فريق إنت عربي
- Sheraa concludes first edition of Sharjah Impact Makers Fellowship with participation of 12 women entrepreneurs
- The inaugural edition focused on enhancing leadership and project management skills while connecting founders with a network of investors
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has announced the conclusion of the first edition of the Sharjah Impact Makers Fellowship, which brought together 12 women entrepreneurs in a comprehensive development journey focused on enhancing leadership skills and supporting business growth.
The inaugural edition highlighted leadership and project management capabilities for women founders, while connecting them with a network of investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners. The initiative aims to evolve into a long-term program supporting the growth and impact of women-led ventures in the Emirate of Sharjah.
SARA BELHAIF AL NUAIMI, CEO of Sheraa, said:
“The program achieved an advanced level of maturity in how women entrepreneurs manage their businesses, strengthening their ability to make informed decisions and navigate challenges with confidence”.
She add:
” This underscores the importance of a supportive environment that can keep pace with and amplify this growth.”
She added:
“This aligns with Sheraa’s broader vision to empower women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and expand their impact, while the fellowship continues to establish itself as a sustainable pathway supporting their growth in future editions.”
Participants received a grant of AED 500,000, provided by Fikra Business Consultancy, aimed at supporting the development and expansion of their ventures.
The program also contributed to enriching regional discussions around women in entrepreneurship through collaboration with Meem Foundation, which is conducting a research study on funding for women-led businesses.
Fellows contributed to this research through interviews, with findings expected to support the development of future policies, funding mechanisms, and support programs for women entrepreneurship ecosystems in the region.
Throughout the program, founders engaged in a structured journey combining leadership development and business growth.
A key milestone included a leadership retreat in Kalba, alongside a series of specialized workshops and sessions delivered in collaboration with partners such as Accenture and Publicis (via Atelier Potentialis), as well as personal branding sessions with Orbis Terra Media.
The program also featured dialogues with ecosystem leaders, including a session with H.E. Halima Al Owais.
The fellowship further provided opportunities for founders to scale their ventures through Scale Up MENA sessions, deepen their understanding of impact measurement in collaboration with the Pearl Initiative, and concluded with a policy readiness and institutional support workshop in partnership with Kearney.
The program wrapped up with a closing session led by Dr. Asmaa Fikri, impact partner and grant sponsor, highlighting key outcomes of the journey.
The Sharjah Impact Makers Fellowship followed a rigorous selection process to ensure participants were ready for the next stage of growth. .
This included evaluation by Sheraa’s CEO, weighted scoring systems, behavioral assessments, and specialized interviews targeting founders with strong growth potential.
The program focused on four key pillars:
Discovery, Definition, Development, and Deepening, guiding founders through a progressive journey that integrates personal leadership growth, institutional strategy development, and deeper engagement within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A range of partners contributed to the program, including Accenture, Publicis Groupe, Orbis Terra Media, the Pearl Initiative, Kearney, EY, and Microsoft, each providing expertise in leadership development, brand building, impact measurement, and business growth.
The program was supported by several sponsors, including Fikra Business Consultancy, Shurooq, Meem Foundation, and Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate.
