GLOBAL WOMEN LEADERS INNOVATION FORUM

Introduction

The Saudi French Business Council (CAFS) and Nest Accelerator are joining forces to organize the first Global Women Leaders Innovation Forum – Saudi French Edition in Riyadh, with the strategic support of the G100 Women Economic Forum.

This event aims to promote female leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Saudi Arabia and France, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030’s strategic objectives to empower women as key drivers of economic diversification and social transformation.

The forum will give way to keynote speeches, presentations and sharing of experiences by Saudi and French women leaders, businesswomen, and entrepreneurs.

By strengthening strategic relations between France and Saudi Arabia and positioning Riyadh as a key hub for global innovation and female entrepreneurial excellence, this initiative directly supports Vision 2030’s commitment to increasing women’s workforce participation, fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and building a thriving economy where women play pivotal roles across all sectors.

Provisional Program

6.00 PM – Welcoming speech, by Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden, President of the CAFS
6.10 PM – Welcome speech, by Ms. Lamia Hanafi, CEO & Founder of Nest Accelerator, President of Startup Ecosystem & Innovation at G100 Women Economic Forum
6.20 PM – Welcome speech (Video), by Dr. Harbeen Arora Rai, Founder of the Women Economic Forum (WEF)
6.30 PM – Keynote speech by Mrs. Aljohara Al-Mandil, Head of Digital Innovation Lab, Jeel by Riyad Bank
6.45 PM – Keynote speech by Mrs. Alaa Abdulaal, MISK 2030 Leader, Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence at Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
7.00 PM – Panel discussion on “Redefining Power and Growth: Female Leaders Orchestrating Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Transformation“
7.40 PM – Panel discussion on “Saudi–French Visionary Women Innovators: Engineering Tomorrow’s Global Tech Landscape“
8.20 PM – Closing remarks
8.30 PM – Networking reception

Keynote speakers

6.00 PM – Welcoming speech, by Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden, President of the CAFS
President of the Saudi French Business Council (CAFS) since 2012, Dr. Ben Laden holds a doctorate in History from La Sorbonne (Paris) and advanced degrees in diplomatic studies and law from prestigious French institutions. He is also President of Armada Holding and Chairman of BLK Partners (formerly Mohamed Ben Laden Law Firm), while also serving as an arbitrator for the GCC Commercial Arbitration Center. He sits at the Board of Al-Ahli Jeddah Football Club. He holds the distinguished French honours of the Legion of Honor, the Order of the Merit, and the Order of Academic Palms.

6.10 PM – Welcome speech, by Ms. Lamia Hanafi, CEO & Founder of Nest Accelerator, President of Startup Ecosystem & Innovation at G100 Women Economic Forum
Founder & CEO of Nest Accelerator, the first cross-border hub connecting emerging markets to the global startup map. President of Startup Ecosystem & Innovation at the G100 Women Economic Forum, advancing female leadership in innovation worldwide. She created NextAfrica, the first panAfrican startup accelerator program at Station F, co-founded the award-winning startup Lok-iz in France, earning recognition among Europe’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders.
She is the founder in partnership with the CAFS, of the first Saudi–French Edition of the Global Women Leaders Innovation Forum 2025 in Riyadh: a pioneering initiative she created to strengthen cross-border collaboration between Saudi Arabia and France through innovation, entrepreneurship, and female leadership.

6.20 PM – Welcome speech (Video), by Dr. Harbeen Arora Rai, Founder of the Women Economic Forum (WEF)
Businesswoman and philanthropist, she founded the Women Economic Forum (WEF) in 2015 as part of her comprehensive ecosystem of five interconnected platforms dedicated to women’s empowerment, including G100, ALL Ladies League, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI), and SHEconomy. Named among the Top 100 Most Reputable People on Earth in 2019, she has built a global network of one million women in 150 countries.

6.30 PM – Keynote speech by Mrs. Aljohara Al-Mandil, ex-Senior Vice-President of Riyadh Bank, Head of Digital Innovation Lab, Jeel by Riyad Bank
A visionary innovation and customer experience leader with extensive academic and international experience, she currently serves as Senior Vice President, leading both the Digital Innovation Lab and the Digital Studio at Jeel, Riyad Bank’s Digital Innovation subsidiary. With over a decade in the Saudi banking sector, she has a proven track record of driving digital transformation, shaping customer strategies, and fostering a data-driven, human-centered culture across organizations.

6.45 PM – Keynote speech by Mrs. Alaa Abdulaal, MISK 2030 Leader, Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence at Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
A distinguished digital strategist and policy expert in the technology sector, she serves as Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence at the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global multilateral body based in Riyadh that enables digital prosperity for all by accelerating inclusive growth of the digital economy. She has spearheaded research initiatives that inform government technology policy development across DCO’s 16 member states and has led over 60 projects contributing to digital maturity assessments across 50 countries. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Computing.

