Ford Aims to Empower Upcoming Businesswomen in Saudi Arabia Through Henry Ford Entrepreneurship Academy | Middle East

Ford Motor Company Fund teams up with institution of higher education for women, Effat University, to focus on entrepreneurial training for women in the Kingdom
Jeddah-based workshops, taking place from March 7-9, will offer businesswomen in attendance the opportunity to attain the skills and knowledge that will help them succeed in the business world
Ford is recognising International Women’s Day on March 8 with a workshop catering to the growing number of Saudi women pushing boundaries by setting up small- and medium-sized enterprises

Ford is celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day with some of the brightest female minds in Saudi Arabia by hosting the first women-only Henry Ford Entrepreneurship Academy workshop with Effat University March 7-9.

International Women’s Day is not only an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate women’s contributions to the global workforce, but a chance to call on the masses to help forge a better, more inclusive, gender equal working world.

President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services Jim Vella, along with Simonetta Verdi, Director, Government and Community Relations for Ford Middle East and Africa, last week met with President of Effat University Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Malak Al Nory, Director of the Business Innovation Centre Dr. Muhammad Khan, and Executive Director of International Affairs Ms. Lisa Zuppe, to discuss the impact women have in business in Saudi Arabia, and the importance of supplying women in the Kingdom with the necessary tools to continue to make their mark in the local economy.

Effat University is the first private institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia. Its mission is to qualify tomorrow’s competitive leaders with a world-class education by providing an interdisciplinary environment conducive to research, community service, and life-long learning.

“Highly-educated women in Saudi Arabia have proven to be a leading force in the Kingdom’s business world and promising female entrepreneurs have become a growing public presence,” said Verdi. “The Henry Ford Entrepreneurship Academy workshops are designed to complement the work undertaken by the Saudi government, which has recently created programmes to encourage more female business owners to join the workforce.”

More than 60 per cent* of Saudi women have at least a graduate degree, but still most of them are unemployed, while around 63 per cent of Saudi women have unregistered yet successful businesses, and rely on mobile phones and personal computers to do business.

These are the women the HFEA hopes to instill with a range of vital new skills, tools and the entrepreneurial mind-set needed to nurture creative ideas, assessing the feasibility of their plans, and to help the budding entrepreneurs launch and grow new ventures.

“We are excited to collaborate with Henry Ford Entrepreneurship Academy to provide entrepreneurs in our community with useful programmes, and give them tools to lead their businesses to success,” said Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Dr. Al Nory. “Effat University takes pride in standing behind empowering women in Saudi Arabia ever since the university was established, and it is truly an honour to be part of this initiative.”

Confirming a desire to showcase the talents aspiring businesswomen in the Kingdom possess, more than 200 have enrolled for the first women-only HFEA workshop, and will be celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 with like-minded empowered individuals with Ford and Effat University in Jeddah.

Taking place over three days from March 7-9, 2017, the workshop’s participants will receive cutting-edge training from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Effat University professors and insights from local entrepreneurs on the steps and activities for creating and sustaining the new ventures.

Ford Motor Company and Ford Fund are providing an increasing number of opportunities around the world that assist women in reaching their full education, economic and social potential.

Benefiting from the experience of past HFEA workshops, HFEA, VCU and Effat University will offer a great opportunity for local future business leaders to excel in their endeavours, and influence them to think and act like entrepreneurs.

For the Arabic version of the release, please click here: Arabic

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford’s history in the Middle East goes back more than 60 years. The company’s local importer-dealers operate more than 155 facilities in the region and directly employ more than 7,000 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals. For more information on Ford Middle East, please visit www.me.ford.com.

Ford Middle East is also a responsible corporate citizen with currently three CSR initiatives running in the region including the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, Ford Warriors in Pink® breast cancer awareness campaign and Ford Driving Skills for Life safe driving awareness programme for young drivers and teens.