How it all began …

My journey begins in the 1990s as a student of Studies of the Arab World, Politics, and Public Law. What may seem like a standard academic path was transformed by a pivotal year that took me „from the Rhine to the Nile,“ studying at the American University in Cairo and living with an Egyptian host family.

I’ll never forget my incredible host mother, Auntie Raifa – a force of nature, full of warmth, wit, and determination. She shattered every stereotype I had grown up with and sparked a deep curiosity in me about the lives and strength of women in the Arab world.

This formative experience became the catalyst for what would eventually evolve into a deeply fulfilling career in intercultural training, coaching, and teaching. From that moment forward, I encountered inspiring women across the region—in universities, back rooms, cafés, offices, workshops, and boardrooms—who shared common threads of courage, resilience, and determination to shape their societies.

These early experiences instilled in me a profound understanding that would define my professional approach: „Behind every culture are individuals with powerful stories, and real connection begins where stereotypes end.“ And I remembered my beloved grandmother’s words: “It is better to talk with each other than about each other.”

Many of the inspiring encounters, personal stories, and meaningful conversations I experienced throughout this journey found their way into my book “Die neuen arabischen Frauen” (“The New Arab Women”). In this book, 26 remarkable and successful women share their voices, experiences, challenges, and aspirations — offering authentic insights into their lives, leadership journeys, and visions for the future.

Ever since, I have been passionately committed to strengthening the dialogue, exchange, and collaboration between German and Arab women leaders. In 2007, I initiated the first Arab-German Businesswomen Dialogue at the annual Arab-German Business Forum of Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Arab International Women’s Forum — a platform that has since become a well-established and respected forum for intercultural exchange and leadership dialogue.

In 2018, I founded the German-Arab Women Business Leaders (GAWBL) initiative and organized the first German-Arab Women Business Leaders Summit (GAWBL Summit 2018), held under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in cooperation with Ghorfa. The summit brought together more than 200 high-profile leaders, experts, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers from Germany, the Arab world, and the international community.

In 2019, the German-Arab Women Business Leaders (GAWBL), in partnership with the Qatari Businesswomen Association, launched the Young Women Program (YWP) Study Tour, bringing together young female business leaders from Germany and Qatar.

As a unique and tailor-made initiative, the program offered young women from Qatar insights into Germany’s business and educational landscape while fostering intercultural exchange, mutual learning, and international collaboration.

Through capacity building, training, self-development, and the exchange of best practices, the YWP Study Tour empowers young women to grow together, strengthen global connections, and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future.

In response to the global pandemic, we launched the GAWBL Virtual Meeting Series, creating a dynamic international platform for dialogue on key topics such as Women in STEM, Women in Green Energy, and Women as Catalysts for Change, among many other forward-looking themes shaping our societies and economies.

Today, GAWBL brings together a growing international network of women leaders committed to shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future. And the journey continues …