Leading U.S. & Bahraini women executives to discuss business strategies for success in Manama

This is the latest in a series of new Corporate Ambassadors Program events taking place across the region this year that bring together leading businesswomen from the U.S. and Middle East and North Africa for substantive discussion and educational exchange on key economic issues. With representation across the region, Country Hubs of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Businesswomen's Network host each Corporate Ambassador event.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Vital Voices Global Partnership, the November 2-3 event in Manama, Bahrain, will be hosted by the Bahrain Businesswomen's Society. Featured speakers include:

- Julie Lenzer Kirk, President/CEO, Path Moving Forward - an award-winning IT entrepreneur, author and sought-after international speaker, Ms. Lenzer Kirk's company works with corporations to help them launch new ideas, grow existing ventures, find work/life balance and fine-tune their leadership skills.

- Dr. Sheikha Hissah Saad Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, President of Council for Arab Business Women - served as the United Nations representative in the Regional Office for Narcotics Control & Crime Prevention of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as a board member of Ithmaar Bank.

- Barbara Kasoff, President/CEO & Co-Founder, Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc. - previously a highly successful telemarketing executive, Ms. Kasoff heads a non-profit, bi-partisan public policy advocacy organization with over a half million members to educate and advocate on economic issues for women in business.

- Afnan Al Zayani, President, Al Zayani Commercial Services - the leader of the Bahrain Hub of the MENA Businesswoman's network, Mrs. Al Zayani was recently named one of 100 top most influential Arabs in 2008 by ArabianBusiness.com and runs a successful technology company.

- Julie Adair Minerva, Holland & Knight LLP - a Senior Public Affairs Advisor with the law firm of Holland & Knight, Ms. Adair Minerva most recently worked on the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, focusing on labor and environmental issues and creating the U.S.-Bahrain Congressional Caucus.

"Women continue to hold great promise as a force for positive business growth, both in the U.S. and Middle East," according Christopher Henzel, Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain. "Although they are closing the prosperity gap fast, their potential is still not fully tapped." Mary MacPherson, Program Director with Vital Voices Global Partnership adds, "Through these series of focused, high-level exchanges, our goal is to equip the women that participate with innovative new ideas, approaches, contacts and knowledge that they will use to strengthen their businesses, help provide for their families and create jobs in their communities."

Throughout 2008-2009, the Corporate Ambassadors Program will bring delegations of U.S. CEOs and senior executives to meet with businesswomen in the Middle East and North Africa to discuss critical business topics pertinent to the region. Similar events have taken place in Jordan, Morocco, and the West Bank/Palestine featuring high-profile U.S. executives such as Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair of Ernst & Young; Sandra Taylor, President of Sustainable Business Solutions LLC and former Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company; and Deborah Parker, President/CEO, International Business Solutions and former Vice President, Global Quality, Ford Motor Company.

Upcoming events will take place in Lebanon (November 6-7), Kuwait (November 19-20) and Egypt (November 22-23).

"I have a strong belief in the ability of women to help one another at the grassroots level, to advocate for better business practices and ultimately to have a positive impact on our nation's economy,"

comments Afnan Al Zayani, head of the MENA Businesswomen's Network in Bahrain and a featured speaker at the upcoming event.