‘Larger pool of mentors needed’

“This means that they have the ability of making good decisions and with less women in leading roles in companies the economy of the country is losing. Clearly, if women take up these roles, a company and the country stands to benefit from it,” Al Barami said.

Al Barami is one of the two women who lead programmes at the Oman Technology Fund, an indication, according to her, that Oman is already on the way when the world is still talking about it.

“There is a lot of talk in the world about gender gap in workplaces and there is little money going through female funded startups. One of Silicon Valley’s solution is to hire more women as partners in a company. We are already doing that and encouraging that here in Oman,” she added.

Inclusive

She is also the WED ambassador for Oman for the past four years and a renowned entrepreneur in the Sultanate. She says that her campaign to increase women entrepreneurs and decision makers is not about women empowerment but to include everyone to help the nation grow.

“Both male and female participation is very important in startups and both can do equally well but sometimes ecosystems don’t favour women startups,” she explained.

“The education and mentorship is not there and some women need women for mentorship so we need a larger pool of mentors. So we must integrate women into the whole ecosystem,” Al Barami added. Al Barami believes that the integration still a nascent stage but an encouragement for women to take up entrepreneurship and decision making roles.