Jordanian economist, former MP awarded one of World’s Most Successful Women in Business

AMMAN — Jordanian economist and former MP Reem Badran was chosen as one of two Arab businesswomen to receive the World’s Most Successful Women in Business Award last week.

The International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation in New York awarded Badran for her valuable business development and social impact.

Badran was nominated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The award is an annual event held to honour female pioneers in business and two women are usually chosen from the Arab world, Badran told The Jordan Times.

“I am really happy for Jordan and myself to be selected as one of the two Arab women for this year’s award,” Badran said.

She added that she is hopeful that the award will “shed more light on Jordanian women’s role in the country’s development process”.

“Hopefully winning the award will help emphasise women’s status and their ability to have an active role in economic activities, such as managing or opening their own projects or medium-sized companies,” Badran stressed.

In 2009, Badran established her company, Al Hurra for Management and Business Development Consultancy Company in Jordan, which is a tailored consulting firm providing all round services such as financial, restructuring and investment operations.

She was an elected board member of the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in 2009 and 2013, becoming the first and only woman in Jordan to be elected for this post since 1923.

She also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Jordan Investment Board.

Additionally, Badran is a member of several local, regional and international nonprofit organisations in the fields of investment, women, youth, leadership, education, art and heritage, sports, finance and economy. 

Badran is also a mother of two children. She holds a Master’s degree in International Economies and Middle Eastern Studies from Johns Hopkins University / Washington DC.