📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Naseba Co-Founder Sophie Le Ray On The Importance Of Knowing Your 'Why' As An Entrepreneur Sophie Le Ray, co-founder and CEO of Naseba, looks back on her 15-year-long entrepreneurial journey.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 19th Edition of Naseba Global WIL Economic Forum in Dubai, Sophie Le Ray, co-founder and CEO of Naseba, a business facilitation company specializing in emerging markets, looks back on her 15-year-long entrepreneurial journey. Since inception in 2002, Naseba has connected over 100,000 global executives through more than 1,000 proprietary business platforms. However, as Le Ray explains, managing the exponential growth of her business has been one of her biggest challenges.

Committed to economic empowerment of women in emerging markets, Le Ray was instrumental in Naseba becoming a signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business, produced and disseminated by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact. Similarly, and years after initiating the Global WIL Economic Forum, Le Ray is now eager for the forum to present and explore initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion as the cornerstones of sustainable economic development.

During this year's event, held under the theme "The Butterfly Effect – From Intent to Impact,' His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, presented the WIL Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to female entrepreneurship, leadership, inclusion and innovation across business and society The event also marked the first public appearance of Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, former UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, as the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.

Related: Mohamed Alabbar On Supporting Tech Startups With US$250 Million VC Fund With MEVP

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Are You a Visionary Leader? Here's How to Tell (and What You Can Do to Become One)

What the world needs now is leaders who think differently. How do you stack up?

Finance

The Recap: Leaders In Fintech Awards 2023

The Leaders in Fintech Awards 2023 was staged by Entrepreneur Middle East with the support of in5, Idealz One, Numei Real Estate and Fluidmeet.

Business Ideas

105 Service Businesses to Start Today

With this many ideas to choose from, you have no excuse not to get started today with your own service business.

Side Hustle

Want to Start a Simple Business That Helps the Planet? After 'One Night's Worth of Research,' He Started an Eco-Friendly Gig And Now Makes $200K a Year

Environmentally-conscious laws are picking up steam across the country. When one went into effect in Zach Cavacas's home state, he saw a lucrative business opportunity. Chances are, a similar law is coming to your state, or is already there.

Starting a Business

I've Co-founded Over 20 Firms — These Are the Five Critical Questions You Need to Ask to Evaluate Your Startup's Health

Have you checked your startup's pulse recently? If not, here are five questions to assess how your company is doing and which areas need more attention.