The Faculty of Business Administration at Beirut Arab University organized a seminar titled "Leading the Lebanese Economy Through Women's Empowerment." The event was attended by entrepreneur and former Minister of State for Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth in Lebanon H.E Violette Khairallah Safadi, and expert in economics and public policy Mrs. Hazar Caracalla, along with University Secretary General Dr. Omar Houri, Faculty Dean Professor Mohamed Abou El-Naga, Assistant Dean Professor Hanadi Taher, and a large crowd of academic and administrative staff and students.
In her opening address, Assistant Dean Professor Hanadi Taher stated that "women in the economic sphere are not just half of society, but represent society in its entirety." She highlighted the Lebanese woman as an excellent model of resilience in crisis management, regardless of her educational background, and noted that the meeting's objective was to raise awareness about the importance of enhancing women's role and empowering their leadership. In addition, the Dean Professor Mohamed Abou El-Naga pointed out that the discussion topic, empowering women through their participation in the labor market, entrepreneurship, and unpaid work is a fundamental and decisive factor for driving economic growth. He explained that estimates suggest women's economic empowerment contributes to poverty reduction and leads to an increase in Gross Domestic Product by boosting production, income, savings, and tax contributions, ultimately helping to build a more diversified and resilient economy and achieve better societal outcomes.
The dialogue was moderated by Dr. Hoda Alaeddine and Dr. Souleika Alaeddine with former Minister Safadi and expert Caracalla, focusing on three main axes: Leadership and Empowerment, Women's Resilience and Leadership Challenges, and Entrepreneurship and Impact. In her speech on leadership and the role of Lebanese women, Her Excellency Violette Khairallah Safadi emphasized that "the true leader is the one who assumes responsibility and makes difficult decisions for the community's benefit." She stressed that success is tied to work, perseverance, and commitment, not gender, noting that despite paying a heavy price since 2019, Lebanese women have proven their ability to recover and create opportunities from the heart of crises. She revealed that her entry into decision-making roles was challenging, as she had to prove that her presence was not merely to fill a quota but because she was capable of achievement and making a difference, viewing leadership as a responsibility and a mission, not a privilege.
For her part, Ms. Hazar Caracalla discussed her experience in international organizations, asserting that it offers a comprehensive vision extending beyond Lebanon and the region, acting as an "idea factory" that allows for benefiting from multiple experiences to formulate effective development programs and policies. She clarified that international work provides the capacity to compare and assess vision setting, prioritization, program design, and institutional capabilities. The discussion concluded with interventions from the audience, reinforcing the belief that the Lebanese woman, with her strong faith, solid will, and ambitious vision, does not wait for opportunities to appear but builds them herself to prove her leadership and status.
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