Anonymous, 2004–5 participant

What I believe is valuable to be considered in planning future alumnae activities is how to start up and manage a business. Not just how to finance, but down to managing the day-to-day activities, managing your time especially if you have a day job, how to be innovative, customer retention...etc. and all that jazz.

Dina Hegazy, 2004–5 participant (Egypt)

As a graduate of the MEPI BIP program, I think the three topics that would be most valuable to us are—

• Entrepreneurship
• Time management
• Corporate governance

These are core competencies that we need to help us reach higher decision-making levels within corporations and ultimately be able to run our own businesses.

Leila Laouti in New York

Leila Laouti, 2005–6 participant (Algeria)

The MEPI BIP program is such a special experience at different levels. It would be good for everyone to share her own experience with other alumnae. The end of this program is only the beginning of new steps and new experiences, which we have to make great….

Some of the topics I suggest exploring further with the other alumnae are—

• How to maintain contacts and build a strong and a useful network. We should learn how to keep in touch and strengthen our relationships. We need to know ways to be the bridge between our different countries, how to spread and share our ideas, projects, and dreams. Our different backgrounds and experiences are our strength and should be our motive to remain linked.
• How to be proactive in our societies. We should be aware of our role as educated women and leaders in society and its social and economic progress. We have to improve our skills continuously and be involved with other people, especially with empowering women. Everyone should look for local and international possibilities for promoting women's projects; find ways and tools for their financing, monitoring, and assistance.
• How to always be innovative and creative. One of the things I have learned from this experience is to be always a learner and not a "knower," by being always open and thinking always outside the box. We should learn to be like that in our environment and enable other people to act this way as well. We will have to improve our own creativity and help the creativity of others to shine.

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