TO ACCELERATE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, has recently established the Soraya Salti Social Impact Scholarship Fund that will promote the continued development of young female entrepreneurs from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa regions giving social entrepreneurs an opportunity to participate in INSEAD’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme.
Established in honour of the late Soraya Salti, former President and CEO for Middle East & North Africa at INJAZ Al-Arab, the fund was instituted by INSEAD alumnus, Waleed AlBanawi, Founder and Chairman at JISR Partners, to pay tribute to the legacy of his partner Soraya and her outstanding contributions to the field of social entrepreneurship.
The INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme (ISEP), through the fund, will provide world-class social entrepreneurship education and a full scholarship to promising social entrepreneurs. As part of the application process, candidates are required to demonstrate a vision for their organisation outlining the added value ISEP would bring to their work, their community and society as a whole. Preference will be given to female applicants with a proven record and the need for financial assistance to achieve their goals.
Recipients of the Soraya Salti Social Impact Scholarship will become a part of ISEP’s network of global social entrepreneurs and participate in the network’s meetings, events and networking opportunities. They will also benefit from INSEAD’s ground-breaking research, especially work related to the role of women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Noting Soraya’s incredible legacy and outstanding contributions to social entrepreneurship in the region, Waleed AlBanawi said, “The fund will blaze a trail for social entrepreneurs and continue Soraya’s vision, work and the passion she brought to driving change, specifically through her work at INJAZ Al Arab. Her far-reaching impact, especially in the field of entrepreneurship education, has been truly transformative. We expect that the initiative will create future role models in social entrepreneurship from the Arab World who will build upon the legacy of Soraya and who will strive to make a difference with their lives and the communities they serve the way she did.”
The fund will be structured to be drawn down as scholarships are awarded. It will be open to other contributions to increase its duration and/or expand its scope.
Hans H. Wahl, Director of INSEAD’s Social Entrepreneurship Initiative said, “Candidates must demonstrate rich moral fibre, courage and a commitment to excellence and authenticity - all qualities that Soraya perfectly embodied. We are extremely grateful for the transformational role she has played across the region building social value and for Waleed’s vision of furthering her legacy. Those who are selected to participate in ISEP will draw upon the deep academic knowledge of INSEAD’s faculty and their leadership in this field to gain the most current tools and frameworks on business model innovation, strategy and leadership that will enable them to scale and grow their social enterprises. Our mission is to help these entrepreneurs apply advanced business tools and market mechanisms and empower communities to create tangible social value.”
Participants will also join ISEP’s global dynamic network of social entrepreneurs. Many have pioneered some of the most successful innovations and transformed access to products and services in long-neglected areas. The programme was launched in 2006 and has an impressive alumni network of more than 500 graduates in over 60 countries. This network promotes the exchange of ideas, innovations and expertise which serve as a foundation for further research and understanding of the field, benefiting participants and the communities from which they come.