Over 500 Saudi experts, businesswomen, speakers and students attended the first interactive discussion forum at Dar Al-Hekma College on Thursday. The forum entitled “Saudi Women of Tomorrow: 2009” was held under the patronage of Princess Sita Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Twelve working papers were submitted by experts and Saudi businesswomen expounding their views on topics such as energizing willpower, organizing goals and priorities, enhancing assertiveness behavior and reinforcing life-work balance. “This interactive youth training forum is one of the first of its kind, highlighting women's participation in the nation's development plan and the need to provide them with the necessary skills to be able to play a role in the future of the country,” said Lama Galayeni, the forum president. She stressed the importance of coming to terms with the lack of Saudi graduates in the labor market and the limited job opportunities in the public sector. Dr. Mona Abo Sulaiman, goodwill ambassador of the UN, and executive director for the UK Foundation, introduced models from the real world, such as, Helen Keller, Oprah and Obama. “Every student has to prepare herself to be a good wife, mother and successful employee after her graduation,” she said. “A woman can work even after the retirement age if she has a will to work. But she should know how to organize herself in order to deal with people and achieve success,” she added. Sawsan Shadly, owner of SIC for organizing events, pointed out that King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the one who always defends Saudi women and “he never ignores their role in society.” Noor Humaidan, a Dar Al-Hekma student, said she was proud of “Saudi women speakers who encouraged us to start our lives with a new concept, and gave us the opportunity to express our feelings and to improve our society in a positive way.”
