Inclusion
Celebrating women changemakers in the EEMEA region
June 27, 2024 | By Amnah Ajmal
We live in a world of possibilities, where exceptional women are turning potential into progress in exciting new ways. At Mastercard, we believe that when we support women entrepreneurs, we are not only supporting the economy but also their desire to solve real needs. That’s why we are committed to creating an enabling environment for women to make their mark as business leaders.
In 2020, we pledged to connect 25 million women-owned and led companies worldwide to the digital economy by 2025. We achieved our goal in June 2023 – two years ahead of the deadline. But we haven’t stopped at this milestone. In fact, it’s just the opposite – it has spurred us on to take our efforts to the next level. An integral part of our journey is the Mastercard Women SME Leaders Awards. Launched in 2022, this first-of-its-kind initiative celebrates outstanding women entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) who are shaping the future of this dynamic region.
This year, we received entries from across the region. As a member of the jury, I was very impressed by the nominations. Choosing the best of the best was challenging but immensely rewarding, filling me with pride.
After two years of virtual events, we came together in person for the first time in Dubai for the award ceremony. Being in the company of so many inspiring women leaders was a fantastic feeling. It was also a pleasure to engage in a lively conversation about the role of women entrepreneurs in driving innovation, economic development and social progress.
The highlight for me was presenting the awards to the most impactful women changemakers across 15 categories from countries as diverse as Egypt, Lithuania, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, the UAE and Ukraine. I look forward to seeing our winners taking bold steps, blazing new trails in the business world and encouraging more women to follow in their footsteps. Each of them is a catalyst for positive change on our shared journey of women’s empowerment.
