AMMAN -- Women business leaders have urged young university students not to be limited by social conventions and chart their own path as they begin their professional lives.
At a conference organised by students from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) University of Jordan (UJ) branch earlier this week, speakers shared words of advice with graduates out of their experience in the business world.
"In our societies, we learn that women always come in second place after men," said Tamara Abu Khadra, chairperson of IEEE Women in Engineering (IEEE-WIE) in Jordan, at the conference, organised in cooperation with IEEE-WIE in Jordan, UN Women and the UJ Cisco Networking Academy.
"Some people believe that women belong [at] home, convincing us that we cannot dream; society basically draws you a plan and expects you to abide by it and follow each step."
Arab Bank Vice President Hana Nawras, who also spoke at the event, urged young women not to "let society's limits define [them]. Find your own passion; think different; and make a difference in the world."
Ranya Abu Khader, communications manager at Umniah, cited statistics indicating that the average age of entrepreneurs in Jordan is 23-24, whereas in the US it is 40.
"The Jordanian youth does not accept to work for anyone... this is a main problem in our society. One cannot lead without learning, it does not happen overnight, it takes time and it is a step-by-step process," Abu Khader added.
"Do not let life write your future... You write it and work for it."
The seven-hour conference covered debates related to employment in the private versus the public sector.
According to official figures, 40 per cent of Jordanians work for the government, Abu Khader said, stressing the importance of working in the private sector -- specifically in international companies -- to benefit the community by gaining specialised experience.
"Through determination, you will be able to achieve anything you want in life. It will not be easy; just make sure you enjoy the journey," she told an audience of university students,
Fadwa Abu Al Ghayda, who heads the Arab women engineers committee, discussed the role of professional associations like the Jordan Engineers Association in helping fresh graduates, especially women, secure employment.
Abu Al Ghayda talked about the challenges women engineers face in a male-dominated profession.
"Do not accept less than the minimum wage in your contract as an engineer. This, of course, needs cooperation between the engineer and the association," she said, responding to a question posed by a fresh engineering graduate about the challenges local engineers currently face.
© Jordan Times 2014
