In the wake of far-reaching changes to work and life caused by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA), has responded quickly to ensure the continued success, development and well-being of its 2,000+ membership with the launch of three online engagement platforms.

The Council has introduced #SBWCEntrepreneursTips, #SBWCReads and #SBWCDictionary to further its holistic approach of supporting female-owned and led businesses in Sharjah, the UAE and beyond, with the three platforms serving as a source of new business information and best practices in the rapidly changing market scenario, a nexus for the sharing of ideas and learning from fellow members, and finally, helping them utilise their free time to learn, gain business knowledge and develop a well-rounded approach to their professions.

SBWC’s will make these remote learning and upskilling activities available across all its social media platforms, allowing members to connect and share on a regular basis in an active and vibrant ecosystem.

#SBWCEntrepreneursTips
How can women entrepreneurs utilise this period they are spending at home to hone their business acumen? This SBWC initiative aims to provide the answer, imparting insights and practical knowledge to its members on how to continue doing business from home, while also achieving work-life balance.

On a weekly basis, this platform will also share helpful pointers gained from the #SBWCVirtualTours – another new SBWC online initiative, which offers regular business counselling to its membership to help them adapt to new business strategies in light of challenges posed by a global public health crisis.

The initiative also encourages non-members and the entire female entrepreneurial ecosystem to share their experiences and tips with a view to benefit the community as a whole.

#SBWCReads

Many business owners are so busy running their enterprise that they stop learning anything new. Over time, they forget that knowledge is the basis of all success. #SBWCReads, with excellent weekly book recommendations on a wide range of business- and management-related topics, will aid in advancing its members’ entrepreneurial acumen, and ensure that their continued learning keeps them ahead of the game and succeed.

#SBWCDictionary

Budding entrepreneurs may be unfamiliar with a lot of words and phrases that are used in the business world. Through this initiative, SBWC will explain some of the meanings of the most commonly used business phrases and definitions so that entrepreneurs can expand their business vocabulary and talk to their counterparts and conduct their business with confidence. A new word will be shared every week on SBWC’s social media platforms.

Sheikha Hind Majid Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBWC, said: “These initiatives launched by SBWC furthers our commitment to sharing knowledge and providing solutions that best support women in business, no matter what the circumstances. Inspired by the vision of our founder and patron, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, we have chosen to turn this challenging time period of social distancing as a wonderful  opportunity for our members to learn, engage, ideate and innovate, so they can come out of this crisis stronger and better equipped to grow their businesses than ever before.”

She added: “We have seen how technology and social media have literally held the world together in the past few months; kept us informed, kept us connected with our families and friends, enabled us to continue our jobs and support our businesses from home, and most importantly, kept our conversations and interactions alive through a very challenging period of physical distancing. These three platforms, in addition to the more obvious value they bring to the plate, are in effect, SBWC’s endeavour to reinforce and foster human-to-human connect and shared development.”

To know please contact SBWC via email: membership@sbwc.ae or on 055-1237292.

Since its inception in 2002, Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has dedicated its efforts to assist businesswomen in the process of setting up their businesses in Sharjah, forging partnerships with government and private organisations in the UAE and abroad, and offering them exposure at various local and international business, economic and professional events.