Under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned and the presence of H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al-Sada representing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry in Qatar, H.E. Abdallah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the Qatar International Business Women Forum was launched at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resorts on Monday, May 10, 2010 with the attendance of over 500 top officials, business women leaders and experts from Qatar and other Gulf and Arab countries.
The Forum concluded its sessions on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 and was organized by the Qatari Businesswomen Forum in collaboration with Interactive Business Network (IBN), Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group and Al Hasnaa magazine.
During the opening, the Forum organizers presented Awards to honor:
- H.E. Abdallah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar
- Sheikha Hessah Bint Khalifa Al-Thani, Former Special Rapporteur on Disability of the United Nations Commission for Social Development Qatar
- Mrs. Mary Macpherson, Program Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Businesswomen's Network, Vital Voices, USA
- Mrs. Aisha Al Fardan, Vice Chairman, Qatari Business Women Forum
The Forum included six panels in addition to the opening that discussed the following topics:
- Role of Women in Business and Investment: A Comparison between the Arab World and the West: How do women compare internationally in terms of their position and role in politics, business and society? What are the factors that have helped women progress in some countries and not others? What lessons can be learned from the activism and experience of western women to overcome obstacles facing Arab women?
- Coaching Women to Take Over Leadership in Business and Develop a Strong Image: How can the leadership capacities and potential of businesswomen be developed, and are there special training programs for that purpose?
- Women in Corporate Life: Bridging the Credibility Gap: Women, and especially the young educated generation, are increasingly part of corporate life, whether in Arab corporations or foreign companies. But have they proved up to the task and are they now in a position to compete with men for the top leadership positions?
- Women in Family Business: What role for women in family-owned enterprises? Will the ongoing process of transition of these enterprises from one generation to the next give women a more pivotal role in their management?
- Women Entrepreneurs: The Hurdles Race: Do businesswomen succeed in some sectors better than others? Are they better than men in certain business activities and initiatives? Is the role of women largely limited to the management of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)?
- Role of Businesswomen Organizations and Networks: What is the situation of businesswomen’s associations in the Arab countries and the world at large? Do they play an effective role? How can relations between these associations be activated?
