Conference Sessions

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Women entrepreneurs around the world are rising to meet new challenges brought by the COVID pandemic. While the crisis is leaving its marks on every echelon of society, it disproportionately affects women whose workforce participation has plummeted to its lowest level in over 30 years. At the same time, COVID has also accelerated the digital transformation of our economy and showed that flexible working arrangements are possible. This offers entrepreneurs a great opportunity to reshape their businesses and create a new normal which is more sensitive to its employees' diverse needs.

In this opening session, our panelists will then discuss how women entrepreneurs are navigating the COVID crisis and how they reinvented and adapted their business strategies within the new context. Finally, we will look at new trends and paradigm shifts, including the role of technology in facilitating the transition and the new Télé- working models.

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Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, neural networks and deep learning are all words you cannot avoid today. But what do these terms actually mean? In this workshop, our experts will break down for you the ins and outs of AI.

Join this session to learn about the basics of AI, how it's being used in today's economy, and how it can support your organization's digital transformation to make use of arising regional opportunities. Specifically, the workshop will cover the following topics:

• How to deal with disruption;
• Key digital transformation challenges and how to deal with them;
• Digital transformation framework;
• The dual imperatives of digital transformation;
• Platform based competition;
• Innovation and winning the future: how to create an innovative and winning business model;
• How to start your digital transformation journey;
• D2V Platform: Digital Transformation Studio.

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E-Commerce is booming. The World Economic Forum reports that the pandemic has accelerated the shift to the sector by five years. So how can we take advantage of this growing market? The panelists will discuss the most successful E-Commerce models to help you grow your business and penetrate new markets.

The session will also present and create links with companies who are offering solutions to businesswomen in Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Lebanon, and Tunisia.

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The business case for women on boards is undeniable. Research shows that women's participation on boards and in positions of influence strengthens financial performance, improves decision making, provides consumer insight, and builds corporate talent. Yet, the representation of women on boards remains limited worldwide. In the MENA region, a 2016 IFC study of 1,500 publicly listed companies in 13 countries found that only 17 percent had some female representation on their boards.

This session will look at the challenges facing WoB and share regional best practices on how legislation is being used to promote them. We will be sharing our strategy on how to promote WoB and we will hear success stories from incredible women across the region to find out how they face challenges and hear what advice they have for aspiring WoB.

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During this session registered participants will meet in one room and after a short welcome and an introduction to the WiB portal, the participants will divide up into three virtual themed rooms. In each room there will be a short presentation followed by an open exchange before we gather in one room again at the end to listen to a short summary of all the topics.

Each participant will choose one of the three following topics:

• HR challenges during the pandemic
• Shifting the business model : A success story during the COVID crisis
• Business Culture in Germany vs MENA

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Did you ever create a beautiful website, agonize about every detail but then found yourself struggling to get people to use it? It's because creating a website just isn’t enough to get noticed. Digital marketing provides businesses with powerful tools to reach target audiences, turn them into customers and retain them! These tools are perfectly suitable and adjustable for small and large businesses alike.

This session will take you through the basics of digital marketing and how it can be used to elevate your business and get noticed! The workshop is organized to enable participants to reach three main goals:

• Understand the main digital tools available for your business;
• Set the goals and priorities for targeted digital marketing according to your business needs;
• Understand how to implement a digital marketing strategy: from costing, to outsourcing to time considerations and planning of deliverables.

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With the increasing importance of digital transformation for our future economy, it is imperative that the female perspective is represented to ensure an inclusive vision of our future. In the MENA region, almost fifty percent of women are enrolled in STEM programs – a much higher proportion than any developed region. We are proud of this and want to empower women further to take leading roles in STEM fields where they remain woefully underrepresented.

This session will discuss how women can leverage opportunities in Industry 4.0 and show how digital transformation can be key to supporting SMEs in times of crisis. We will also introduce success stories of women from STEM who have done it all!

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Senior entrepreneurship is offering professional women over 45 with new opportunities as they become more confident, connected, and financially secure. Research by the Older Women in Business Network in 2020 demonstrates that women are turning to entrepreneurship later in life as an alternative to unsatisfactory employment, a means of supplementing pension, or to fulfill long-held ambitions which they had to previously sacrifice for the security needed to raise families. However, taking this step is anything but simple, and women can face difficult obstacles.

This panel will share success stories of incredible women across Germany and the MENA region. We will learn about their experience, how they overcame challenges, and much more. The session will also introduce the Female Founder Program which will launch in Tunisia which will provide you with the needed support to take that leap!

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The power of networks is undeniable! We increasingly understand that they are essential to professional life enabling us to share experiences, learn from each other, make connections beyond our immediate circles, and open up a wealth of new opportunities. In times of hardships, these services become even more important. Business women's associations act as a critical resource and provide their members with access to opportunities beyond their immediate circles.

In this closing session, we are hosting a roundtable with four leading women's associations in Algeria, Egypt, Tunis, and Lebanon who will share with us their vision for how to overcome the crisis and discuss how networks can provide pivotal support for businesswomen in the region. Join us in celebrating the power of female collaboration and learn how you can participate in your country's local chapter!

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Let's enjoy together a digital art performance by Yara Mekawei.

Further information to follow.

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Terms and Conditions for the Raffle

• The two tickets to Germany are eligible for the members of BWE21, CNFCE, LLWB and SEVE who attend at least three sessions of the conference. The tickets will be issued to attend the forthcoming General Assembly of the VdU. If the pandemic will not allow the event to take place or will take place with restricted number of participants, the tickets will be cancelled.
• The two tickets to Egypt are eligible for the members of the VdU, CNFCE, LLWB and SEVE to attend the annual BWE21 Conference 5.-9.11.2021. GPP may cancel the tickets if the travel situation does not improve till October 2021.
• The air tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable and non-changeable. The prize must be used by the winner only. Flight details, dates and times cannot be varied once they are booked. Cash or credit alternatives will not be offered.
• The tickets will be booked through GPP according to the rules of the German travel law.
• The winners will be responsible for supplying valid passport and visa and, where necessary, for obtaining appropriate vaccinations. It is strongly recommended that travellers take out adequate travel insurance.
• The participation fees for the BWE21 conference or the VdU general assembly are not included in this package
• The visa fees for Germany or Egypt are not included in this package
• By participating in this raffle, you grant the promoters permission to use your name for advertising and future promotional purposes without additional compensations.