Qatar
Vodafone launches Qatari women’s sales channel
Vodafone launches Qatari women’s sales channel
February 02, 2011 | 12:00 AM
By Peter Townson
Vodafone Qatar yesterday launched its newest sales channel, Al Johara, consisting of a group of 21 Qatari women selling Vodafone products and services within their community.
The women, aged between 18 and 53, have been participating in a training programme for the last six months.
The project was initiated by Vodafone Qatar’s late CEO Graeme Maher, and his colleagues expressed their pride at following through a programme that was very close to his heart.
Vodafone human resource director Jan Mottram said: "Al Johara is very much in line with Vodafone’s approach to Qatarisation strategy and supports Qatar’s 2030 vision in the areas of human development.”
The team was managed by Susie Kelt, who described the challenges associated with creating a group of women who could represent the brand in a professional manner, but retain their cultural integrity and dignity while so doing.
"Vodafone is extremely proud of Al Johara’s success - I am personally so impressed with their tenacity and adaptability; the Al Johara women have all reached or exceeded their goals and milestones they set on the first day of training,” she said.
Describing the course as "a rollercoaster ride,” she said apart from the language barrier, a major challenge was fitting the course and the work into the women’s daily lives.
Al Johara’s members face a number of challenges on a daily basis, balancing their roles as mothers, wives and pillars of their family communities, Kelt said, noting that between them, the women have 43 children, with three babies being born over the past three months of the course itself.
She congratulated the team on completing module one and said the group had started module two.
The course was going very well, she added.
Although there are plans for other women to get involved in the future, Kelt said Vodafone would be concentrating on this group for at least the next year, helping to ensure they have sustainable business plans and strong futures.
She thanked CEO John Tombleson for his support, and also the families of the women who she described as "truly supportive” of the women’s efforts.
Al Johara member Maha al-Marri said joining Vodafone has made a huge difference to her life, as she has learnt a lot from balancing her university studies and her work.
"I have been able to build and improve a lot of my skills,” she said, adding that the experience has significantly improved her self-confidence.
| Vodafone Qatar officials announce the launch of their newest sales channel, Al Johara yesterday |
The women, aged between 18 and 53, have been participating in a training programme for the last six months.
The project was initiated by Vodafone Qatar’s late CEO Graeme Maher, and his colleagues expressed their pride at following through a programme that was very close to his heart.
Vodafone human resource director Jan Mottram said: "Al Johara is very much in line with Vodafone’s approach to Qatarisation strategy and supports Qatar’s 2030 vision in the areas of human development.”
The team was managed by Susie Kelt, who described the challenges associated with creating a group of women who could represent the brand in a professional manner, but retain their cultural integrity and dignity while so doing.
"Vodafone is extremely proud of Al Johara’s success - I am personally so impressed with their tenacity and adaptability; the Al Johara women have all reached or exceeded their goals and milestones they set on the first day of training,” she said.
Describing the course as "a rollercoaster ride,” she said apart from the language barrier, a major challenge was fitting the course and the work into the women’s daily lives.
Al Johara’s members face a number of challenges on a daily basis, balancing their roles as mothers, wives and pillars of their family communities, Kelt said, noting that between them, the women have 43 children, with three babies being born over the past three months of the course itself.
She congratulated the team on completing module one and said the group had started module two.
The course was going very well, she added.
Although there are plans for other women to get involved in the future, Kelt said Vodafone would be concentrating on this group for at least the next year, helping to ensure they have sustainable business plans and strong futures.
She thanked CEO John Tombleson for his support, and also the families of the women who she described as "truly supportive” of the women’s efforts.
Al Johara member Maha al-Marri said joining Vodafone has made a huge difference to her life, as she has learnt a lot from balancing her university studies and her work.
"I have been able to build and improve a lot of my skills,” she said, adding that the experience has significantly improved her self-confidence.
February 02, 2011 | 12:00 AM