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                                   Barkat Cohort 6 starts on 27 May 2025

Barkat: Cohort 6, May-August 2025 

Areen Hejjo

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Areen Hejjo is a Product Manager from Palestine with a background in computer engineering and digital transformation. She is passionate about building tech-driven solutions that solve real-world problems and improve user experience. With experience in software systems and cross-functional collaboration, she aims to drive impact through innovation. She looks forward to learning and connecting with inspiring women through Barkat.

Riham Wahidi

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Riham Wahidi (Palestine), Programs Manager at BuildPalestine, is a social impact expert dedicated to empowering Palestinian changemakers and advancing community-led development. With a background in program design and ecosystem building, she has years of experience supporting social enterprises across Palestine. Riham focuses on locally-driven solutions, sustainable impact, and working at the intersection of innovation, advocacy, and social justice.

Jocelyn Mourra

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Jocelyn Mourra, an architect and designer from Palestine, is transitioning into design work that creates impact and is focused on social change. She believes in a holistic approach to design — one that shapes how we live and interact with the world, from spaces and systems to everyday rituals, food, art, and learning. With a background in managing programs, coordinating teams, and leading community initiatives, Jocelyn combines creativity with strong organizational skills. She’s passionate about empowering others through thoughtful design, collaborative work, and meaningful learning experiences. She hopes to give back to her community while building a life and career that brings her joy, purpose, and growth.

Farida Erfani

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Farida Erfani is a graduate of Zarghona High School and holds a diploma in English Language from Kardan University. With six years of experience in the banking sector, she currently works as an Executive Assistant. In addition, Farida serves as the Marketing Manager at Hany Fashion, showcasing her strong skills in organization and communication.

Mariam Nasser

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Mariam Nasser is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and social impact, with a Master's degree in International Development from Sciences Po Paris. She has worked with organizations like UN Women and UNESCO, focusing on gender equality and social justice. Mariam is committed to breaking barriers for marginalized women, particularly those who are neurodivergent, and fostering supportive communities where they can thrive.

Maliha Erfani

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Maliha is a healthcare leader and entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience at a tertiary care hospital in Kabul. She has led strategic initiatives in medical operations, staff development, and service expansion. She holds a master’s degree in business administration – MBA, and has completed advanced leadership programs, including those offered by the Women’s Leadership Academy, AKU, AKF, and Inspire Group. In addition to her work in healthcare, she founded a women-focused fashion brand that blends Afghan tradition with modern design, aiming to empower girls and women through cultural expression and creativity.

Barkat: Cohort 5, July-Oct 2024

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Ghaliah Ahmad Saleh

Palestine

Ghaliah Ahmad Saleh, a pharmacist from Tulkarm, Palestine, with 8 years of experience, transitioned into creating educational books, stories, and cloth games for children through her project "Mama Ghaliah" to reduce electronic exposure. She also trains small business owners on starting and improving their ventures. Ghaliah is eager to be part of Barakat, valuing the role of internal strength for business success and looking forward to skill-building with the team.

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Mariam Eluma

Nigeria

Mariam Eluma, founder of HoBeei, leads a Nigerian startup promoting the circular economy and responsible consumption. With degrees in IT Management and Software Engineering, she has 8+ years of experience in HealthTech, Fintech, and Agriculture. Mariam is a Royal Academy of Engineering UK awardee and LEAP Africa fellow focused on sustainability and reducing inequality.

Ghaliah Ahmed Saleh

"My experience with Barakat was one of the unique experiences of its kind because it touched on our originality and getting to know our true self to reflect on our work and make our goals align with our values ​​to serve our community in the best way.
Thank you Barakat and I hope to always be part of your group."

Mariam Eluma

"The Barkat program was an exercise in leadership skills, collaboration, and being of service to the community through mentoring. I am so grateful to have gone through this program because it also gave me the opportunity to start a Femme Forward Circle that is impacting several young women to achieve their career, personal and community goals. My testimonial does not even begin to capture all the benefits I got from participating, but if you are a woman looking to assertively step into her leadership role but has always been hesitant to do so, this program will give you the motivation and resources needed to finally take charge."

Barkat: Cohort 4, Feb-April 2024

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Isabel Mansour

Lebanon

Isabelle is an experienced communications expert specializing in crisis communications. Her focus on risk management has led her to prioritize Sustainability and ESG practices, recognizing them as essential for business growth and resilience. She is also committed to empowering women through her involvement in various boards and women-led initiatives.

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Sandra Nasrallah

Lebanon

Sandra Nasrallah has dedicated 24 years to the humanitarian sector and, since 2012, has acquired significant certifications in wellbeing. Finding it challenging to pivot into new endeavors, she initiated her first Emotional Liberation Breathing sessions and has laid a solid foundation for her water kefir production.

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Lana Halabi

Lebanon

Lana A. Halabi, Co-Founder of Halabi Bookshop in Beirut, revitalized her father's bookstore in 2014, transforming it into a dynamic cultural hub. With over a decade in retail, she offers a diverse book collection both in-store and online and organizes cultural events, book signings, and a popular book club. Her work promotes reading, empowers women, and fosters community inclusivity.

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Ejide Akinbiyi

Nigeria

Ejide is an experienced eCommerce strategist with over 14 years in Sales, Partnership, Relationship Management, B2B Marketing, and Business Development across banking and tech sectors. She is the Co-founder & CEO of MaterialsPro, an on-demand eProcurement and supply chain platform for home builders.

