Kuwait (American University of Kuwait) AUK Invited by Montclair State University’s Women Entrepreneurship Week
AUK was invited by Montclair State University’s Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to partake in their 9th annual Women Entrepreneurship Week. Hundreds of colleges and universities globally participate in this event, celebrating female founders within different communities.
The College of Business and Economics (CBE) at AUK collaborated with the Women Empowerment Club to host a panel discussion in the AUK theater that was moderated by Dr. Salime Smadi, associate professor of organizational behavior; Dr. Mariam Al-Sabah, assistant professor of finance and marketing; and Dr. Sarah Al-Shamali, assistant professor of marketing.
The panel discussion featured three Kuwaiti entrepreneurs: Maryam Alkhatrash, executive producer and co-showrunner of office-based sitcom “Taqdeer Al Ehteyaj,”and previous co-founder of the boutique advertising agency, “The Bustop”; Shaikha AlSabah, social activist and founder of a center for women and children in Kabul, Afghanistan; and Haya AlNeama, AUK alumna and owner of three businesses based in Kuwait and Qatar. Also featured was Retaj AlJandal, the president of the Women Empowerment Club and a freshman at AUK.
Discussions revolved around what defines a successful female entrepreneur, the challenges women face in the business world, how to balance work and leisure, and how social responsibility should always be incorporated within businesses.
Dr. Shihanah, assistant dean of CBE and assistant professor of marketing, highlighted the value of having events that are inclusive of representations of entrepreneurs, “CBE believes that an entrepreneurial journey can be a wonderful inspiration to students, the wider campus community, and the network of international partners. The event not only highlights the achievements of female entrepreneurs in Kuwait but raises students’ awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations. The event focuses on SDG Goal 5, which revolves around ‘achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where students were able to further benefit from the speakers’ experiences.