Arab Women in Computing & IT - Challenges & Opportunities

Women  Entrepreneurs  in  the  Arab  World  Experience

by  @rchakakiMay  25  2013at  NYUAD

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Monday, May 27, 13

I use a new version of Presentations .. in an age of shrinking attention spans.. pictures speak a thousand words.. so here it is.. in pictures..for all the reasons Rhoda, Sana and Nadereh listed.. I will start with my role model.. but first..

Contributions

• Egypt -Reham Nasser - HP Enterprise Services

• Jordan - Salwa Katkhuda - Oasis 500

• Marianne A. Azer, - Assistant Professor, School of Communications and IT - Nile University Egypt

• Palestine - Abeer D. Abu Ghaith - Stay Linked

• Saudi -Badir Program - Noor A. Al-Abdulkarim

• UAE - Zayed University - Dr. Manar Abu Talib & Dr. Muna Barachi

Monday, May 27, 13Thank you to all who contributed.. Their perspectives on challenges helped formulate the presentation.

Monday, May 27, 13

This was my role model.. my grandmother was the one of the first female glider pilots in the Arab World. Her plane crashed, and after her recovery she flew again.

Therefore I have a genetic bias towards seeing the positive. Consider this a disclaimer..

On Sana’s recommendations, I have presented the collective sighted challenges. But I will state up front that I see them as opportunities and will present examples of how entrepreneurs in the region have tackled these challenges.

For every one example there are 5-10 others that I haven’t presented..

Examine the narrative - the challengechange the way you look at things and the things you look at change

Monday, May 27, 13

I’d like to suggest that our primary challenge is in our resistance to change our perspective. I’m betting my career on it! There are challenges.. but there are solutions to every challenge.

My experience summarized by the next photo further solidifies my commitment to intelligent optimism.

Monday, May 27, 13

1 million dollars in a year in online fundraising, a 2 fold growth in the endowment while spending on treatment of hundreds of children and building a cancer treatment center and a cardiac treatment center. Tech-enabled organization & campaigning.

Monday, May 27, 13

1. Last year, at the conference, a speaker from AUB Opened my eyes to this fact. The Killer of innovation in our world = CONSUMER CULTURE - we are raising consumers instead of producers with management experience..

Monday, May 27, 13

You learn to manage if you start early and practice.. Management Experience.. in the US, they are starting businesses as early as age 7.

Here’s a business I learned about recently in the US.

Monday, May 27, 13

This was started by a 7-year old.

Started barakabits an online news source that enables youth to contribute content and be creators rather than content consumers.

Intelligent Optimism - The other narrative - Good News from the Middle East

barakabits

hopeful

aspirational

inspirations

intelligent

spirited

sustainable

traditional

fun

creative

healthy

collaborative

GOOD

inspirations

clean

Monday, May 27, 13

Reaching out to schools and universities to get contributions from students. before they get jaded, become negative and demoralized.

Monday, May 27, 13

2. Financial Acumen of Entrepreneurs was another reason sighted by researchers - A general lack of understanding of investment.. Nima saw it as an opportunity

Monday, May 27, 13

She educates people of all ages and social groups on managing their finance through a web platform and off line events. By engaging mainstream business with UAE Save Week and other activities on cashy, Nima created a “different” sustainability model for her company.. NO investors.. All sponsors.

Monday, May 27, 13

3. Access to finance is another challenge - only 5% successfully attained funding. Most do financial Management by crisis, paying from their own pockets till they’re dry. Women Entrepreneurs don’t know how to ask without feeling shy about it

Monday, May 27, 13

A network of women (some featured above) collaborate and created a WOMEN CENTRIC INVESTMENT Network - The women entrepreneurs adopt and encourage a collaborative culture as well as finance others.

Monday, May 27, 13

4. GOVERNMENT & LEGAL - Navigating the legal system to license a business

Monday, May 27, 13

Take the path of least resistance.. You are not breaking the law by starting your prototype before you register. You only need the law when you start making money.