Barkat: Cohort 3, Oct-December 2023 

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Cybelle Maalouf

ex-Lebanon > Greece

Cybelle is the founder of ave destination weddings. She orchestrates impactful weddings in Greece, Lebanon, Spain, and beyond, guided by a set of values. These include donations made on behalf of each couple to NGOs fighting to end the global child marriage crisis and girls empowerment.

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Neha Mehta

Nigeria

Neha Mehta is both the accomplished CEO of Tingo Foods and an avid explorer of life's diverse dimensions.  With a steadfast commitment to excellence, Neha Mehta has steered her own businesses as a founder to remarkable heights, infusing it with innovative ideas and profound insights. 

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Fatima Mekdad

Lebanon

Fatima is the founder of Karima cooperative. She studied banking and also obtained a certificate in food safety, which is essential for her business .She has a variety of interests. She loves social work and serving people, for this she works in her own social organisation .

Karima expresses her love for the project, which is full of life, innovation and knowledge. She also likes to mingle with rural women and exchange experiences and pass them on to others.

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Nadia Mekdad

Lebanon

Nadia is a passionate educator with 8 years of experience. Throughout her career, she’s made a significant impact on  students' lives by focusing on  social-emotional learning and English language and goes beyond to ensure students' success.

Currently, she’s writing her Master’s thesis on the integration of artificial intelligence in teaching. She works as a commutation officer at Al Daleel Association. 

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Suhad Hamd

Lebanon

Suhad is the founder of Dimples. Dimples offers nutrition services and produces healthy snacks using the dehydration process which retains the food’s original nutritional value. Their snacks are healthy yet delicious and they have become the natural substitute for sugary, salty or greasy snacks. Dimples contributes to the local community by purchasing fresh produce from local farmers and creating job opportunities for rural housewives to increase their income

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BARKAT PROGRAM

Part of The Goddess Solution

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. We are curating 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.  

Barkat: Cohort 2, June-September 2023 

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Sarah Joseph

Keserwan District, Lebanon

Sarah is the founder of Live bio, producers of natural and artisanal products from an family domain in Lebanon. Our family of agricultural products promotes organic agriculture and artisanal food processing techniques in the region of Qattine, Ftouh Keserwan.

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Ghalia Al Awik 

Tripoli, Lebanon

Ghalia is the founder of Positive Vibes a social initiative that works on building a generation of enabled positive mindsets for youth living in Lebanon through opening their opportunities and enhancing their social skills.

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Mona Makkawi

Beirut, Lebanon

Mona is the Founder of Konsult. s.a.r.l, where she works with

organizations on achieving success through three main pillars - Consulting, Coaching & Training. Mona is known for her ability to drive transformational change in organizations, developing and implementing comprehensive HR solutions

 

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Chantal Souaid

Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

Chantal Souaid is a productivity coach and founder of The Weekly Resolution®. She developed The Weekly Resolution® concept that revolves around the Uno-Trio® life balance concept and achieving goals one week at a time. She is also certified in Logotherapy, and a certified John Maxwell coach, trainer, and speaker. 

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Beirut, Lebanon

Zahra is the co-founder of Sbeih Virtual Assistance Agency (SVA), a leading virtual assistance company based in Lebanon. SVA is committed to making delegation easy, trustworthy and accessible. We recognize that effective delegation is essential for achieving growth without sacrificing balance.

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Beirut, Lebanon

Joanna inherited the Château Cana vineyard from her father, Dr. Fadi Gerges, a man who converted a forgotten land into a vineyard at the very heart of Mount-Lebanon. The aim - to encourage the families of around 30 villages to come back to their homes after the civil war and to turn abandoned lands into vineyards. She continues to ensure this legacy sparkles even brighter. 

Ghalia Al Awik

"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"

Chantal Souaid

"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 you want to have a successful business"

Zahra Sbeih

"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."

Barkat: Cohort 1, Feb-May 2023

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Lamia Hamroumi

Tunis, Tunisia

Lamia and her sister, Asma, are the creators of naturally dyed clothing and accessories made from natural fiber fabrics with an innovative ancestral style and a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle. Very artisan and very heart filled! 

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Yvonne Mose

Kisii County, Kenya

Yvonne is the founder of Sbike Biofuels, producers of Boka Biofuel which is a bio-ethanol based cooking fuel 100% made from food waste and by-products and is creating synergy between climate change adaptation and mitigation and women and youth economic empowerment. 

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Philo Modu

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Philo is the founder of Movazi Afrika. An events venture that coordinates/manages seamless digital events designed for engagement that spark exceptional experience which empowers people to accomplish more. Events they curate include Exhibitions and Expos, Conferences, Workshops, Webinars.

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Shakirat Animashaun

FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

Shakirat is a serial entepreneur and is the founder of Flyingdove Mills Plc, a ClimateTech company producing Biochar from Agric waste using Pyrolysis Technology providing clean cooking briquettes saving women & children's health.

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Yvonne Mose

"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"

Lamia Hamroumi

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the first ever Barkat program. I am honored to be certified by Barkat. Your elegance and moral support give me the strength, confidence and power to overcome my fears and speak in English. Comfortably finish my work in record time and overcome all the pressures that were imposed on me"
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