According to a 2025 McKinsey study, despite progress, women remain underrepresented at every level of leadership, with structural barriers still limiting their advancement.
Women-only interventions occasionally face skepticism for the potential reinforcement of stereotypes of women needing special assistance, resistance to changing traditional gender norms, or misconceptions that such programs are necessarily ‘anti-men’. However, Jusoor’s intervention responds to data that simultaneously indicate that women entrepreneurs have exceptional talent and market performance, while also facing unique barriers to establishing themselves as leaders in the current environment. Indeed, significantly more women are now engaged in entrepreneurship; only a small proportion have had the opportunity and support to become full-fledged business leaders in the MENA region. According to Forbes Middle East, women-led businesses make up less than 5% of the MENA region's total businesses, compared to a global average of 23% to 26%.
Our Intervention
Jusoor’s ‘Championing Women in Business Leadership’ project is dedicated to tackling the distinct obstacles encountered by Syrian women entrepreneurs during the initial stages of launching their companies in the Middle East. Building on their innovative ideas and technical expertise, Jusoor’s intervention empowers a critical decision-making moment for many Arab women founders when growing from startup to ecosystem leaders. We help bridge the opportunity and societal support gap by opening key doors to top-tier (1) leadership coaching, (2) business infrastructure experts, (3) role models and mentors, and (4) pre-seed funding.
Over the duration of several months, we provide support to Syrian women startup founders and co-founders. Through an in-depth 1:1 needs assessment, each leader receives tailored 1:1 sessions with business experts and consultants; leadership group coaching sessions; networking with other Syrian founders; and exclusive opportunities to meet and engage with well-known Arab women CEOs and Founders. Selected participants submit a business plan for a cash prize in a pre-seed grant to help grow their businesses and secure investments.
Leadership training & workshop coaching sessions curated for MENA Women Entrepreneurs focus on skills that effectively address challenges in both business and society in the region, including Public Speaking and Voice Coaching, Networking Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Management and Resolution, Navigating Social and Gender Biases, Harmonizing Family Commitments, Advocacy, Time Management, Business Psychology, Analytical Problem Solving, Self-Efficacy, and Mental Health. In parallel, 1:1 business sessions will focus on supporting women-led startups from the business angle.
Our project’s distinctive trademark is Jusoor's holistic approach and creation of the multiplier effect through peer support. The project’s ultimate goal is to strengthen women’s leadership skills, mindset, and network in business, and in doing so, pipeline women-led businesses to the region’s accelerators and sustainable success in the MENA region and beyond.
Our First Cohort
Five women founders made up the first cohort for ‘Championing Women in Business Leadership ’, a project dedicated to tackling the distinct obstacles encountered by women founders during the initial stages of launching their companies in the MENA region and Türkiye.
For six months, the carefully selected five business founders, from the fields of Edtech, Legal tech, health tech, and content creation, participated in online sessions on leadership coaching, met with business infrastructure experts as well as role models and experts, and received pre-seed funding. The sessions were run by 18 industry experts from the region and included meetings with women CEOs to learn from their journeys.
Our Impact
- 5 startups selected and supported
- 16 leadership training sessions delivered
- 32+ hours of leadership training
- 56 expert/consultant sessions
- 41.8% average improvement in leadership skills
- 25.74% improvement in overall leadership scores
- 13.71% increase in Investment Readiness Score (IRS)
Results of the six-month tracer study
- 22 jobs created (55% women, 77% Syrian employees)
- 25 employees receiving wages
- All 5 startups reached break-even
- 4 startups registered their businesses
- 4 startups pivoted or refined their business models
- $25,000 additional funding secured by one startup
- Participation in external accelerators (HIIL & Orange Jordan)
- 4 founders report strong leadership confidence
Results of the 12-Month Tracer Study
- 25 jobs created across the cohort
- 52% of jobs held by women and 72% by Syrian employees
- 1 startup participated in a major international innovation expo
- Most startups sustained operations despite declining revenues
- Leadership confidence reached 100% among founders
- Strong improvements in networking, public speaking, and time management skills
“CWIBL has been instrumental in enhancing my leadership capabilities by providing targeted mentorship, access to a network of successful female entrepreneurs, and practical training on essential business skills such as strategic planning, financial management, and negotiation,” Hekma Jabouli, founder of Exotech, a company providing advanced robotic exoskeletons for hemiplegia patients, says.
Stories
Hekma Jabouli’s Exotech: From Pain to Innovation
Safa Elcasim: Moving Job Markets
Championing Leadership, Supporting Women
Support Us!
If you are keen to join us to transform lives and forge pathways to success for Syrian entrepreneurs, we would be thrilled to make this vision a reality together. connect@jusoor.ngo.