The little Engineer founder - Rana El Chamaitelly showed us how to build first then structure. When she presented at the 4site forum in 2009, she didn’t have a business, but had already done a few competitions with schools. - LEGAL..

To do that.. you need Gumption, perseverance, communication skills, relations with the media..

Monday, May 27, 13

6. MOUNTING SOCIAL CHALLENGES - inadequately addressed by society and government. Social entrepreneurs.. trying to solve them with technology.

They either view you as competition or don’t understand the sector.. eEducation, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, gaming .. let alone any innovative devices are unheard of and don’t have licenses.

Monday, May 27, 13

Ingy Ghuzlan is one of the co-founders of Harras Map.. like many other young ladies throughout the region, she is taking advantage of the perceived “Disadvantage”. She’s changing the narrative and using technology to do so..

Monday, May 27, 13

7, COMPETITION & Unattractive market for women - View that the market is Highly competitive.. when in fact there’s tremendous opportunity in green field spaces

Monday, May 27, 13

1. Understand the competition.. WAMDA RESEARCH - why are girls opting out of computing?

2. if it’s staying at home.. then give them alternatives of working part-time, examples of women who started computer business, worked from home..

3. Who are their role models in the field?

Monday, May 27, 13Dropouts are at the top of the field! Great business role models.. they had valid reasons for leaving school, our youth don’t know the reasons and circumstances.

Monday, May 27, 13

Bring the private sector to universities - THE SMEs & new sector companies - Cross pollenate incubators - engage mainstream business with university with social entrepreneurs and government in one go. Reaching out and connecting with Uni students to solve problems in hiring.. and build capacity at a younger age.

Monday, May 27, 13

Showcase workspaces.. this is GOOGLE’s space.. make it fun, and make it simple.. and attainable.. this isn’t just for companies in high income places.. this applies to palestinian territories and Irbil..

Monday, May 27, 13

Glam sells! Not advocating that all CS women & entrepreneurs look like this, but these are people they aspire to be emulate. Make it look good for aspiring teenagers. Marissa Mayer. These are not the images of CEOs of tech companies in the arab world, but some should be.

Monday, May 27, 13

8. COMPETITION & women not supporting each other.. - Unfortunately women aren’t always supportive of each other in the work place, it all depends on the personality. says Marianne Azer Assistant Prof. IT & Comm. - Nile University - Egypt this was paralleled by research from the UAE (Anonymous respondent). Fact in some places, but can be influenced to change.. more importantly..

Monday, May 27, 13

evident by the success of the online campaign for “intifadat almar’ah” a viral network that is strong among arab women and their supporters..

That’s one small example of a huge collaborative movement in the tech / web space. We are connectors.

Monday, May 27, 13

Other examples exist in SA, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain. We collaborate with women across the region who support us in proposals, grant requests, training and countless other activities.. Grow the pie, and show how collaboration helps all.

Monday, May 27, 13

9. Language is a barrier for most of the population.. whether they speak arabic OR english and target an arab audience.

Monday, May 27, 13

This time last year, we met one example of a solution for language barrier, there are many others relevant to the problems identified.

Monday, May 27, 13

11. Salwa Katkhuda of Oasis500 sighted the following challenges in her research..

Long working hoursTransportationBeing taken seriouslyWorking side-by-side with men Stereotyping “weaker gender”

Social restrictions “family roles” - is an issue imposed by families and witnessed by employees as noted by a participant in the UAE Research

Working outside the home.. this was paralleled by views from the UAE.. Fatima Al Dhaheri a network engineer from AD Marine Operating company.. “can’t go to oil drilling sites to do work”

Monday, May 27, 13

Again an opportunity! for Jordan.. If lady-driven taxis exist in the UAE and solve the transport issue for young college females, then the same can work in Jordan.. doesn’t solve all the problems, but you see where I’m going.. there are solutions to any problem. It’s a matter of perspective.

Saudi and Palestine’s transportation issues are another story...

Monday, May 27, 13

It is just not happening in Saudi.. Women’s mobility is limited. SO WHAT?

