Supporting Entrepreneurs and Enterprise Development Seminars (SEEDS)

Who should participate

The program caters to the needs of two different groups of women. Some of the women are focused on beginning business plan development and are in the first stages of establishing strong businesses. Others are experienced businesswomen looking for effective growth and leadership strategies. Both groups attend seminars that provide women with skills in leadership, marketing, management and finance. These seminars are conducted by Thunderbird faculty and successful entrepreneurs. Guest speakers also bring real-world experiences and share their challenges and strategies for success. Thunderbird's top-ranked faculty and educational services provide participants with a global perspective, building confidence, leadership, and a sense of global citizenship into practical-application curriculum.

Be a Women's Entrepreneur Mentor

In addition to seminar training and site visits, the women are matched with a mentor who has achieved a measure of success within the same or similar industry. The mentors arrive for the last three days of the program to meet and work with their mentee in person. These last days of the program involve hands-on work between the mentor and mentee to develop and pitch their business plan or growth strategy to a panel of reviewers. Mentors continue supporting their mentee through e-mail and phone calls for the following two years as the businesswomen translate the strategies developed on Thunderbird's campus into action at their home communities in Jordan.

The women mentors for this and other Walker Center women's entrepreneurship programs are recruited on an ongoing basis. Thunderbird alumni, friends of Thunderbird, and any businesswoman wishing to give back by being a mentor to a businesswoman from a developing economy are invited to apply to the program through the link below.

The women of the program

The women who attend this program have a variety of ideas and experiences, working in industries such as handicrafts, publishing, consulting, electronics, security systems, and consumer products. When they return to Jordan they have the tools to build not only their own business, but also to serve as role models to other aspiring businesswomen in their country. They contribute to their families, communities, local and national economies and inspire their mentors and supporters at Thunderbird with their drive and dedication.