Playbook’s Role in Advancing Women’s Leadership and Equity in 2024

A Transformative Year of Milestones, Innovations, and Global Impact

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – December 31, 2024 – Playbook, the global platform dedicated to advancing leadership and equity for women, reflects on a transformative 2024 marked by groundbreaking initiatives and measurable impact. With over 140 workshops, 21 masterclasses, and 17,500+ minutes of curated learning content, the platform empowered a growing community of over 8,000 members across 100+ countries and 500+ cities.

Playbook has expanded its ecosystem to support women across industries and geographies. As a dynamic leadership platform, Playbook is committed to fostering professional growth through innovative education, networking opportunities, and tailored mentorship. These efforts underscore its mission to reshape leadership for a more inclusive and diverse future.

Strategic Growth Through Transformative Acquisitions

In 2024, Playbook solidified its position in the investment and entrepreneurial ecosystems with the acquisition of Women Spark, the MENA region’s leading female angel investment network. Founded by HE Deemah AlYahya, Women Spark has long been a driving force in connecting businesswomen, creating impactful opportunities, and fostering female-led innovation. This acquisition marked a strategic step for Playbook, bridging the gender gap in investment and offering women unprecedented access to mentorship, funding, and entrepreneurial resources.

Playbook and Women Spark partnered to deliver a series of transformative events, including three online Demo Days and an on-site Demo Day at Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait, which attracted over 100 attendees from across the region. These events created a dynamic space for female founders to present their ventures, connect with investors, and build pathways for growth, directly addressing the lack of visibility and access to capital for women entrepreneurs.

Playbook made significant strides in bridging the gender gap in investment and entrepreneurship. Through the Demo Days initiative, over 100,000 connections were made, bringing together high-potential startups and investors to facilitate funding opportunities for women-led ventures. Over 25 startups pitched their innovative ideas across all Demo Days, showcasing their visions, refining their strategies, and building relationships with industry leaders. These events have become invaluable platforms, driving tangible outcomes and setting the stage for a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Women Spark, now integrated into Playbook, further amplified these efforts by curating exclusive investment opportunities and building bridges between female founders and global investors. These initiatives have collectively addressed critical inequities, ensuring that women-led ventures receive the visibility and resources they deserve.

Additionally, the acquisition of Queen Mode brought 200 female founders into Playbook’s network, enhancing its entrepreneurial content track and creating a rich pipeline of deal flow opportunities for angel investors. This integration has further cemented Playbook’s position as a go-to resource for aspiring and established women leaders.

Expanding Education and Introducing Cutting-Edge Innovations

Playbook’s 2024 education initiatives set a new standard in leadership development, delivering over 21 masterclasses and 100+ workshops to a growing global community. These programs offered diverse, actionable content tailored to meet the needs of women at all stages of their careers. Two masterclasses stood out as highlights this year: Deemah Al Yahya’s Strategic Stakeholder Relations, which provided deep insights into building and managing impactful professional relationships, and Nandini Joshi’s Building Financial Independence, focused on accelerating the growth of women to take control of their wealth and long-term financial planning.

A highlight of the year was Playbook’s successful fundraising campaign for their Palestinian Masterclass, led by journalist Mayssoun Azzam. Scheduled for launch in 2025, this program celebrates Palestine’s cultural heritage while delivering leadership lessons grounded in storytelling. “The Palestinian Masterclass embodies our mission to elevate diverse voices and inspire purposeful leadership,” said AlObaidat.

The debut of the AI Academy in 2024 marked a transformative step in equipping women to thrive in the digital economy. Featuring courses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technology-driven decision-making, the program reflects Playbook’s commitment to preparing its community to lead in a rapidly evolving world.

A standout feature of the program was its AI coaches., Sara, the Investment Strategist, and Noor, the Growth Mentor, who offered expertise in leveraging AI for smarter investments and scaling businesses. Their hands-on mentorship and practical insights ensured participants could confidently navigate complex concepts. “The AI Academy ensures women are at the forefront of innovation, ready to shape the future with confidence,” said Alobaidat, underscoring the academy’s role in advancing women’s leadership in a tech-driven economy.

The year also saw the addition of over 75 new workshops covering an impressive range of topics, from strategic decision-making and personal branding to emotional intelligence and career resilience. Designed for maximum engagement and practical application, these sessions enabled participants to not only acquire new skills but also collaborate and connect with peers in a meaningful way.