Monday, May 27, 13

The book states that being isolated from their neighbors, economic sanctions and immobility as the reason why their telecom, mobile and distance learning sectors have thrived.

highest consumption of youtube in the world is SAUDI - arabnetMonday, May 27, 13

78% of the population penetration - saudi satire programs are all over youtube.. started by women, funded by women, hosted by women. more can be done..

building channelsbuilding video related productsbuilding video related mobile apps

Monday, May 27, 13

In Palestine the issue of transportation is huge. Entrepreneurs can spend hours a day on Qalandia and other checkpoints. They live in Isolation from Role Models, Mentors and sponsors. But also their business!

67 women gave birth at the checkpoint in 5 years! Someone saw this as an opportunity..

Monday, May 27, 13

Visualizing Palestine co-founder Joumana Jabri creates infographics from big-data about palestine social challenges and spreads them on the web using social networks. There are many like her.. so .. Support social entrepreneurs with technology. Help them solve or shed light on our social and environmental challenges.

Monday, May 27, 13

On the same issue of “hanging out at checkpoints” a conversation with the Welfare Association’s Youth Employment Services The Audibale Idea came up. - Masmoo3.com is out there.. If you’re stuck at a checkpoint, listen to a book on audio. Get an education in the car. It’s not the ideal situation, but it is a creative solution.

Monday, May 27, 13

Odeh Quraan who’s supported by the Welfare Association's Investment in Entrepreneurs didn’t find information locally, and couldn’t travel.. online universities and open source forums. SELF Taught.. now teaching others.. because we have him in the media spotlight.. team is 50% female

Monday, May 27, 13

12. A “brick and mortar” investment ecosystem favoring tangible easily understood, and well packaged investments That coupled with A push to invest abroad - banks securing their investments in silicon valley rather than silicon oasis

Monday, May 27, 13

• We must showcase the “Geek” community & culture - Arabnet is starting it.. but we need more of it, a school levels, and more.. make it tangible.. Convince friends and family before seeking outside funding. use the media to reach a broader audience..

featured 120 tech entrepreneurs on radio

Monday, May 27, 13

This time last year I recommended we engage the media.. since then, we have used our platform on the radio to feature nearly 120 tech & IT entrepreneurs

Monday, May 27, 13

There’s a wealth of untapped stories.. and a starved media.. within 2 years we had our stories on CNN, BBC, TED, Forbes, Grazia, MBC, The National, WSJ and others.. fill channels with

Monday, May 27, 13

• Communication skills training, support & media platforms

GROWING THE PIE

Monday, May 27, 13

We have Startup nations and we have a wealth of opportunity to create companies in education, social, economical, environmental

There’s a global trend to look at women different.. BCG sponsored a bookWe are not men who wear skirts! its a huge market... creating products by women for women..

Monday, May 27, 13

Alexandra Tohmeh - founder of The Perfect fit is tapping into the largest purchasing market in the region with her eCommerce site after finding out that Victoria’s Secrete success in the Saudi market.

Monday, May 27, 13

Founders of Super Mama Yasmine. Mehairy and Zeinab Samir are taking advantage of untapped markets and using their strength in numbers as a competitive advantage

a global competitive disadvantage

Arab . Female . Scientist . Entrepreneur . Emerging Market

Monday, May 27, 13

Change the narrative means looking at our “labels and challenges as strengths”.. The media loves Buzzwords, labels, stereotypes.. use them to our advantage to gain traction..

Monday, May 27, 13This woman knows how to do it. She’s Arab - Female - Scientist - Entrepreneur - in a Green-field

There’s a buzz around entrepreneurship globally... tap into it.Entrants into science are on the decline globally.. conservation and affirmative action efforts.Women + Arab and you got the media’s attention..The web is virtually unexplored.. as are opportunities for women businesses on it. Example Glambox, Dia,

developments & recommendationsIt is in the contemplation of power that you manifest this power.

Monday, May 27, 13Focus on what’s going right and expand that rather than tackle the barriers. Examine success stories and grow them..

Monday, May 27, 13

• collaborate with Wamda and others - They’re helping women network across the region..

