LEADING ARABIA'S HIGH-IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS

Lateefa Al Waalan has always had a good eye for an emerging business opportunity. At the age of 16, she founded her first startup, an online directory. Later, after spotting a gap in the Middle Eastern beverage market, she began massproducing Arabic coffee blends and launched the world's first automated Arabic coffee machine.

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Today, as managing director of Endeavor Saudi, she is helping other entrepreneurs overcome challenges, scale their businesses, and make a positive impact on local economies. After a rigorous selection process, entrepreneurs with high potential for growth and impact join Endeavor's global network of entrepreneurs. They are then supported in their growth journey and encouraged to give back to others.

"Entrepreneurs need close relationships with mentors," she says. "They must be careful not to isolate themselves. We want to help Saudi entrepreneurs scale up, get access to capital and markets, create high-quality jobs, and increase their social and economic impact."

Lateefa ascribes much of the success of her coffee business, Yatooq, to the contribution of supportive mentors such as the privately funded NGO, Endeavor. A natural-born connector, before she sold Yatooq, she co-founded an NGO called CellA+ to help Saudi businesswomen network, build relationships, and exchange opportunities.

"Female empowerment is something I have always been passionate about," she says. "Ten years ago, it was not so easy to be a woman in business in Saudi Arabia. Now, the opportunities for women are endless and many of the social barriers have come down."

As a previous beneficiary of support from Endeavor, and the winner of two Entrepreneur of the Year awards, Lateefa knows how important it is to have access to a large network of experienced mentors.

"As someone who has started and scaled businesses, being able to support other entrepreneurs resonates with me. In this role, I can help other startups and give back to Saudi society."