Panel discussions

7 PM – Panel discussion – “Redefining Power and Growth: Female Leaders Orchestrating Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Transformation“

Moderators:

Ms. Lamia Hanafi, Founder of Nest Accelerator, Chair of Startup & Innovation at the Women Economic Forum
Mrs. Joy Omoregie, GTM Sales Acceleration lead – EMEA, AWS GenAI Innovation Centre,

Speakers:

Dr. Safiya Alshibani, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
As an expert in strategic management and entrepreneurship at the Kingdom’s largest women’s university, she promotes entrepreneurial education through research on women’s wellbeing and innovation.
Mrs. Isabelle Bebear, Director, Head of International & European Affairs at BPI France
She oversees international relations and partnerships at France’s public investment bank, managing €300M+ across regional funds and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems globally. She serves as Vice-Chairwoman of HDBI and board member of multiple development institutions, facilitating cross-border partnerships that benefit women entrepreneurs through venture capital access and international business development opportunities.
Mrs. Hadeel Faranasi, Women Entrepreneurship Team Leader at Monsha’at
Through her leadership role at Monsha’at, she champions the advancement of female entrepreneurs across the Kingdom, promotes entrepreneurial education, and supports the development of women-led businesses, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s remarkable achievement of having women lead 43% of the Kingdom’s SMEs. Her work aligns with Monsha’at’s mission to empower female entrepreneurs and foster an inclusive business ecosystem that drives economic diversification under Vision 2030.
Mrs. Mélanie Guilldou, Country Director of Lagardère Travel Retail Saudi Arabia
As CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail, she drives retail transformation at Saudi airports, supporting Vision 2030 goals while managing 600+ employees as a platinum employer. Her leadership exemplifies international women executives succeeding in Saudi’s evolving business landscape.
Mrs. Maria Medvedeva, Vice Chairwoman of Skyro
Former first female Country Manager at Mastercard Saudi Arabia, she now serves as Vice Chair at Skyro while mentoring at Endeavor Saudi, where she champions women in fintech through training programs and “Her Voice” initiatives.

7.40 PM – Panel discussion – “Saudi–French Visionary Women Innovators: Engineering Tomorrow’s Global Tech Landscape”

Moderators:

Mrs. Abeer Alsaiari, Head of Communication, Engie Saudi Arabia
Mrs. Joy Omoregie, GTM Sales Acceleration lead – EMEA, AWS GenAI Innovation Centre,

Speakers:

Mrs. Mirna Al Ali, Founder of HerStory & Business Development Director at Rasi Consulting
LinkedIn Top Arab Creator, Founding Member at Woman Spark and Playbook, and women’s empowerment advocate, Mirna founded HerStory Talk Show to spotlight female entrepreneurs’ journeys and achievements. Through her platforms, she addresses cultural barriers women face in Middle Eastern workplaces while providing mentorship.
Mrs. Julie Barbier, CEO and Co-Founder of Merit
French entrepreneur she founded Merit Incentives, establishing offices across MENA, APAC, and Europe, and becoming one of the first Saudi Unicorns. Listed in Forbes Top 20 Women in Middle Eastern Tech, she serves as President of IMA MEAPAC and Endeavor Entrepreneur.
Mrs. Marie-Laure Boulot, Ex-Director KAUST Enrichment Programs Office, Country Manager Dokever Saudi Arabia
Pioneering French business strategist (25+ yrs) in KSA/Europe, connecting tech and culture. Founding staff at KAUST, leading WEP (124K+ participants). Was part of Riyadh Art programs; now leads French HealthTech/Culture business development. Advocates for eco-responsibility via her sailing initiative “Ocean Attitude”.
Mrs. Cecilia Pueyo, Founder of Bonjour Saudi
French entrepreneur, she founded Bonjour Saudi (traveltech startup) a cultural experience design house connecting visitors with authentic Saudi traditions through workshops and tours, supporting local artisans and showcasing Saudi heritage. Her business model empowers local women artisans and cultural ambassadors.
Mrs. Arwa Shafi, Vice-President of The Garage
Arwa serves as VP of Programs at Saudi’s leading startup hub, having worked on entrepreneurship programs from ideation to growth including TAQADAM Accelerator. She is a founding member of Saudi Women Leaders Network and Oqal Angel Network member, she mentors startups and drives innovation programs at the main Saudi incubator.

8.20 PM – Closing remarks, by Ms. Lamia Hanafi, Founder & CEO of Nest Accelerator, and by Mrs. Nour Al Rammah, Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs, Engie Saudi Arabia

8.30 PM – Networking reception