Mastercard and Saudia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national airline, have teamed up to bring the third season of the celebrated podcast series, ‘Her Voice,’ to life. This collaboration underlines both organizations’ dedication to fostering female entrepreneurship and creating a more inclusive and equitable environment in the Kingdom.
In this latest season, the focus shifts to actionable inspiration. Mastercard and Saudia are joining hands with Blossom Accelerator, the first tech-inclusion and female-focused accelerator in Saudi Arabia, to organize three workshops across Jeddah, Riyadh, and Khobar. These workshops aim to provide valuable learning and networking opportunities for aspiring female entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and small business owners, empowering them to take their ventures to the next level.
Adding a competitive edge to this season, a contest is being launched where startups can present their business ideas on the platform priceless.com/hervoiceS3. The winners will be awarded a mentorship program by Blossom Accelerator, providing them with crucial support and guidance in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of Marketing at Saudia, emphasized the airline’s commitment to empowering Saudi women. “Saudia has always been at the forefront of empowering Saudi women, and, as the national flag carrier, we remain dedicated to this mission as we pave the way for the future with creativity and innovation. ‘Her Voice’ initiative has played a pivotal role in connecting women with their passions and inspiring countless women across the country since its inception. We are excited to continue this journey and amplify stories of Saudi female excellence with the launch of season three of the podcast,” he said.
Maria Medvedeva, Mastercard’s Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, highlighted the importance of the podcast in showcasing the achievements of Saudi women. “Amplifying the incredibly moving stories of Saudi women from all over the Kingdom, Her Voice has served as the clarion call for the recognition of excellence,” said Maria Medvedeva, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Mastercard “With women being at the heart of the Kingdom’s transformation into a global hub of innovation and nerve center of regional entrepreneurship, it is vital that we share their inspiring narratives with the rest of the world. We aim to continue doing exactly that with the third season of the podcast series, working closely with Saudia to action lasting and meaningful change.”
Season 3 of ‘Her Voice’ promises to shed light on the journeys of seven remarkable Saudi women, each overcoming unique challenges to achieve remarkable success in their fields. Scheduled to premiere on August 27, the podcast will delve into diverse passion points such as “Gaming,” “Tech,” “Sustainability,” “Culinary,” and “Sport,” with each episode featuring personal stories shared by the guests in conversation with Danyah Shafei, a well-known Saudi actress and broadcaster.
In addition to the podcast, Mastercard has reaffirmed its global commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs. The company aims to bring 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025, providing them with essential digital tools, training, insights, and solutions to help grow their businesses. Mastercard has also collaborated with Women Choice to launch the Social Innovation Incubator (SII) for Women’s Employment, a program designed to create one million jobs for women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, contributing to inclusive economic development.