Princess Ameerah: "Every NGO needs to have a business leader"
HH Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary General of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundations which is chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, delivered a lecture on "Running an NGO as a Profitable Business" at the ESADE Business School on November 7th, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.
Princess Ameerah commenced her visit to ESADE by touring the new MBA facilities, and meeting with ESADE representatives including Pedro Fontana, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fundació ESADE, Eugenia Bieto, Director General of ESADE, Alfons Sauquet, Dean of ESADE Business School Francisco Longo, Secretary General of ESADE. She also attended a reception with Saudi Arabian students in ESADE and discussed their education, aspirations and career plans.
Her Highness delivered a lecture on "Running an NGO as a Profitable Business" and discussed social leadership with a selective group of ESADE MBA students. The session was highly interactive and students had a chance to ask many questions about the future of leadership and the importance of social responsibility in businesses.
Princess Ameerah commented: "Some people think that the development field is not like the business field and they are wrong. Every NGO needs to have a business leader; the only difference with regular businesses is that your profits are helping people live better lives."
The audience, which consisted of MBA students from various backgrounds found the session to be very motivational. Her Highness concluded her lecture by emphasizing the importance of handling criticism and believing in personal goals and dreams. She adds: "Step into what you believe in."
The event was also attended by Ms. Najla Tarabzouni, Communications and Media Manager at Alwaleed Foundation and Mrs. Amal Algarafi, Office Manager of Vice Chairwoman.
As Vice-Chairwoman & Secretary General and Head of the Executive Committee of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation in Saudi Arabia and the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation -Global, Princess Ameerah supports a wide range of humanitarian interests in both Saudi Arabia and around the world. The Foundation is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs and projects aimed at poverty alleviation, disaster relief, interfaith dialogue and, perhaps most importantly at this time in our history, women's empowerment.
Most recently, Princess Ameerah inaugurated the new Department of Islamic Art at the Musée du Louvre in Paris with Prince Alwaleed in the presence of President François Hollande to which Alwaleed Foundation donated US$20 million in 2005. This historic gift to the Louvre is the largest made by the Foundation and represents its ongoing commitment to the preservation of Islamic heritage and the promotion of global cultural understanding.
Princess Ameerah has spoken out publicly in the US on NBC's Today, CNN International and NPR, as well as in Time magazine and Foreign Policy Magazine in support of both women's right to drive in her country of Saudi Arabia and the broader issue of women's civil rights to contribute fully in Saudi society. Noted for her forward thinking and compassionate approach to the current social and humanitarian status in the Middle East, she has been featured in Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Huffington Post and was interviewed by Piers Morgan. As member of the Clinton Global Initiative, She spoke in a special session at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative, entitled, Voices for Change in the Middle East & North Africa, in which she discussed her views on the current movements for change in the region with President Clinton. And this year, Princess Ameerah participated again at the CGI 2012 in a panel titled "Communication by Design: Inspirational Change Agents" that was moderated by Piers Morgan and was aired on Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN. Her self-described approach to reform is one of "evolution not revolution" and it is this positive and determined perspective that defines her view of the future of her country.
Princess Ameerah is a magna cum laude graduate of New Haven University with a degree in Business Administration. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Silatech, an international youth employment organization with a focus on youth empowerment in the Arab world through the creation of jobs and greater economic opportunities, and by working to find new and innovative approaches to the challenge of unemployment in the region. She is an honorary member of the Disabled Children's Association. Being an honorary board member of the Saudi Volunteering Society, she established Tasami Centre, an umbrella for volunteering groups providing them with the legal, social and financial tools and skills to ensure that these groups can fulfill their full potential. One of those volunteering groups that was established by Princess Ameerah is "Smile Group", catering for supporting unfortunate children of the Saudi Society, in orphanages, hospital wards and disability centers in support of her vocal advocacy about her views and engagement with youth in the region and getting them involved in their local community.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlNoxVFTszc
© Press Release 2012
