Our US-based Iraq program staff (Stephanie Finigan, Zedan Mohamad, and Liz Mastors) flew to Amman, Jordan last week to convene with our Baghdad-based staff (Farooq Gariyoka, Rawad Sabar, Mohanad Dheyaa Tawfeeq, Mayada Alsafi, and Zeina Vasee). The team came together to make concrete plans for the Business Launch Phase of our Iraq program. Retreat workshops focused on establishing local and international sales channels, completing a comprehensive business plan, utilizing enterprise creation as a gateway for peace building, and addressing aspects of program operations necessary for building out our Women’s Business Empowerment Program, supporting business creation with over 200 women entrepreneurs and artisans.
Innumerable lessons were learned during the week, but five stood out:
1) Local Teams Know Best – Prosperity Catalyst is a collaborative, team-oriented organization where everyone’s voice is heard and everyone’s opinion matters. This practice was exemplified this week as our US and Iraq teams walked through a variety of program elements – from “big ideas” for growth down to practical logistics related to the safety and success of our women entrepreneurs. And with each choice made, the deciding factor was always determined by what our Baghdad-based team felt would be best. Their expertise living and working in Baghdad is invaluable, and we are thrilled to have such an engaged, energetic local team working with us to shape this program.
2) Business Plan, Business Plan, Business Plan – Did we mention the Business Plan? With the help of our incredible intern Meadow, an MBA candidate from Brandeis, we have put together a comprehensive business plan to help us make informed decisions about our local and international sales strategy. It took a ton of work (thank you, Meadow!), but it really paid off to have comprehensive financial tools at our disposal to ensure that our work in Baghdad prioritizes the creation of a sustainable, profitable business.
3) The Devil is in the Details – Many of the sessions focused on the very detailed, practical, “nuts and bolts” operations involved in launching a successful business in a challenging environment. These sessions were decidedly un-glamorous, but everyone on the team truly understood the necessity of addressing these topics while we were all together in person – and the result was a series of deep discussions, a better understanding of the needs of our staff and our women entrepreneurs, and a plan to handle each operational challenge addressed.
4) Opportunities are Everywhere – Led by our two business-focused staff members, Rawad and Farooq, we came away from the retreat with an incredible list of new ideas for sales opportunities for our candles in and around Iraq. While our business will conduct international sales as well, led by our partner organization Prosperity Candle, developing local sales will be an essential part of our businesses’ overall sustainability, and under the guidance of Farooq and Rawad, we came away with a concrete local sales plan and renewed energy about sales opportunities in Iraqi markets.
5) We have the best team possible! – The last lesson was not a “lesson” so much as a reminder – that we have the best team ever working to execute this challenging, but exciting, business. With a mix of business expertise, NGO experience, knowledge of local women’s needs, and finance and accounting know-how, our staff brings the necessary skills we need to launch, incubate, and eventually exit a sustainable, women-led candle export business. We couldn’t be more excited to have this group of people in the PCAT family!
The week was a combination of many things – candles, spreadsheets, amazing people (equally amazing food!), the Dead Sea – but most of all, we are grateful to be able to move forward with renewed energy and understanding, launching women-led businesses in Baghdad.
-Stephanie Finigan, Director of Operations