Reem Madkour, founder of Dardasha, has won the She’s Next in Publishing grant program for UAE, it was announced on Monday.
Madkour will take home a grant of $50,000 as part of her winnings, along with a three-month online mentorship from PublisHer.
The winner was announced by Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, together with PublisHer at an award ceremony held at Sharjah Publishers Conference.
Over 50 applicants
Handpicked from a pool of over 50 applicants from the UAE publishing industry, the winning woman-owned small business also received a one-year license from Sharjah Publishing City.
A jury evaluated entries based on the following criteria: the progression of applicant’s entrepreneurial journey; robustness of their business metrics; digital presence; and demonstrated ability to problem-solve confidently. The members of the jury included: Salima Gutieva, Visa’s vice-president and country manager for the UAE; Koula Al Mujaini, director of activities and marketing at Sharjah Book Authority; Rashid Al Kous, executive director of Emirates Publishers Association, and Zhora Qureshi from PublisHer.
PublisHer founder Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “Supporting women-led businesses in publishing is a vital part of building an inclusive, truly innovative industry. The She’s Next program highlights the strength and creativity of women entrepreneurs in the UAE, empowering them to bring fresh perspectives to publishing. This partnership provides talented women with recognition and resources to grow and thrive, contributing to a vibrant, diverse future for our industry.”
Financial support
According to Visa’s SMB Women Digitization Index in the UAE, women-owned businesses rely on personal finances (57 percent) and family and friends (43 percent) to set up their businesses. Therefore, this underscores the importance of programs like She’s Next in providing essential financial support and resources for women-owned business to grow and succeed.
“At Visa, we believe in the power of women to drive innovation and transform industries. This year’s She’s Next in Publishing program has showcased the exceptional talent and entrepreneurial spirit of women in the UAE. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact they will make,” said Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Visa’s SVP and group country manager for GCC.
She’s Next program
In August, Visa announced the launch of the third edition of She’s Next in the UAE in partnership with PublisHer, the international organization aiming to address entrenched gender imbalances and drive a worldwide agenda for change within the global publishing industry.
She’s Next, empowered by Visa, is a global advocacy program that aims to support women striving to finance, manage, and expand their small businesses. The third edition of She’s Next empowers female publishers by providing them with networking opportunities, mentorship, training and funding to thrive in the publishing industry. Moreover, She’s Next has garnered the backing of the wider UAE publishing industry with Sharjah Publishing City supporting as licensing partner, and the Sharjah Book Authority and Emirates Publishing Association committing as support partners.
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