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Empowering Middle Eastern Women Through Sports

This double issue of Enterprising Women has a dual theme of "Building Your Brand" and "Global Perspectives." The Al-Ayoub sisters (pictured below) are entrepreneurs who are a perfect fit for this issue.

I met Lulwa and Balsam at the Global Summit of Women in Istanbul, Turkey in May when we were seated together at the gala awards dinner on the second evening of the Summit. Having previously participated in this gathering of women entrepreneurs and women leaders from all sectors — public, private and nonprofit — in Morocco, Germany, Chile and China, I knew that many of the best opportunities to connect with new friends from around the world would come over a meal in an informal setting. My chance meeting with the Al-Ayoub sisters was one of those opportunities.

I soon learned that the two young women were champion fencers from Kuwait who had started a business to open doors for other women in the Gulf. Living in a region where it is taboo for girls and women to participate in sports, Lulwa and Balsam serve as role models and mentors — using their athletic training to teach leadership skills that empower Gulf women. They also pledged to use their status as champion fencers to mentor other aspiring women fencers to encourage them to compete in the same arena as men. And they actively promote sports for young girls in school to help break down the walls of women’s social exclusion. You can read more about them on their website at www.touchekuwait.com. Touche Sports Development Management is now a thriving business, and the Al-Ayoub sisters are living their dream of advancing the role of women in sports in the Middle East with this entrepreneurial venture.

Interested in attending the Global Summit of Women to meet women like Lulwa and Balsam? You can read more about the Summit beginning on page 81 in this issue. The next Global Summit of Women is May 31 – June 2 in Athens, Greece. Enterprising Women Board of Directors member Irene Natividad is the founder and president of the Global Summit of Women, and Enterprising Women Advisory Board member Sung Joo Kim, chairperson and CEO of Sung-Joo Group and MCM Group (South Korea) serves on the Summit’s International Planning Committee. Sung Joo provided a million dollar donation to underwrite the planning of the Global Summit over the next ten years, helping to ensure its continued success. Both women have been inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame.

We’ve also devoted considerable coverage to the Peace Through Business program (page 64) in this global issue of the magazine. I have been proud to serve as a mentor to both Rwandan and Afghan women entrepreneurs for the past three years, and I encourage our readers to consider becoming engaged with this wonderful program. You can support it as a mentor or by contributing financially. Learn more at www.ieew.org.

While you are building your brand, remember to weave mentorship and giving back into the fabric of your business. They are an important part of our mission at Enterprising Women.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Monica S. Smiley
msmiley@enterprisingwomen.com

P.S. If you are interested in meeting outstanding women entrepreneurs from throughout the United States, Canada and around the globe, consider attending the 10th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration, March 12-13 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Award winners have just been announced and for the first time ever, we have honorees attending from England, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa, Hong Kong, and more. See the entire list of winners and honorable mention recipients, register for the event, and learn more about the celebration at www.enterprisingwomen.com/EWofYearAwards.htm.

Balsam (right) and Lulwa Al-Ayoub, sisters and managing partners of Touche Sports Development Management in Kuwait.