Women Choice, an international organization dedicated to promoting women’s careers and enterprises, has partnered with PwC Academy Middle East to launch a pioneering accelerator program. This initiative, tailored for mid-career Saudi women, began with a highly successful pilot event in Riyadh last month. The program is designed to host 25 women per session, providing participants from various industries with essential leadership skills and business knowledge.
The inaugural session introduced the fundamentals of business development, featuring best practices and case studies on fostering enduring client relationships. This effort aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to increase women’s participation in the workforce significantly.
Samar Sayegh, PwC partner and leader of PwC’s Academy Middle East, highlighted the global recognition of the evolving role of women in the workforce. “The role of ‘women at work’ has evolved, and globally leaders recognize that boosting women’s workforce participation at work is not just a moral imperative, but also has a significant measurable impact on the sustained performance of the organization. At PwC, we are deeply committed to supporting the economic and societal growth across the region and our collaboration with Women Choice further reinforces this commitment. We are excited to see the difference this makes to the next-gen women leaders of Saudi Arabia.”
Nezha Alaoui, founder and CEO of Women Choice, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership with PwC. “We are honored to be partnering with a renowned organization such as PwC, which has consistently supported projects that help women grow their careers or entrepreneurial endeavors. With this accelerator program, we are joining forces between PwC and Women Choice teams to achieve even more impactful results for women across various industries in Saudi. The first event was a full house with a lot of positive feedback from attendees, and we look forward to the next sessions and to continue this beautiful journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
PwC Middle East’s commitment to empowering women is evident through this collaboration, building on a rich history of supporting women’s career growth with digital tools, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. This initiative is part of a broader collaboration with PwC Academy Middle East and the corporate sustainability team, aiming to integrate sustainable practices with professional development.
Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable increase in women’s workforce participation, doubling from 17.4 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2023, exceeding the targets set for 2030. This partnership between PwC and Women Choice is a significant step towards further enhancing the role of women in the Saudi workforce, contributing to the nation’s economic and societal advancement.