The Bahrain International Federation of Business and
Professional Women (BPW-Bahrain) was formed in 2012 by a group of Bahraini
women leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners. Led by Her Excellency Shaikha
Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, who was elected President of BPW-Bahrain, the
initial 12-strong Board of Directors consisted of all the founding members.
BPW-Bahrain follows the mandate of its parent organization,
BPW-International, in helping to unite business and professional women across
the Kingdom, regionally across the Middle East and the rest of the world.
BPW-Bahrain focuses on helping to create economic independence for women by
encouraging them to develop their professional and leadership potential.
Mentoring plays an important part in BPW-Bahrain’s initiatives as women – and
men, along with youth – are provided with training and education and are
assisted as they learn the importance of being able to help others not just in
the country, but regionally and internationally.
This falls in line with the National Plan for the
Advancement of Bahraini women, launched in 2013 by the Supreme Council for
Women with the blessings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al
Khalifa. Her Royal Highness, Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the
King’s wife, is the President of the Supreme Council for Women, which serves as
an advisory body on women’s affairs in the Kingdom to His Majesty, the King.
H.R.H. Princess Sabeeka has been one of the biggest supporters of BPW-Bahrain
and the organization has benefited immensely from her calm, guiding influence.
Governed by its 12-member Board under the inspiring
leadership of H.E. Shaikha Hind, BPW-Bahrain works proactively to help
eliminate discrimination against women and creates non-profit initiatives that
allow women to gain economic independence. The organization encourages the
development of leadership skills in women – and men – so that they are able to
effectively communicate the views of business and professional women to other
businesses, civil society and governments.
Along with promoting cooperation and networking amongst
business and professional women, a major component of BPW-Bahrain’s outreach is
the direct influence it has on aspiring business women and entrepreneurs. To
achieve that end, since BPW-Bahrain’s inception, the organization has provided
hands-on assistance in the form of incubators for start-ups, not just in the IT
sector but also other fields such as jewellery design, etc. Artists are also
encouraged – in short, BPW-Bahrain’s range of support extends across the entire
gamut, or spectrum, of businesses.
Over the decade just past, BPW-Bahrain has been able to help
many individuals, businesses and companies owned and run by women – as well as
some by men – to achieve their full potential by leveraging support to their
initiatives in the form of incubators and other hands-on assistance. Since the
organization expects to be able to do even more in this new decade, in March
2019, BPW-Bahrain moved to its current headquarters in Al Andalus Park. The
building houses 19 business incubators, a training hall, an internet café and a
showroom.