BY MARIA COMETTI
Each month, the Women’s Skills Bureau brings Saudi and expatriate women together to share experiences. This positive exchange between local entrepreneurs and women with global experience, aims to inspire and encourage meaningful connections.
October 10th, 2018: The third session of WSB Connect was held at the unique, inspiring venue of Pattern Concept Store.
Creative entrepreneurs and artists told their stories as guests listened and asked questions. The first entrepreneur to speak was Hind Ghanim, our host of the evening, and the founder of Pattern Concept Store. She welcomed ladies to Pattern and told of her journey to create the artistic oasis. Then Alma Sarac talked about her venture, HADO Designs. HADO collections include handmade aprons, pillows, placemats, tote bags, and other items. Alma’s unique HADO designs collection sprung from a personal need for handmade Arabian products that could be given as gifts to families and friends abroad. HADO Design’s popularity grew instantly. Up next, Nelly Attar, founder of MOVE Studio, inspired those in attendance with her talk about starting MOVE Studio and setting ambitious goals that challenge your mind and body. Nelly started MOVE Studio in an underutilized warehouse of her stepfather’s office building, with herself as the only trainer. MOVE has now expanded into a team of 12 trainers and a wonderful community of females passionate about movement. Nelly described to us how she is preparing to summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, next year. If she reaches the summit, she will be the first Lebanese female, and second female from Saudi Arabia, to do so.
@pattern_saudi | @wsbriyadh | @moveriyadh | @hadodesigns
November 14, 2018: Another successful WSB Connect kicked off at the comfortable, creative space called INTO.
WSB Founder and owner of The Good Ship Lollipop, Sally Kennedy, welcomed guests and speakers. Then Sheelagh Arthurs, founder of Shamouaee and Candles & Chalk spoke about creating ShaMOUaee, the popular Saudi-made soy fragrance and massage candles and the upcoming Truck Art Workshop at Candles and Chalk. Guests were wowed by the venue INTO. Its founder Najla Al Saadoun and Creative Manager Hiba Al Milhim spoke about the vision and activities of the exciting creative space. INTO is a social platform that hosts workshops on various topics while maintaining a casual environment. “We promise to provide a fun, interesting, safe and beneficial outlet to empower our young girls and women,” says Najla. Jane Welsh presented her life-changing project Allegra, that empowers women with disability in Cambodia through social and economic enterprise. She also talked about the journey to find herself and her passion through a Japanese process called Ikigai.
Jou Pabalate, Managing Editor of Destination Riyadh and PR and Communication Director of Saudi Design Week encouraged women to pursue their passion projects in Saudi Arabia and to get out and connect. Jou explained that in Riyadh, you can create meaningful connections, which can be harder to do anywhere else. Ladies took home gifts of moisturizing rose spray and fragrance candle tea lights from ShaMOUaee.
@into_ksa | @shamouaee | @candlesandchalk | @jou_issance
ABOUT WOMEN’S SKILLS BUREAU
The WSB inspires and empowers women of all nationalities living in Riyadh by providing them with the tools, resources and career guidance to allow them to thrive in all aspects of their lives. By creating a community that connects experience, knowledge and skills with individuals, the WSB supports women and enables them to realise their potential both now and in the future.
WOMEN’S SKILLS BUREAU (WSB)
Email: info@wsbksa.com
LinkedIn/Facebook: @Women’s Skills Bureau
