On the first day of the entrepreneurial bootcamp that forms the core of training for the Fellowship for Young Women Entrepreneurs, the founders heard from two very special Jordanian guests about what makes a great company–and a great entrepreneur.
“A Day in the Life of a Startup Founder” featured Lina Hundaileh, a serial entrepreneur and chocolate baroness, and Iman Mutlaq, the CEO of Sigma Investments and Ingot Brokers. Both women care deeply for women’s empowerment and the success of women entrepreneurs, and are exemplary role models for budding female leaders.
No matter what obstacles arise, Ms. Hundaileh (above) insisted that for entrepreneurs, “failure is not an option.” Her story of founding and running a chocolate manufacturing company, and then starting Chocolography, a company that personalizes chocolate gifts, is one about leveraging her unique product and agility to navigate around competitors, rather than face them head on. To be a good entrepreneur, you have to “get out of your comfort zone–you won’t know what you are missing if you don’t.” By thinking creatively, Ms. Hundaileh was able grow her business into one of the biggest chocolate companies in Jordan.
Iman Mutlaq (above) also struck an inspirational note when speaking to the young women, saying, “I erase the words ‘I cannot’ from my life,” because with a positive attitude, one can accomplish anything. And she should know. Ms. Mutlaq is a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and empowering women. She has helped lead hundreds of women entrepreneurs towards success while serving as President of the International Association for Human Values in Jordan.
Hagop Taminian, an Investment Principal at Silicon Badia, one of Open Hands Initiative’s Community Partners, talked to the entrepreneurs from an investor’s point of view. An important lesson he relayed when facing investors is that entrepreneurs need to focus on investing in themselves and their companies, first and foremost. There is no “hacking” your way to quality. And the goal at the end of the day is always, “be so good that they can’t ignore you.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the program by checking back on the blog daily.