Born to drive female entrepreneurship in the GCC, the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has been in the region for over 20 years and continues to nurture the growth of businesswomen.

Set up under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, SBWC has seen immense success, particularly in recent years under the leadership of Chairperson of the Council, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi.

A successful businesswoman and creative, Sheikha Hind has transformed her fine arts passion into a full-time career throughout the years and even showcased her first collection through SBWC at the 2011 edition of the ‘Made in Sharjah’ Exhibition.

As part of Emirates Woman’s series ‘In Discussion With…’, our Editor/Associate Publisher, Amy Sessions sat down with Sheikha Hind to discover how SBWC is supporting and championing a new generation of female leaders.

“We provide mentorship through workshops for women to enhance their skills and set up their business,” she tells EW. “From simple aspects on how to grow the business to other elements such as how to price the products, is what people need to learn.”

While it’s been a challenging time as of late due to the pandemic,  the SBWC saw exponential growth in 20202 having launched several virtual workshops and providing tools to implement the new regulations that were noticed in the business.

“Alone in Sharjah, in 2020, around 3,000 business licenses were issued for women to open new businesses, as the environment motivated them to grow and launch new initiatives,” she recalls.

To further enhance the members’ skills further, the programme has also set up trade missions, including collaborations with events such as GITEX to expand and innovate in the emirate.

By providing 360-degree technical support, the Sharjah Business Women Council helps to forge ongoing partnerships in the industry and provides technical assistance in setting up businesses.

“I believe the initiatives and the efforts SBWC is doing for our members really pushes them to go out of the ordinary,” Sheikha Hind says.

With international councils, the access to SBWC is open to all women in the UAE and those who live abroad, as the main focus is, as Sheikha Hind says, “women collaborating with women”.

To become part of this initiative and expand your knowledge about the world of business visit sbwc.ae.

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Images: Supplied