Layan Damanhouri

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Over 100 leading multinational and local companies were attracted to the biggest career fair in the Kingdom for women that toured Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah to promote Saudi women to the job market.



This year’s Glowork event, carrying the theme “A Step Ahead”, offered a jumpstart for job seekers to find their passion and follow their ambitions by listening to different experts.



The fair in Jeddah was held at the Grand Hilton Ballroom and finished Wednesday.



Glowork CEO Khalid Khudair says the fair aims “to provide platform job seekers to meet with experts, get information and attend workshops and sessions that help them address their target companies and be ready for interviews and evaluation programs.”



A series of panel discussions hosted different influential speakers to present motivational talks to university graduates.



Renowned entrepreneurs and leaders shared their experiences with the audience. Individuals from various fields discussed secrets to career development.



Maher Kaddoura, one of the speakers, described his life journey of transforming from a young waiter to achieving his goal of climbing Mount Everest.



He warned the young audience of not falling in the trap of “living a half life”.



His motto of “living life to its fullest” was greeted with enthusiasm. “Femi9” took part in the career fair as a women’s empowerment advocate.



Ola Abid and Nada Nazer were honored during this year’s Women’s Appreciation Month (WAM) in Jeddah and were chosen to tell their stories in Glowork.



WAM spokesman Rakan Tarabzouni told Saudi Gazette: “We choose three role models every year with success stories based on their overall achievements".



As long as she follows her dreams and is passionate about it, any Saudi woman can achieve her goals, he added.



Abid, an entrepreneur in concept design, founded Ola Abid Design and Architecture.



“My partner and I came up with something called interactive interior,” she said.



“We did a fusion between interactive media and interior design and worked on it for three years.



“We did a lot of testing and developing ideas and programming. “It’s not just an interactive interior space. We use technology to interact with the space and find solutions to existing issues in the space”.



Nada Nazer established Mommy Cares, a support group for autism patients and mothers. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, she said: “I faced challenges since I first diagnosed my daughter Ghalia with autism.”



This prompted her to create the support group and today the board consists of nine mothers of autism children.



Despite the obstacles, Nazer managed to have these mothers’ voices heard. They plan to raise the subject to government authorities to influence public policy in favor of autism patients in the Kingdom.



The opening of the fair was launched after the motivational talks and panel discussions.



The companies exhibiting offered a wide variety of opportunities for female job seekers. Glowork aimed to release the creative spark in young women to excel in the career she desires.