Kristies Lab and in strategic partnership with the United Nations Global Compact Network Lebanon, The Nawaya Network, Bloom EMEA, Stand for Women, and with the support of UNDP launched the ‘TheKnowHer Initiative’ at the Greek Community of Beirut, Lebanon.
The broader aim of ‘TheKnowHer Initiative’ is to launch an online, free of charge, diverse and inclusive women-led SMEs directory with an aspirational goal aimed at bridging and connecting them with potential clients, locally and regionally.
‘Real success is only captured by doing good, giving back to the community and meaningfully empowering others’. This is how Ms. Christina Khater, the Founder and CEO of Kristies Lab opened the launch event with her Keynote remarks. Ms. Khater also walked the attendees through her entrepreneurial journey and shared Kristies Lab’s aspirational vision in collectively and individually fostering its social impact print with a particular focus on empowering women, the youth and accelerating its climate action efforts.
Ms. Khater’s keynote speech was then followed by a Fireside Chat under the theme ‘Women Entrepreneurship: A Triple Folded Goldmine’.
Facilitated by Dr. Lara Al Arab, Entrepreneurship and Soft Skills Education Expert, the Fireside Chat featured commentaries and expert insights of speakers spanning across the UN system, Civil Society and the Private Sector.
‘When women are equally represented, everyone benefits’. This is how Ms. Deenah Fakhoury, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact started the insights exchange of the fireside chat through which she has shined a spotlight on the work done by the network in energizing and forging corporate deliveries on Gender Equality through the Target Gender Equality Accelerator Program that enables companies to set ambitious corporate targets for Women Economic Participation aligned with the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) of the UN Women.
On the sidelines, Ms. Jessica Said, Deputy Director of The Nawaya Network, highlighted the importance of reskilling and up skilling women to enhance their entrepreneurial capacities and readiness. Ms. Said spoke about the immersive and holistic programs offered by The Nawaya Network targeting both the women and the youth of Lebanon to enable a competitive ‘Knowledge Economy’ aimed at fostering a prosperous economic stability.
Shedding the light on the importance of integrating women in the Tech Industry, Mr. David Munir Nabti, CEO and General Manager of Bloom EMEA, spoke about the unleashing power of women in the Tech Industry and their indispensable role in unlocking breakthrough solutions to the most pressing challenges. Mr. Nabti walked the participants through various training and accelerator programs run by Bloom EMEA on national and regional levels.
From a United Nations lens, Ms. Nada Sweidan, the Program Officer and Youth Focal Point of Lebanon for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), spoke about the incremental role of the youth and specifically female youth in driving and accelerating progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda. Ms. Sweidan also spoke about the partnerships being developed between UNDP and the private sector aimed at offering the Lebanese youth access to skills enhancement workshops, hands-on training, funding and incubation along with employment opportunities.
The Fireside Chat was followed by a Launching Video highlighting the aim of the initiative with the elements of storytelling.
The Launch Event was then wrapped up with a Gratitude Exercise led by Ms. Stephanie Shaar, Community Engagement and Events Coordinator at Bloom EMEA. The ultimate aim of this exercise was to align with the core values of the holy month of Ramadan and give a moment of self-reflection to what we are grateful for.
The event was also bolstered by Ramadan-relevant entertainment activities such as the Henna Station and Arabic Coffee Station through which all guests were able to enjoy this lovely Ramadan experience.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
