Women take center stage at AmCham MENA Council Women in Business Awards

Women empowerment is taking priority in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) as the international business community recognizes the importance of female leadership.

Leading companies are taking notice that a nation’s peak development can only be attained when women feel enabled both economically and socially. Middle Eastern woman have taken it upon themselves to promote the role of females within companies from a variety of sectors and stake claim to positions of authority.

Women who have had record-breaking accomplishments within the region have been recognized through the AmCham MENA Council Women in Business Awards. Now in its fourth year, the event is representative of the unlimited potential within the region.

The Bahrain winners for the fourth annual AmCham MENA Council Women in Business Awards were recognized through AmCham-Bahrain's work toward highlighting the work of women in the private and public industries. Winners were chosen from nominations submitted to AmCham Bahrain.

Mirna Michel El Achkar, head of legal - GCC, Ahli United Bank B.S.C. was named Bahrain Best Woman in the Corporate Sector. Best Woman Entrepreneur is Nada Alawi Shubbar, ANNADA. Hala Sulaiman with Tamkeen was named Best Woman in the Non-Profit Sector.

Bahrain Development Bank Group was named the Best Company for Woman to Work For and Best Bank Supporting Women Owned and Women Led Businesses.

The victors from Bahrain participated on the regional level for that title as well. Nominees on the regional level were evaluated by a board of judges, consisting of noteworthy and esteemed leaders from the nine-member AmChams countries of Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt and Lebanon.

Best Woman in the Corporate Sector is Iman Mutlaq, CEO of Sigma Investments in Jordan. Hala Beydoun, founder Cocoa & Co. in Lebanon, is Best Woman Entrepreneur.

Best Woman in the Non-Profit Sector is Yasmine Helal, founder of Educate Me in Egypt. Fattal Group in Lebanon was named Best Company for Woman to Work For. BLC Bank, also in Lebanon, was awarded Best Bank Supporting Women Owned and Women Led Businesses.

AmCham Egypt hosted a special ceremony in Cairo March 22 to recognize final regional award winners.