ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) has announced the launch of its mentorship initiative titled, the Future Female Leaders Programme. The initiative is aimed at developing the next generation of female finance leaders in the Middle East, and pairs prominent women in the finance sector with aspiring members and students.
The ICAEW’s Programme will run from 24 April to 24 July, with applications closing on 22 April 2024.
It was highlighted that the Middle East region has the largest gender gap to close at 62.6%, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report – a gap which is particularly wide in the finance sector.
The initiative will facilitate the exchange of experiences and insights to propel more women into leadership roles, it was shared.
The ICAEW noted that increasing the number of female finance leaders is beneficial for both business and the economy, with studies showing that a more balanced share of women, particularly in senior positions, boosts innovation, resilience, and financial performance.
It also contributes to greater economic empowerment for women by providing opportunities for career advancement and financial independence and closing gender gaps in income and wealth, the ICAEW shared.
As such, the Programme aims to enhance aspiring members’ leadership skills, expand their professional network, and improve their business decision-making skills through confidential group discussions and workshops.
Sessions will address challenges for women in the industry, including building a career, leadership, taking risks, resilience, personal branding, work/life balance, and the role of sponsors, coaches and mentors.
Three mentors have been confirmed for the first cohort:
- Amanda Line, Entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director
- Sana Khater, CFO and Board Member
- Jaimi Raikundalia, Partner, Deloitte