"Al-Nour" Celebrates Graduation of 35 Participants in "Women of the Future" Program to Enhance Female Leadership and Decision-Making

Sheikha Entesar Salem Al-Ali affirmed that true leadership does not begin with acquiring a title or position, but rather stems from a woman’s decision to know herself, confront her fears, and believe in her worth and capabilities. It requires the courage to express her views and positions with confidence and clarity. She emphasized that building a woman’s inner strength is the foundation for empowering her to assume a leadership role and create a positive impact within her family, professional, and community environments.

This statement was made during her speech at the closing ceremony of the “Women of the Future” program, organized by the “Al-Noor” initiative under her patronage, with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kuwait, and in strategic partnership with the European Union and the Commercial Bank of Kuwait. The event celebrated the graduation of 35 participants who completed a four-month training journey aimed at developing their leadership skills, boosting their self-confidence, and enhancing their readiness to participate actively in work environments and society.

Al-Ali stated that strengthening women’s inner strength does not only affect their personal lives but extends to their families, professional circles, and communities, contributing to positive and sustainable change. She stressed that self-confidence, awareness of personal capabilities, and the courage to express one’s opinion are fundamental pillars for building a leadership personality capable of facing challenges and assuming responsibilities.

She stressed that the participants of the “Women of the Future” program possess the qualities and capabilities that qualify them for leadership, noting that their leadership journey begins from within, with sincerity, courage, and confidence, which will contribute to transforming their lives and enhancing their ability to shape the future. She highlighted the importance of leveraging the skills and experiences acquired during the program and applying them to various aspects of their professional and community lives.

For his part, the Dutch Ambassador to Kuwait, Wierix Ramsok, emphasized the importance of joint efforts and enhanced cooperation among various entities and institutions to support women’s empowerment and expand their participation opportunities across different fields. He pointed out that progress in this area does not happen automatically but requires a shared vision, effective partnerships, and organized collective action to achieve the desired change.

Ramsok explained that building partnerships and enhancing cooperation are two fundamental pillars for achieving tangible and sustainable results in women’s empowerment. He stressed the importance of initiatives that bring together various institutions and entities around common goals, contributing to the development of women’s capacities and providing them with opportunities to participate and influence their communities.

For her part, the European Union Ambassador to Kuwait, Anne Questin, congratulated the participants on completing the “Women of the Future” program, emphasizing the importance of initiatives and programs that provide women with opportunities to develop their capabilities, hone their skills, and enhance their readiness to assume leadership roles and contribute actively to workplaces and decision-making positions.

Questin praised the role played by “Al-Noor” in building partnerships and enhancing cooperation among various entities, thereby opening new horizons for women and providing broader opportunities for their personal and professional growth and development.

She urged the graduates to maintain the professional and human network they successfully established during their participation in the program, and to leverage it for exchanging experiences and knowledge and enhancing future cooperation, ensuring the continuation of the positive impact of the training experience after its conclusion.

For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Ilham Mahfouz, affirmed the bank’s commitment to continuing its support for initiatives and programs aimed at empowering women and developing their capabilities, particularly those focused on developing leadership skills and enhancing women’s presence in positions of responsibility and decision-making.

Mahfouz praised the “Women of the Future” program and its role in cultivating a promising generation of female leaders by providing training and development opportunities that enhance self-confidence and foster personal and professional skills, thereby helping participants achieve their ambitions and contribute effectively to their institutions and communities.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait’s support for the program, as a strategic partner, underscores its commitment to backing initiatives that contribute to human capacity building and strengthen women’s participation in institutional and societal development.

The “Women of the Future” program comprised nine intensive workshops based on experiential learning and practical application, drawing on principles of positive psychology and leadership sciences. The aim was to equip participants with a range of skills and knowledge to enhance their leadership performance and improve their ability to handle professional and personal challenges.

The training workshops focused on strengthening leadership presence, developing decision-making capabilities, and refining skills for expressing ideas and opinions with confidence and clarity, alongside improving effective and assertive communication methods within institutions and various work environments.

The program also emphasized enhancing participants’ self-awareness and their ability to leverage their personal and professional potential more effectively, positively impacting their performance and readiness to assume leadership responsibilities and participate in decision-making.

The program included a dialogue session bringing together several leaders from different sectors to discuss the role of women in leadership and national development, and to explore the importance of providing supportive institutional environments that offer broader opportunities for women to influence and participate in decision-making.

The session highlighted the value of drawing on diverse leadership experiences and exchanging insights on challenges and opportunities related to strengthening women’s presence in institutions, as well as the role of training programs and institutional partnerships in preparing female leaders capable of contributing to achieving development goals.

The closing ceremony honored the program’s partners and the 35 participants, presenting them with certificates of completion for the “Women of the Future” program, in recognition of their commitment and participation in the four-month training journey and the progress they achieved in developing their leadership capacities and skills.

Al-Nawar, a Kuwait-based non-profit organization, continues to implement programs and initiatives grounded in positive psychology, leadership skill development, and community engagement, driven by its vision of empowering individuals to develop their potential and create a positive, sustainable impact on society.

Evaluations conducted among participants before the program’s launch and after its completion revealed improvements in self-confidence, readiness to assume leadership roles, and assertive communication skills, reflecting the positive impact of the training methodology that combined theoretical and practical aspects.

The evaluation results underscored the importance of providing specialized programs focused on comprehensive development of personal and leadership skills, helping participants translate acquired knowledge into practical, applicable practices in their professional and community lives.

The “Women of the Future” program represents one of Al-Nawar’s efforts to empower women by providing spaces for learning, experience sharing, and professional networking, linking personal growth with active participation in institutions and society.

The program also underscores the importance of collaboration among local institutions, diplomatic entities, and international partners in supporting human capacity development and enhancing women’s contributions to Kuwait’s development process, through initiatives focused on skills building and expanding opportunities for participation and influence.