Here's your chance to take the next step in your story and win  $50k!

The She’s Next in Publishing initiative is a program designed by Visa, in partnership with PublisHer, to empower female publishers in the UAE. The grant program offers training, mentorship, and funding opportunities, with the mission of helping women in publishing to overcome challenges they face as entrepreneurs, such as access to capital, and a lack of networking opportunities.

The initiative is open to all female publishers operating in the UAE. Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of experience in publishing and can be either individual publishers or small independent publishers.

To be selected, candidates should have a proven track record of successful publishing, with high-quality work recognized through awards or reviews. They should demonstrate innovation in their approach and have a potential positive impact on the publishing community and society. Sustainability and long-term viability are crucial, as is a commitment to publishing diverse content and engaging a broad audience. Passion, the ability to overcome challenges, and strong recommendations from industry professionals will also be factors in the selection process.

The initiative offers comprehensive support for your publishing business, including the chance to win a grand prize grant of $50k and a 1-year Sharjah Publishing City License & Co-working Desk, 3-month online mentorship for the five finalists from experienced industry leaders, and for all She’s Next applicants access to training that covers all aspects of running a successful business. Additionally, the program provides valuable networking opportunities, enabling you to connect with a broader audience and key players in the industry.

She's Next, empowered by Visa, is a global advocacy program that aims to support women-owned small businesses through funding, training and mentorship. For She’s Next in Publishing, Visa partnered with PublisHer, the international organization aiming to address entrenched gender imbalances and drive a worldwide agenda for change within the global publishing industry.

 She’s Next has garnered the backing of the wider UAE publishing industry with Sharjah Publishing City supporting as licensing partner, and the Sharjah Book Authority and Emirates Publishing Association committing as support partners. 

In a crucial stride towards sustainable development, Visa is partnering with Emirates Nature-WWF. This alliance accelerates Visa’s commitments to climate action and sustainability, infusing vital industry knowledge and expertise from the environmental and conservation domains. 

The initiative aims to empower women in publishing by tackling key issues such as access to capital, building networks, and fostering self-belief. It seeks to make a significant impact on the publishing community by supporting diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in content creation.

You can apply by visiting the She’s Next website and submitting an application here. The application requests your business information and history, evidence of your work quality, innovation and strategy. Additionally, you will be asked to provide letters of recommendation and a narrative of challenges you have overcome in your publishing journey.

We are accepting submissions from August 28 until October 1.

The five shortlisted finalists will be announced on October 11, and will present their businesses to a judging panel on October 28. Winner will be announced at the Sharjah Publishers Conference 2024 on November 3.