Applicants obtain exclusive training by DBWC think tank partners INNOVEST ME, with the support of Manchester Business School

Dubai, UAE, 16 April 2014 – Ro’Ya, a joint collaboration between the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) and MasterCard today hosted its first workshop at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry focused on “Business Plan Fundamentals”. The half-day workshop gave Ro’Ya applicants exclusive training by INNOVEST ME, a company that specializes in business startups and SME expansions in the Middle East. The Module was sponsored by Manchester Business School (MBS) Middle East Centre in Dubai, the regional centre of the UK’s largest campus-based business and management school.

The first of the Ro’Ya workshop series saw more than 45 Ro’Ya applicants attend the workshop which was presented by Bassam Falah, Founder and Managing Director, and Moatassem Moatez, Business Partner, both from INNOVEST.

“We have received great support from the community and business community since the launch of the Ro’Ya initiative earlier in January this year,” said Mrs. Raja Al Gurg, President of DBWC. “This is a direct reflection of the need to support women in business and the opportunities that are awaiting flourishing entrepreneurs in the UAE. Now that the submissions have closed for Ro’Ya, we are extremely proud to have started the workshop sessions as we will provide further training and education to the ladies which will enable them to strengthen their business plans and eventually aid in resubmitting a stronger and more feasible plan that will make them the winner of Ro’Ya 2014.”

The first of the nine workshop sessions focused on the fundamentals of a business plan which gave participants an in-depth understanding of the basic requirements of drafting a business plan. Topics included: Strategic planning framework, main habits of strategic thinkers, EDSODA planning principles, the planning cycle, components of a business plan, creating a business back-up plan, techniques and practical tools to implement business plans and barriers to effective planning and means for improvement.

Bassam Falah, managing director of INNOVEST ME added: “We have been captivated by DBWC’s mission of supporting women entrepreneurs in the UAE, as it is very much in line with our company core values and corporate social responsibility programs. Having launched many startups in the region, we have lived the challenges entrepreneurs face and are very glad that we will be able to guide Ro’Ya participants through their exciting journey. Bringing onboard MBS as active sponsors of the first module “Business Plan Fundamentals” was a great plus, as participants have also benefited from the academic wealth of one of the world’s top ranked business schools.”

The DBWC and MasterCard will be hosting a series of workshops which carry through till October 2014. All sessions will be hosted at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will be facilitated by industry experts from both parties along with exclusive sessions with internationally recognized industry specialists.

For more information about the respective Ro’Ya workshops or to learn more about the initiative and the DBWC, visit www.dbwc.ae