When I joined the MENAGEN Mentoring and Publishing Programme (MPP), I thought I was simply signing up for academic support. I didn’t realise I was stepping into a space that would shape not only my research, but also the way I felt about myself as a scholar. It became a place where I felt encouraged, guided, and, perhaps most importantly, believed in.

Working with Professor Maura McAdam was one of those rare experiences that stays with you. Her kindness, depth of insight, and genuine investment in my progress gave me the confidence to push my ideas further, question more boldly, and communicate with greater clarity. Having such open access to someone of her calibre felt like a privilege I never took for granted. And it wasn’t just Maura, MENAGEN’s wider community quickly became a circle I leaned on. Whenever I reached out with an ad hoc question, uncertainty, or moment of doubt, someone was there. No hesitation, no gatekeeping, just generosity and support.

This year, I experienced a milestone I will never forget during the RENT Conference 2025 (Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business), hosted in Enschede in the Netherlands and supported by the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB). At the gala dinner, one of those moments that like an Oscar moment, I heard my name announced as part of the awards segment. My paper was nominated for the José María Veciana Best Paper Award. As a solo author and a PhD candidate, being recognised alongside mid-career and established researchers felt surreal. It was one of those moments where you pause and realise: maybe I really can do this. That nomination wasn’t just an acknowledgement of my work, it reflected the encouragement, mentorship, and community that quietly carried me forward.

The MENAGEN webinars, the conversations, the guidance on methodology and writing, the shared wisdom from senior scholars, these became touchpoints that shaped my growth in ways I never expected. What could have been an overwhelming process became something I genuinely enjoyed. There was always someone willing to offer direction, share insights, or simply reassure me that I was on the right track.

But beyond the academic support, what I value most is the feeling of belonging. MENAGEN never felt like “just another network.” It felt like an academic home, a space that nurtures, supports, and celebrates its members with sincerity. A place where early-career researchers aren’t just welcomed; they are actually uplifted.

I carry this sense of community with me as I continue my journey, grateful, humbled, and committed to contributing back to the same ecosystem that gave me so much. I look forward to continuing this shared mission of advancing gender and entrepreneurship scholarship across the MENA region and beyond”.