A DBWC and INSEAD Forum: “Transition to Entrepreneurship: Build Your Strategy”

The Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), The UAE Women in Business Club of the INSEAD National Alumni Association have successfully wrapped up a business forum “Transition to Entrepreneurship: Build Your Strategy.” The forum was designed to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among women and aimed to bolster their skills in various critical areas such as developing effective entrepreneurship strategies, setting up startups, managing financial resources, and building robust business networks.

More than 90 participants attended the event, as the speakers offered attendees a comprehensive understanding of the entrepreneurial journey. Participants explored the various challenges and opportunities associated with establishing startups in today's competitive business environment. The discussions also revolved around ways to enhance the skills, knowledge, and experience of participants, equipping them with the tools needed for successful entrepreneurial ventures.

The forum comprised of three key panel discussions. The first focused on the journey to becoming an entrepreneur and ways to craft a business strategy tailored to each project or company. The second session explored the nuances of fundraising, building robust social and professional networks, and gaining the knowledge required to instil investor confidence in achieving substantial returns. It also delved into when to engage legal advisors and what equity splits will be negotiated at each step of fundraising.

The third and final segment was a masterclass that focused on positioning businesses for success and building a coherent strategy for fundraising, a scalable execution plan, and expansion on a large scale. The session highlighted the pivotal role of innovation and technology in driving this expansion and optimising labour and efficiency. Furthermore, the session underscored the importance of cultivating employee motivation, which is key to sparking creativity, ensuring compliance with business norms, and facilitating overall organisational development.