BARKAT
Supporting Female Leaders
in MENA Flourish.
Philosophy of BARKAT
BARKAT, 'blessing' in Arabic, is a social initiative to support female entrepreneurs, based in MENA region, grow as leaders and support them scale their ventures. In time we aspire to support women who've had to leave their countries, due to civil unrest, come together in supportive and intentional groups to reboot their lives wherever they now find themselves.
Our bigger picture is to collectively curate a community of female leaders who are surrounded by an incredible blanket of support, from their friends, family, subject matter experts, investors and well-wishers and are provided the platforms to have an International Voice and presence. Ultimately, a humane ecosystem.
Humanity will not advance if we don't develop and support our youth. That is why participants from the BARKAT program created and choose to volunteer to support the Femme Forward initiative providing support to young females between the ages of 20-25 years of age. This is a virtuous cycle.
The BARKAT Program for Women Leaders
For female entrepreneurs based in the MENA Region
A 3- 4 month group coaching and peer to peer learning program for cohorts of up to 12 female entrepreneurs at any stage of the business and of any age. Participants, in the past, have been in their 20' and into their 50's. They have been consultants, owners of agritech businesses and vineyards, founders of virtual assistant agencies and bio fuel ventures. If you run your own venture, then you are eligible to join. You can view the list of amazing past and present participants by visiting this page.
Program Structure
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The program begins with an on-boarding session and setting your goals and intentions, for your business and for your well-being.
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Each month there are two 90 mins group / peer to peer coaching sessions a month. At the end of each call you share the insights gained and committed actions to progress towards your stated goals for the accomplishing during the program.
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In between calls you are paired up with a 'success partner' with whom you'll stay in regular contact in between the monthly group calls. You will hold each other accountable to the actions committed. You will also be able to be in regular contact with all your cohort members via a dedicated slack messaging app.
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As part of the experience, you will be invited to participate in a social impact initiative that uplifts the lives of other female leaders like yourselves or the young females in your country.
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There are regular learning events scheduled for participants past and present that you will have complete access to via Academy B.
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Much of the value of the program is in the connections, the wisdom and the support you will share with each other as participants and beyond the duration of the program.
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You will also get connected to the Barkat alumni network and other supporters, and you will be eligible for Summit B - an event for female leaders to come together to inspire, learn and create deeper support networks.
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If you are looking to raise capital for your venture, we may be able to put you in direct contact with Angel Investors / Venture Capital organizations without any guarantee of your venture receiving funding.
Apply Now for Cohort 4 that Starts on 11 March 2024
We are currently enrolling for cohort 4 that will begin in March 2024. The closing date for applications the 1 March 2024 which will be followed by an interview process and the results will be shared within 3 days of your interview. Eligibility - you are an entrepreneur based in the MENA region or an expat from the region now living elsewhere, you can speak and understand English, you have the burning desire to learn and grow and have a deeply supportive community of likeminded women leaders with you on this journey.
For any questions, email us at barkat@thegoddessolution.com
Fees & Scholarships
The full value of the program is $2,400 per person. If you are based in the MENA region, out with the UAE and Saudi, you are eligible to apply for up to 90% scholarship. And if you are in the UAE, Saudi or any of the western countries and are of MENA region heritage, you are eligible to apply for up to 60% scholarship.
Participant Testimonials
"I had the privilege of participating in the Barakat Program, and I can wholeheartedly attest to the profound impact it has had on my life, both personally and professionally. This program has been nothing short of transformative. The knowledge gained through the program's workshops has enhanced my ability to lead, collaborate, and innovate in my field. The Barakat Program has been a life-changing journey that has empowered me to become a more effective leader, a more engaged community member, and a more resilient individual. I am deeply grateful for the experiences and opportunities it has offered me, and I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seeking personal and professional growth while making a positive impact on the world. " - Ghalia Al Awick
"I have gained more confidence through the support of my cohort mates and our coach, Puneet and all the sessions we’ve had so far. This has played a key role in enabling me pitch myself and my business to investors and for the first time managed to win a grant for my company" - Yvonne Mose
"During my 4 months in Barkat, I felt more empowered than ever. Since joining this program, I have grown on a personal and professional level. I embraced opportunities and started a social impact project called Femme Forward Lebanon. I learned to say No to things and to manage my stress levels. And I was introduced to amazing women in my cohort whom I have befriended now for life. I know that I'll always have a support system because of this program. I am especially grateful for Puneet for giving us this opportunity and being an incredible mentor to us all" - Zahra Sbeih
"The program helped me get in touch with myself and with other fellow women who share my scares and challenges and who helped lift me up as I was trying to lift them up. Every woman entrepreneur should be part of the barkat program if she wants to have a successful business." - Chantal Souaid
Sponsor a Cohort
For those who believe in our vision and like to be early patrons
An embodied and fully self expressed woman is a force of nature wielding the power of transformation in our splintered world. Join us in making a profound impact on the lives of these incredible women. Your generous sponsorship will enable us to scale the transformation needed in society today. It means offering these resilient women the resources, skills, and opportunities they need to fulfil the measure of their creation and having a ripple effect in their families, on younger females as role models, the economy of their countries and the well-being of our world.
"Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women"