutchings, has been honoured with the Award for Excellence in Creative Arts and Enterprise Achievement at the 2026 She Boss Global Retreat held in Doha, Qatar.
Dr Hutchings, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hutchings Limited, received the award in recognition of her contributions to the African real estate and construction sectors, as well as her commitment to promoting cross-border economic empowerment.
The retreat, organised by Glitz Africa in partnership with the Qatari Businesswomen Association, attracted a host of influential African female leaders across diverse sectors.
Among the notable awardees was media entrepreneur, Toyosi Etim-Effiong, who received the Award for Excellence in Marketing and Media Solutions, further highlighting the growing impact of Nigerian women in the global creative and corporate space.
Speaking at the event held at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha, Dr Hutchings addressed C-suite executives and business founders on the theme, “Trade, Investment, and Bridging International Gaps.”
She urged African brands seeking global relevance to maintain control of their narratives.
“Your identity is defined once, but your expression evolves forever,” she said. “As African brands scale, the greatest risk is not a lack of opportunity, but losing control of your narrative. We must build systems that allow our brands to travel globally without being translated incorrectly.”
The high-profile retreat also featured prominent personalities including Juliet Ibrahim, Aliyah Harris and celebrated dancer Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, underscoring the expanding footprint of African professionals within the Middle East business environment.
A major highlight of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Jane John-Lewis, during which Dr Hutchings unveiled her “Filter” philosophy for navigating global consumer behaviour.
“You don’t chase trends; you filter them. Trends are signals, not instructions. Every decision must pass through a simple filter: does this strengthen long-term trust or merely chase short-term attention? If it erodes identity, we protect. If it deepens trust, we evolve,” she stated.
The 2026 She Boss Global Retreat was described as a strategic platform aimed at fostering investment linkages between Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Observers noted that her participation signals increasing interest by Nigerian-led conglomerates in exploring opportunities within GCC markets.
Reflecting on the collaboration between African innovation and Qatari enterprise, she said, “In markets like Doha, excellence is not optional, it is expected. By aligning our core values with global standards, we ensure that African-led brands do not just participate in the global economy, but lead it.”
The event ended with a gala night celebrating the award recipients, further strengthening ties between African business leaders and their international counterparts.
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