Women’s Career Network organized in Algeria
Women entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Algeria meet with the Institute National du Commerce Director of Career Services and the William Davidson consultant to plan a women’s career network
A newly-organized career network between female Algerian business managers and female students at the Institute of National Commerce’s Career Center has created great excitement and enthusiasm.
“This career network initiative has generated much interest by students and businesses in Algeria and has probably increased ties of friendship with the United States,” said Don Richardson, senior projects administrator at WDI.
The business managers were anxious to share their experiences with the female students about the realities of the business world. Likewise, the students were eager to interact with the successful female managers, feeling it would provide them with a unique perspective and insight into how to succeed after they graduate from INC and begin their careers.
The idea for a networking group began with the Career Center’s Director, Dr. Ali Belkhiri, and WDI Consultant Tom Devlin discussing the idea. The director then hosted a meeting with several top female managers from the Association des Algeriennes Managers and Entrepreneurs. They all agreed that a support network would be an excellent opportunity to share their knowledge and mentor the next generation of female businesswomen in Algeria.
The Career Center was established last May as result of a Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in higher education between the Institute of National Commerce in Algeria and WDI. It is administrated by Higher Education for Development.
The objectives for the Career Center’s first year of operation include: 1) identifying summer employment opportunities; 2) identifying post-graduate employment opportunities; 3) promoting and marketing the Career Center to students and employers; 4) gathering information about the labor market and learning about the needs of employers; and, 5) establishing a mentoring network for female students with female managers.