Hosted at Al Hamra, the full-day event featured the signing of an MoU with global learning and leadership platform PLAYBOOK and two workshops sponsored and facilitated by Kuwait-based educational consultancy Edvantage
Kuwait, May 24, 2025 – On Thursday, the Kuwait Women’s Economic Empowerment Platform (KWEEP) achieved a significant milestone in its mission to advance women’s leadership and professional development in Kuwait’s private sector with the launch of the KWEEP Mentorship Program, along with the inaugural workshops of its new Future
Women Leaders Series, designed to strengthen the pipeline of women leaders across various industries.
The mentorship program, officially launched during an MoU ceremony, was developed in partnership with Playbook, a global leadership and career development platform founded in the MENA region, with a network spanning 100 countries and a community of over 10,000 women professionals. The workshops were sponsored and facilitated by
Edvantage, a Kuwait-based education consultancy and KWEEP Signatory. The full-day event took place at Al Hamra Tower’s Business Center, with the venue generously provided by Al Hamra Real Estate, also a KWEEP Signatory.
Representing KWEEP, the MoU was signed by attending representatives: Salma Al-Hajjaj, Chief Human Resources Officer at Gulf Bank; Fatimah Dashti, Human Resources Director at Alghanim Industries; and Aminah Al Matouq, Senior Strategic HR Business Partner at Kuwait Finance House (KFH). Wafa AlObaidat, Founder and CEO of Playbook, signed on behalf of the platform and also provided an overview of the program and its features. In her opening remarks, Salma Al-Hajjaj emphasized the private sector’s commitment to empowering women in the
workplace by equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to succeed in their careers.
Commenting on the occasion, Mrs. Salma Al-Hajjaj, Chief Human Resources Officer at Gulf Bank, said:
“At Gulf Bank, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that enhance women’s professional and financial capabilities. The Future Female Leaders Series marks a strategic step forward in enabling women in Kuwait to access leadership positions across various fields. What makes this series unique is its flexible and independent
training opportunities, including workshops and panel discussions led by international experts, allowing participants to tailor their involvement based on their interests and schedules.”
Mrs. Al-Hajjaj also highlighted Gulf Bank’s pride in being a Founding Partner of KWEEP, adding:
“We strongly believe that collective action is essential to building a thriving workplace that champions women’s empowerment and promotes diversity and inclusion. KWEEP plays a crucial role in providing support, mentorship, and a platform where ambition is met with real opportunity for every working woman.”
Alghanim Industries Human Resources Director, Ms. Fatimah Dashti, said:“At Alghanim Industries, we don’t just talk about women’s advancement—we invest in it. This mentorship program is a critical step in developing Kuwait’s next generation of women leaders, and as a Founding Partner of KWEEP, we’re focused on driving meaningful results. We’ve seen time and again that when women succeed in leadership roles, entire organizations thrive. This program offers women the tools, connections, and confidence to break barriers and reach their full potential. We’re putting our resources behind it because it matters—not just for participants, but for the future of Kuwait’s private sector.”
KFH Senior Strategic HR Business Partner, Ms. Aminah Al Matouq, said: “Today’s activities reflect KWEEP’s mission to create meaningful access to leadership tools, mentorship, and growth opportunities for women across Kuwait. As a Founding Partner, KFH is proud to support this important next step and to champion women throughout every stage of their careers.”
Playbook Founder and CEO, Ms. Wafa AlObaidat, said: “We’re proud to bring Playbook’s global leadership platform—rooted in the MENA region—to this powerful partnership with KWEEP. Our goal is to provide women in Kuwait with not just mentorship, but a full ecosystem: one that blends expert coaching, on-demand learning, and a global community. This collaboration represents our shared commitment to closing the leadership gap and driving measurable, long-term impact for women across industries.”
The KWEEP Mentorship Program, developed in partnership with Playbook, is designed to support the professional growth of women in Kuwait through mentorship, training, and leadership development. Participants gain access to expert-led masterclasses, industry-recognized certificates, and a global network of mentors and professionals from Kuwait, the wider GCC, and beyond. Open to women across all sectors, the program offers a flexible and impactful pathway for building confidence, advancing careers, and navigating key career transitions. To learn more and apply as a mentor or mentee, please visit www.get-playbook.com/kweep-mentorship-program .
To complement the program’s launch, KWEEP also introduced the Future Women Leaders Series, a new initiative offering a flexible lineup of standalone training opportunities. These include workshops, panel discussions, and networking events tailored to empower the next generation of women leaders in Kuwait’s private sector. The series allows participants to engage in events that best fit their interests and schedules, with no long-term commitment required.
The series debuted with two workshops: ‘Career Mapping and Intentional Growth’ and ‘Financial Freedom Foundations and Building Wealth’. The sessions were sponsored and facilitated by Edvantage, a Kuwait-based education consultancy and KWEEP Signatory, as part of the company’s commitment to providing accessible, practical, and transformative learning experiences. Thanks to their support, the workshops were offered at no cost to participants.
Led by Dana Khamis, a Partner at Edvantage, alongside Lanre Adeoye and Lara Fakhry, MBA candidates from London Business School (LBS), the sessions welcomed more than 100 women from 19 different companies. Attendees represented a wide range of professional levels, from early-career professionals to executive leaders.
Edvantage Partner, Senior Instructor & Team Leader, Ms. Dana Khamis, said: “We’re excited to partner with KWEEP in delivering a mentorship program that empowers women to grow, lead, and thrive in their professional journeys. Together, we’re equipping women in Kuwait with access to world-class mentorship, curated
content, and a community that nurtures their professional and personal development.”
Spearheaded and supported by Kuwait’s private sector, KWEEP aims to facilitate collaborative, gender-focused initiatives in the workplace that target female career development and visibility among signatory companies. The platform is steered by its Founding Partners, who include eight of Kuwait’s leading private sector companies—Alghanim Industries, Equate Petrochemical, Gulf Bank, Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (HEISCO), Kuwait Finance House (KFH), Limak Insaat Kuwait S.P.C., the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), and Zain Kuwait.
KWEEP signatories represent a diverse cross-section of industries, from banking and financial services to retail and consumer goods. Any private sector company operating in Kuwait, regardless of industry or size, is invited to join KWEEP at no cost, provided they are committed to implementing gender diversity programs and activities that economically empower women. To learn more or join KWEEP as a Signatory or member, please visit kweep.org or contact signatory@kweep.org
