Study tour 2025 In Riyadh
A Journey into Women’s Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia
Sponsored by the Babson Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (BGCEL), the MENAGEN 2025 Study Tour offered 38 international and local scholars a transformative exploration into the evolving landscape of women’s entrepreneurship in Riyadh – Saudi Arabia. The 2.5 day immersive experience held Jan 18-20, 2025 included visits to Alnahda Society, STC Inspire U, PIF Co-Builder and Princess Nourah University where participants engaged with impressive local entrepreneurs including Entessar Darbah, Maha Aljawini, Reham ElGhizy, Naif Alzahrani amongst others.
All participants reported gaining invaluable insights into the opportunities and challenges for women’s entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. The Study Tour also included academic professional development sessions led by the world renowned professors Diana Hechavarria, Maura McAdam, Susan Marlow, and Heidi Neck. We even managed a walk and talk session at Turaif which inspired new collaborations on exciting projects.
During the MENAGEN 2025 Study Tour, a Special Issue was launched in the International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship (IJGE): Title: Contextualizing Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Arab World. Guest Editors: MENAGEN Co-Founders and Co-Chairs Haya Al-Dajani, Hayfaa Tlaiss, and Sara Alshareef.
Study Tour Highlights
1- Engage with women entrepreneurs and industry experts in Saudi Arabia.
2- Participate in expert-led professional development workshops focused on gender theories, women’s entrepreneurship research, design thinking, and entrepreneurship education.
3- Collaborate with international peers to foster innovative research and new cross-cultural projects.
Photo Gallery
A collection of images showcasing key moments from the MENAGEN 2025 Study Tour, highlighting the inspiring visits, interactive workshops, and meaningful discussions that shaped this transformative experience.
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants at Apple Developer Academy, PNU
Study Tour – PNU
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants | PIF
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants Group Photo at InspireU
PIF
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants | PIF
KAFD
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants at Princess Nourah University (PNU)
MENAGEN Study Tour Participants at Princess Nourah University (PNU)
Testimonials
Read the inspiring experiences and reflections from the members who have participated in the study tour 2025. The testimonials are shared anonymously to respect the privacy of the participants.
It raised interests around recognizing and understanding the developments taking place in KSA, particularly with regards to business startup support for women. It further drew attention towards the importance of exploring and researching this under-explored context in such ways that can change stereotypical understandings and reflect more accurate realities.
It was an excellent opportunity to connect with amazing peers, who are supportive and in a way formed this ECR community/sisterhood for us, and it surely expanded my academic network. Thank you for organizing such a meaningful program and help in breaking the stereotypes we have about particular cultures.
It was an enriching experience for me on all levels. Even sessions that were not directly relevant to my research were still valuable and broadening my perspective about the Ecosystem in KSA.