WE workshop on mentoring and communication for emerging women entrepreneurs

The Blessing Foundation organised on November 30th in collaboration with the Women Empowerment Initiative (WE) of the BLC bank the second edition of its annual workshop on mentoring and communication with the participation of 60 women entrepreneurs.  The event took place within the framework of the mentoring programme implemented by the organization with funding from the US organisation Vital Voices which brings together entrepreneurs from all parts of the world and introduces them to business mentors listed in Fortune and which includes a rundown of the best US Fortune 500 companies.  The programme enabled this year the participation of pioneer women from various industrial sectors such as design, finance, law, pharmacy and fashion.
The Executive Director of the Blessing Foundation, Ms, Rima Kuteish el Husseini, highlighted in her speech the importance of competent business women in mentoring emerging women entrepreneurs in Lebanon.  She added that the concept of mentoring and counseling needs to flourish in Lebanon and so as to attract more women into the business community.  For her part, Nancy Stephan, from the US embassy gave a presentation on communication and networking, whilst the president of the Strategic Development and Financial Management department at the BLC bank, Tania Moussallem, introduced the Women Empowerment Initiative and the importance of creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises in order to empower women socially and economically.
The workshop has contributed to the starting up and to the development of new relations between trainees and mentors.  After a brief exchange session, women trainees chose their preferred mentors with whom they carry out the Vital Voices Mentoring Walk which stands as the backbone of the annual Blessing Foundation’s mentoring and counseling programme.
Source: Al-Nahar 18 December 2013