Strengthening Community and Celebrating Achievements

At the heart of Playbook is its vibrant community. In 2024, Playbook’s community initiatives flourished, creating unparalleled opportunities for connection and collaboration. With 10+ coffee meetups, 6 networking lounges, and 30+ Playbook led events globally, Playbook transformed networking into a dynamic and inclusive experience. From casual gatherings to formal events, these spaces allowed members to share insights, foster collaborations, and build relationships that transcend industries and borders. By introducing a gamified approach, from coffee meetups to industry-led events, Playbook added an engaging twist that encouraged active participation, friendly competition, and deeper connections. This innovative format not only made networking more dynamic but also reinforced the sense of community by turning every interaction into an opportunity to learn, share, and grow together.

Playbook was not only a host but also an active participant in the global conversation about leadership and entrepreneurship. These appearances underscored Playbook’s dual role as a convener and a thought leader on the international stage.

A major highlight of the year was the Women and Prosperity campaign in collaboration with Boursa Kuwait, Playbook’s largest and most impactful initiative to date. This campaign brought together an extraordinary network of women leaders, decision-makers, and professionals from diverse industries to engage in transformative conversations about financial literacy, investment strategies, and leadership in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. Through tailored workshops, keynote sessions, and networking opportunities, Women and Prosperity created a space for dialogue and learning that inspired attendees to take actionable steps toward shaping their financial futures.

Partnerships as a Foundation for Change

Playbook’s partnerships in 2024 were a testament to its collaborative approach. With 30+ community partners and 40+ corporate partners, Playbook’s influence spanned both public and private sectors, creating valuable opportunities for its community. These partnerships enabled over 50 co-hosted events, including exclusive masterclasses, high-profile networking sessions, and curated workshops tailored to address diverse professional needs.

Members also benefited from tangible perks, such as discounted services, access to specialized resources, and priority invitations to partner-led events, enhancing their professional journeys and personal growth. These metrics underscore Playbook’s role as a bridge between ambitious individuals and organizations committed to fostering meaningful connections and shared success.

Corporate partnerships provided tailored mentorship programs and access to expert-led workshops, ensuring that women leaders were equipped to navigate challenges and excel in their careers. Community partnerships focused on fostering inclusivity and supporting underrepresented groups, further aligning Playbook with global efforts for equity and opportunity.

Recognition for Innovation and Excellence

Playbook’s work in 2024 did not go unnoticed. The platform was honored with the Aviatrix Award at LEAP and received accolades at Reflect Fest, celebrating its innovative contributions to leadership development. This year also marked recognition by the Thattai Hindu Merchants Community (THMC), further highlighting Playbook’s role in driving cross-cultural collaboration and excellence.

“We are incredibly proud of these recognitions, not just for what they say about Playbook, but for what they reflect about the incredible strength, ambition, and impact of our community,” said Wafa Alobaidat. “These awards are a testament to the power of collective progress—where each member contributes to reshaping industries, challenging norms, and driving innovation forward. Together, we are setting new standards for what leadership and collaboration can achieve, creating a legacy that goes far beyond accolades and into real, lasting change. It’s a privilege to lead alongside such inspiring individuals, and these moments of recognition reinforce our commitment to continuing this journey.”

A Vision for 2025 and Beyond

As Playbook looks to the future, its vision for 2025 is bold, ambitious, and transformative. Beyond expanding the AI Academy and scaling the Startup Marketplace, Playbook is forging strategic partnerships with key industry leaders to host regional flagship events that will unite changemakers across the MENA region and beyond. These gatherings will showcase cutting-edge ideas, foster cross-sector collaboration, and spotlight innovative solutions to global challenges.

Women Spark is set to welcome a larger network of female founders and investors, while enhancing Marketplace features to boost visibility and engagement for participants. A strengthened Advisory Board will guide the launch of new strategic collaborations, driving innovation and opening doors to greater opportunities.

With a continued focus on education, partnerships, and community-building, Playbook is set to redefine what’s possible, making 2025 a landmark year of growth, impact, and innovation for its global community.

Visit https://www.get-playbook.com for more information to stay updated on our 2025 programs.?

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About PLAYBOOK

PLAYBOOK is a powerful global networking and mentorship platform for women leaders. With an award-winning leadership team that is fully-female founded, the network has been making waves regionally and internationally with its high-quality production masterclasses, robust community, networking potential, workshops, events and mentorship programs.

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