Support Female Entrepreneurs in Palestine

"Through my business, I want to become an inspiring woman for the youth and make them believe that they can also become an inspiration. Also, to build a well-known and trustworthy business. That when it is mentioned people immediately say yes, she's doing great work. And of course, I want to be financially independent and be fully responsible for myself.

It’s important for women entrepreneurs to prove to themselves first that they can do what others can and even more. This is very important because some people underestimate what women are capable of.

To other female entrepreneurs; if you want anything in life you need to strive to achieve it. I strongly believe that if you work on yourself and on what you want, you will be able to accomplish it. There is nothing in life that is impossible." - Nusaiba, Palestinian female entrepreneur & business owner

Interview with Nusaiba:

What is the top skill of a successful entrepreneur?

Darren Hardy, a success mentor once said “small, seemingly insignificant steps completed consistently over time will create a radical difference”. I believe the top skills that entrepreneurs need are consistency, patience and persistence. Entrepreneurship requires lots of tolerance and hard work to achieve goals.

What type of business would you love to start? 

My business is an online training academy for university students and graduates to improve their skills for employment.

What/who is your favorite start-up or entrepreneur? 

I’m a fan of the Impact Theory founded by Tom Bilyeu. Tom created the Impact Theory to help people develop the skills they need to improve themselves. Through his content and speeches he inspires people all over the world to unleash their potential and strive for greatness.

I have two favourite international entrepreneurs that I follow constantly; Darren Hardy and Tom Bilyeu. Tom is also the founder of the brand ‘Quest Nutrition’ that is worth billions of dollars (and the co-founder and host of The Impact Theory).

What are your future goals?

1. To become an influential and inspiring person in the lives of others, in the Arab world and internationally. I hope to make a positive change in people’s lives that is reflected in their achievements.

2. To spread the culture of training via the internet and investing in human resources.

3. To contribute to the process of positive change and self-development for all who wish to do so.

4. To speak on TED Talks on an Arab and international level.

5. To establish an online training academy that would give me financial freedom.

What do you say to other entrepreneurs who are afraid of starting their own business?

I would tell them that fear, uncertainty and self-doubt are feelings that all entrepreneurs felt when they started their businesses. Don’t think that Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, or even Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, didn’t feel the same feelings at some point. Go back to their biographies and read them, you’ll find they’re normal people just like you and me, but they did not let their fear defeat them. And they had the determination, perseverance and belief that they would achieve their dreams someday.

Also, there is no better time than the present to start a personal business, because of the availability of all kinds of resources that can help you to start properly. The Internet itself is a golden opportunity, through which you can learn anything you need to start and continue your business. You can learn from great trainers and do it at a time that is best for you.

I strongly believe in this quote by Darren Hardy: 

"You were called here for a reason to fulfill a special purpose. A mission. To contribute something unique. Something that wouldn’t have existed without you. It’s your Hero’s Journey."

My name is Rana and I have always been dreaming of becoming a successful, independent business woman. I keep working on myself to increase my future opportunities. I have earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Birzeit University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from An-Najah University in Palestine.

Technology is my passion, and I believe that through technology we can always find the answer and the solution. Here in Palestine, we should think and work hard to make our dreams come true.

My idea is developing a website that connects medical staff with people who need healthcare. Deciding which doctor to visit and consult is a struggle and booking an appointment is even harder. I came up with the idea because I have a friend who had a baby with a skin problem. She went to a dermatologist and her skin problem got worse, until someone told her to go to a pediatrician. The pediatrician helped her and her baby was healthy again. After that, I realized that technology could be the solution.

My struggle started when I noticed that I have the knowledge of how to create such a website, but I do not know how to convert my idea into a real business, and I didn’t know from where to start! I knew that TYO is conducting a program for entrepreneurs, so I decided to participate and go for my dream.

I took all the training, which really helped me in answering a lot of questions that were on my mind. It was really the first step to starting my own business. It established a great foundation for me in the transition from an employee to a founder of a start-up. All the topics that were discussed during the program were comprehensive of every type of role, issue, opportunity and a challenge that a leader would face in a firm.

Fortunately, with hard work and commitment to my dream, I won $3,000 financial support at the end of the program. The money allowed me to start my project and develop a landing page, design my own logo, and buy needed equipment.

My project is still in its beginnings and I will keep dreaming until I have my own well-known website around the world. Success for me is my own business.