WIn Fellowship

The WIn (Women Innovators) Fellowship was launched by the empowerME initiative of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs in March 2022 to support women entrepreneurs in building leadership and executive capacity and scaling their startups to new heights. The goals of the fellowship are to:

• Accelerate the leadership and executive skills of women entrepreneurs and provide them with an unparalleled network of mentors, business executives, and policymakers
• Expose US policymakers, scholars, and the business community to a unique and direct perspective on women’s opportunities and challenges in select countries
• Develop a top-tier network of WIn fellows across the Middle East region who can support one another and be ambassadors for women’s economic participation

After the success of the inaugural program in 2022, the WIn Fellowship is returning with a second cohort for 2023.

The fellowship aims to support women entrepreneurs in building their leadership and executive capacity to scale their startups to new heights. The program is a unique collaboration between the Atlantic Council and Georgetown University, offering a structured yearlong executive training program, mentoring by regional and international executives, and networking opportunities with leading U.S. and MENA business executives, government officials, and policy experts. The top participants will be selected to attend a fully sponsored trip to the United States for leadership training at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and meetings with US business and government leaders.

Eligibility criteria

• You are a woman citizen of KSA/ UAE/ Bahrain
• You are a founder or co-founder of a business and looking to take your business to the next level
• You have five years of experience
• You can speak English fluently
• You can commit to four 90-minute hybrid workshops done after 6:00 pm (of course, excluding local holidays)
• No travel requirement! One week’s travel plan is only required for selected participants by the end of the program
• Local networking sessions will be conducted for those that can attend

Applications are now open for the 2023 cohort

Through the fellowship you will

• Have expanded knowledge and skills. You will acquire new knowledge and skills. This can give you a competitive edge and enable you to stay ahead of the curve in your industry.
• Expand your network. You will expand your professional network and build new partnerships. This can help you access new markets and resources and gain insights into industry trends.
• Find mentors and supporters. You will connect with mentors who will offer guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of growing your business. They can provide valuable feedback, help you identify opportunities and pitfalls, and offer practical advice based on their experiences.
• Increase your visibility and credibility within your industry, region, and beyond. This can help you attract new customers, investors, and partners and position your business as a leader in your field.

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

The Atlantic Council’s work on social, economic and human development issues in the Middle East honors the legacy of Rafik Hariri and his life’s mission to unlock the human and economic potential of the Arab world.

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