By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter
Arab women, especially the youth, now have more opportunities in business and entrepreneurship in the country, according to Qatar Businesswomen Association (QWBA) chairperson Aisha Alfardan.
Aisha made the statement on the sidelines of the second edition of QWBA’s mentoring programme dubbed, “Walk and Talk” held at the Aspire Zone yesterday to mark the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8.
She said the entry of more women into the "field of business and entrepreneurship" had been gaining momentum and acceptance among their male counterparts in Qatar.
“There has been an increase in the number of women, who are interested in putting up their own businesses. They are well-educated and have the passion to pursue their goals. They have been working hard to reach their objectives despite the challenges they face along the way,” Aisha Alfardan told Gulf Times.
Asked what type of business, women in Qatar could pursue, she said that the market was ripe with opportunities. She stressed that “passion and interest” were the foundations of a woman’s success in business.
“Each woman has her own interest and passion to pursue what she loves. If a person is not interested in business, she will not succeed in the field she has chosen. Interest and passion are important factors for a businesswoman to last long in the industry,” she emphasised.
“They have to love the work first and most importantly, they have to be patient when pursuing a specific type of business.”
There is "no magic formula to a successful business", according to Aisha Alfardan.
“Putting up a business is not easy. And it does not flourish, say, in a year’s time. One year is not enough for one to become a millionaire or to become a successful businesswoman. It takes time for a business to pick up momentum, which is why patience is crucial. Sometimes you will lose (profit) or it would take several years before your business would pick-up,” she stressed.
When asked to explain why only a few women in the Gulf took on big-ticket projects, Aisha Alfardan said that tradition, culture, and opportunity had all played a crucial factor in delaying business opportunities for Arab women.
“Because women in this region have started late compared to the well-established businessmen in other countries thus, allowing women limited experience in the business. They need more time to build their confidence to pursue larger projects,” she said.
To address this, Aisha Alfardan said QBWA helped empower women through training, mentorship, and workshops “to enlighten them to take the right path that they are interested in.”
She added that QBWA was also establishing partnerships with different universities in Qatar to encourage more young women to pursue entrepreneurship.
Since it was first launched in November 2013, Aisha Alfardan said the QBWA aimed to make “Walk and Talk” an annual event. The mentoring programme was part of the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk held by 72,000 people from 53 countries yesterday.
In Qatar, around 100 women composed of business leaders, students, entrepreneurs, and members of the Global Ambassadors Mentoring Programme participated in the event.
Citing the goals of Vital Voices, Aisha Alfardan said the Global Mentoring Walk “convenes established women leaders and emerging women leaders to walk together in their community.”
“As they walk, they discuss their professional challenges and successes to establish a mentoring relationship. The Global Mentoring Walk is an opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s leadership and to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring,” she added.
Qatar Businesswomen Association chairperson Aisha Alfardan. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
