Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 4th September, 2014 – MasterCard and the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) recently hosted a workshop on financial and business management skills as part of the Ro'Ya initiative aimed at supporting and nurturing female entrepreneurs in the UAE.
During the session, the participants got a chance to meet and learn from Raghu Malhotra, Division President, Middle East and North Africa, MasterCard. Malhotra guided the participants through an interactive dialogue during which he addressed key considerations for starting up a new business and how the entrepreneurs should approach their growth strategy.
"At MasterCard, we understand the importance of helping entrepreneurs realize their business ideas, as their success is vital for the growth of country's economy," said Raghu Malhotra. "Females in the Arab world are increasingly playing an active role in the SME segment and we are delighted to support their growth through Ro'Ya. Our workshop series is a great way for entrepreneurs to learn fundamental skills required to develop their ideas."
Following Malhotra's session, Pratik Khowala, Regional Finance Officer, Middle East and Africa at MasterCard provided an overview of the key financial principles that the participating female entrepreneurs need to consider when starting their businesses. He also elaborated on the key aspects of financial management such as cost management, cash flow, understanding financial regulations and how to address possible financial issues that may arise.
"Developing a thorough understanding of financial management is an important aspect that entrepreneurs need to keep in mind when starting their new businesses," stated Pratik Khowala. "Through this session, we hope to educate female entrepreneurs about how to manage their finances efficiently so they can apply this knowledge to their ventures and ensure that their enterprises are financially viable."
The final session on "Pitching your idea" will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 after which the Ro'Ya judging process will begin.