• SME funds across the region (MBC, Khalifa Fund, Others in BA, SA, QA)

• Tap into business plan competitions - Dubai University, Dubai4Acumen, MIT, NYUAD Hackathon

• incubators (SA, Egypt, LB, Jo)

Monday, May 27, 13

• coaching & mentoring (mowgli, C3, Dulani, iConsult) Focus on Building RIGHT skills - Capacity Building - work/life balance.. speaking in the board room, climbing the corporate ladder.. applying for research grants, networking, communicating in the media.. collaborating on research, Self-esteem & self-confidence development.. 

you can’t do it alone.. and without money..

Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

Monday, May 27, 13Social Enterprise Opportunity - GREEN FIELDS

See opportunity = not competition - Help existing organizations scale. Scaling the organization with a robust IT infrastructure in Palestine, using web tools, connecting to donors, building in-house competencies, big data analysis we see over 200 children a week in our medical field work. we have huge amounts of data on them.... medical research transformation to identify source and fix root of the problem.

Monday, May 27, 13Welfare30 - Envisioned and implemented a campaign to celebrate 30 years of achievement creates a storytelling platform featuring hundreds of stories from Palestine and launching the association into the digital age.

The change in narrative and positive focus yielded the organization 1.8 million USD in an event where expected returns were 300k USD. The Key difference, the way they communicated. POSITIVE. Now we’re working with them to grow that success through online fundraising and an angel investment network for entrepreneurs in Palestine.

Intelligent Optimism - The other narrative - Good News from the Middle East

barakabits

hopeful

aspirational

inspirations

intelligent

spirited

sustainable

traditional

fun

creative

healthy

collaborative

GOOD

inspirations

clean

Monday, May 27, 13

For the research, I ask you to simplify it, look for the positive and highlight it, couple all challenges with solutions. Thank you!

References

• What  the  Arab  Spring  has  done  for  women’s  equality,  in  one  chart  -­‐  h=p://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/10/25/what-­‐the-­‐arab-­‐spring-­‐has-­‐done-­‐for-­‐womens-­‐equality-­‐in-­‐one-­‐chart/

• Constraints  and  opportuniGes  facing  women  entrepreneurs  in  developing  countries:  A  relaGonal  perspecGve  -­‐  by  Dima  Jamali  -­‐  Olayan  School  of  Bussiness,  American  University  of  Beirut,  Beirut,  Lebanon  -­‐  h=p://eprints.soton.ac.uk/176955/1/ConstraintsandOpportuniGesFacingWomenEntrepreneurs.pdf

• Women  Entrepreneurs  in  the  Middle  East  and  North  Africa:  CharacterisGcs,  ContribuGons  and  Challenges  -­‐  h=p://www.cawtar.org/Assets/Documents/pdf/Women_Entrepreneurs_in_the_ME_Jun07.pdf

•  MoGvaGonal  Factors  for  Female  Entrepreneurs  in  the  United  Arab  Emirates  -­‐  h=p://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/?p=7797

• h=p://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/10/arab-­‐women/•  40%  of  entrepreneur  companies  in  Jordan  in  the  last  two  years  are  women  -­‐  h=p://www.alhurra.com/content/

itech-­‐techwomen-­‐usa-­‐arab-­‐women/222114.html• Empowering  Women  Entrepreneurs  in  the  Middle  East:  Sowing  the  Seeds  for  Democracy  Development  post-­‐Arab  

Spring  -­‐  h=p://heyitsamyontumblr.tumblr.com/post/33980681556/arabwomeninvestment• 3  Arab  Women  Taking  over  the  InternaGonal  Tech  Scene  -­‐  h=p://www.entrepreneurlevant.com/3-­‐arab-­‐women-­‐

taking-­‐over-­‐the-­‐internaGonal-­‐tech-­‐scene/• Other  references:  Good  Magazine,  Utne,  Intelligent  OpGmism  &  Barakabits• (AN  photo)  -­‐h=p://www.arabnews.com/node/449664  • BCG  -­‐  What  women  want• Booz  &  Co.  -­‐  Empowering  the  third  billion

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