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Regional Storytelling
Project in Partnership with
UNESCO and Issam Fares Institute
​

​Gender stereotyping remains deeply entrenched in our society, particularly when it comes to women’s career choices. Women, in all their diversity, are typically perceived to lack the ability to excel in challenging and leadership roles in fields that are currently male-dominated, such as, and not limited to, STEM, business, and law. 

However, many women all around the world have proven to be pioneers in their fields. We collected 20 career stories of influential and inspiring women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who thrived in their areas of work, overcoming all challenges. 

Are you ready to be inspired?

Maha Jouini, Entrepreneur and Author 

Rania Harrara, AFFC Founder

Dr. Joyce Azzam is a mountaineer and academic. She is first Lebanese woman to complete The Seven Summits Challenge, becoming one of the first three women in the Arab World and one of 75 women worldwide to do so.

She accomplished this while completing a Ph.D. in Landscape & Environment Management from the Sapienza Università di Roma as well as two Master of Architecture degrees and one Master's degree in governance and management of local public system.

In this interview, we explore her journey towards completing The Seven Summits Challenge, the challenges of being a female Lebanese athlete, as well as the transition period between being a mountaineer and an academic.

Watch the full interview here.


Dr. Joyce Azzam, Mountaineer

Omnia Gadalla, Lawyer
In 2014, Omnia Gadalla was prevented along with other 2013 female law graduates from applying to the Judicial position in the Egyptian State Council as opposed to their male counterparts. She filed two lawsuits claiming their rights.
As a result, Omnia decided to launch Her Honor Setting the Bar, which is an awareness-righteous initiative, aiming to support female law graduates and ending discrimination that bans Egyptian women from being judges.

Not only does the initiative believe in the importance of having women judges, but also in the importance of strengthening the rule of law, impartiality, and independence of the judicial authorities.

Omnia Gadalla is an Egyptian lawyer and instructor of Law and Sharia at Al-Azhar University whose passion for law and justice is unbeatable.

Rana Husseini, Journalist and Author

Dr. Mona Demaidi, Entrepreneur 
Dr. Mona Demaidi recalls when she returned to Palestine in 2016 to teach in university, she was shocked when she received no applications to the scholarships offered to female students that covered the fees to attend the Arab Women in Computing Conference in Lebanon.

She believes that more awareness and trust are needed. In order for females to actually travel outside by themselves to work on enhancing their skills, we need to create trust and raise awareness on what such opportunities offer these young women. 

After organizing a couple of activities, Dr. Demaidi was happy to have received scholarship applications to attend a conference in Morocco. 

Dr. Mona Demaidi is an entrepreneur. She obtained her Ph.D. in Advanced Software Engineering and Machine Learning, and MSc in Software Engineering and Data Management from University of Manchester. Dr. Demaidi joined An-Najah National University to become the youngest female with a Ph.D. at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in Palestine. 

Aya Mouallem
Batoul Arnaout
Dr. Mona Demaidi
Hala El Shaarawy
Rana Husseini
Dr. Ahlem Belhadj
Carol Mansour
Tala Khrais
Dr. Joyce Azzam
Omnia Gadalla
Zohra Bensemra
Dr. Najat Saliba
Haidy Mousa
Dana Touran
Rania Harrara
Doris Saba
Dr. May Al-Ibrashy
Erica Chbeir
Lina Khalifeh
Maha Jouini
Click the images for their stories!

Launch of the Regional Storytelling Campaign

ADDRESS

Beirut                
PO Box 11-0236,            
Riad El Solh
​1107 2020,        
Beirut, Lebanon     
Tel: +961-1-350000   Ext. 4469

New York           
The Debs Center,            
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th floor    
New York, NY 10017-2303, USA          
Tel:  1-212-583-7600

CONTACT

Website
www.aub.edu.lb/asfari

Email
AsfariInstituteinfo@aub.edu.lb
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  • Home
  • Regional Storytelling
  • Senior Civil Society Fellows
  • Student Projects
  • Asfari Publications
    • Syrian Displaced Challenges Series
  • Thesis Publication Award
  • Youth Voices
  • Women of Afghanistan
    • Nowruz 2022
  • Gender Series
  • Co-ed Thesis Page
  • Women's Day
  • AI Podcasts
  • AUB Faculty Research Grant
  • Lectures
  • Asfari Op-Eds
  • International Human Rights Day
  • Call for Papers
  • 16 Days of Activism
  • Beirut's Anger and Solidarity
  • Citizens' Initiatives
  • Lebanon Protests
  • Hassan Abbas Memorial
  • Research Papers
  • Events
    • Events Round Up
    • Training Workshops
    • Leadership Program
    • Book Launches
    • Workshops
  • Hotspots
    • Palestinians Special
    • Iraq Protests
    • Displaced Syrians Special
    • Sudan Special
    • Lebanese Elections
  • Spotlight
    • Culture videos
    • Environmental Justice
    • Asfari Culture Award
    • Media Roundup
    • Previous Lectures and Interviews
  • About
    • Strategy
    • Research Programs
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • AI Annual Reports
    • Contact