Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Civil Society Leaders Exchange Experiences

More than 250 of the Middle East and North Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs, lawyers, business, and civil society leaders convened at the Dead Sea in Jordan from June 9-11 to participate in a conference hosted by MEPI.  While in Jordan, these leaders learned from experts’ wealth of knowledge, while providing opportunities to expand personal and professional networks.

The conference participants were drawn from alumni of two MEPI-funded programs designed to cultivate entrepreneurs and leaders.  The Legal and Business Fellowship Program (LBFP) provides young women in business and law an opportunity to hone their skills in the United States, gain experience, and advocate for an improved investment climate and legal reforms. The Middle East Entrepreneur Training (MEET) program provides intensive entrepreneurship and leadership training for prominent business and civil society leaders.

Both programs selected participants through competitive application processes in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

“The Middle East has an extraordinary and relatively untapped resource: young people.  They are working to create more free and prosperous communities that will be a benefit for generations to come,” stated Kent Patton, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State. “We strongly support MEPI alumni and encourage them to utilize the skills that they learn from these events and from one other to become leaders of change in their communities.”

Conference attendees had the opportunity to work with executive coaches and organizational specialists to further their skills, while learning from American and Middle Eastern experts.  This joint alumni conference allowed graduates of both programs the opportunity to share knowledge and make professional contacts from across the region.

“Collectively, alumni of these programs include brilliant recent graduates and young professionals as well as successful executives and established leaders,” said Dr. Rob Fuller, director of entrepreneurial programs for the Beyster Institute at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, which manages the MEET program.  “This event offers opportunities to strengthen the networks among them and create valuable mentorships across the region.” 

“It is gratifying to work on a program that is so strongly in tune with our mission,” added Kate Archambault, Vice President of Exchange Programs at AMIDEAST which manages the Legal and Business Fellows Program.  “Through our efforts, we are supporting the success of these alumni of MEPI-funded programs who are already accomplishing great things, and we know we will hear about them for years to come through their continuing contributions to their work, their communities, and their societies.”