State Department Bolsters Arab Women's Empowerment through Second Middle Eastern Women's Business Internship Program

The program, conducted in partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is designed for women, ages 22-32, who are already active in business in their countries and who show promise of exerting leadership in advancing private sector entrepreneurship upon their return. The program is a unique combination of both the study of U.S. business culture and internships that permit the participants to practice and enhance management and business skills while working in a U.S. business environment. Past alumnae include three women who have started new companies in the 12 months.

A customized executive MBA program lasting one month will be assured by Emory University’s Goizueta Business School for the more advanced entrepreneurs and lawyers, and a similar program for newer businesswomen will be conducted at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. The academic programs include U.S. business culture and practice, leadership development, women in business, marketing, accounting, business law and ethics, entrepreneurship, and information technology.

In December, each woman will begin a three-month internship at U.S. businesses and law firms. Some firms such as Boeing, Intel, Microsoft, Verizon, W.W. Grangier and Fulbright & Jaworski are in their second year of participation. The interns return to Washington at the completion of their stay for an end-of-program workshop where they will meet with senior Department of State officials as well as make visits to the Congress.