After the success of the previous two editions, Bentley Motors has announced the launch of the third edition of its Extraordinary Women mentorship programme, designed to nurture and develop the next generation of young female leaders. This year, the programme will focus on students, universities and inspirational female Pioneers from the United Kingdom and Qatar, shining a light on promising young talents from the Middle East.
The programme is designed by Bentley Motors in collaboration with esteemed universities in the United Kingdom and Qatar and focuses specifically on female students in the fields of engineering, design, technology, and business, designed to encourage women to explore a variety of career paths in the STEM and automotive sectors. It is part of Bentley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, which falls under its Beyond100 strategy.
Eight students from the UK and Qatar will be selected to embark on the programme, which will involve one-on-one mentorship by specially selected, high-achieving women – the inspirational Pioneers – and will culminate in a week-long visit to Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, this June. Participating students in previous editions in the UK, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been able to engage with Pioneers such as Amanda Levete, a Stirling Prize-winning architect appointed CBE for her contributions to architecture, Saudi Arabia’s Mishaal Ashemimry, the first female aerospace engineer in the Gulf region, and Amna Al Hashemi, an Emirati thought leader and serial entrepreneur.
Adding to the experience this year is successful entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE who will mentor some of the students. Davies commented, “I love what Bentley is doing, celebrating the achievements of female talent; and most importantly supporting the growth of exceptional young females through their Extraordinary Woman initiative. I cannot wait to get started and meet the student I shall be personally mentoring”.
Bentley has partnered with the University of Doha of Science & Technology in Qatar, marking the first time such an initiative is taking place in Qatar. Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST said; “We are proud to be partnering with Bentley on this initiative. The empowerment of women is not just a necessity but a duty we owe to future generations. At the University of Doha for Science and Technology, we stand committed to fostering an environment where our students, regardless of gender, can excel in their chosen fields. We take immense pride in the achievements of our female students, who are inventors and pioneers and we are excited to anticipate the exceptional results of the Qatar edition of this internationally acclaimed campaign.
