May 11, 2005

Media Advisory

EVENT: Media teleconference with participants and organizers of the Middle East and North Africa Business Women’s Summit (planned May 24-26 in Tunis, Tunisia).

*RSVP to media contacts by Friday, May 13. Spaces are limited.*

Teleconference Participants (all will attend the summit in Tunis):

• Ray Smilor, Executive Director, Beyster Institute at the Rady School, UCSD
• Several representatives from the U.S. Department of State
• 2 American entrepreneurs from Women Entrepreneurs, Inc. (WE-Inc.)
• 6 businesswomen from the Middle East and North Africa including representatives from Tunisia, Bahrain & Lebanon

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. EDT (6:00 a.m. PDT)

LOCATIONS: San Diego, CA at University of California, San Diego
Washington, D.C. at the University of California Washington Center

BACKGROUND: The Beyster Institute at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego is implementing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Business Women’s Summit under a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

The summit will be held in Tunis, Tunisia May 24 through 26, 2005. This training and networking event is designed to advance the entrepreneurial skills and resources of MENA region women who demonstrate strong leadership abilities and a desire to expand economic opportunities and spur job growth in their countries.

Attending are nearly 200 of the Middle East’s most promising female entrepreneurs and executives from 16 MENA countries who are graduates of MEPI programs such as Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.), which is also being implemented by the Beyster Institute at the Rady School.

Summit presenters include:

• Regional and American business experts including members of Women Entrepreneurs, Inc. (WE-Inc.)
• Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
• Ms. Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
• Alina Romanowski, Director, Middle East Partnership Initiative
• April Foley, Vice Chair, U.S. Export-Import Bank

The Rady School of Management at UC San Diego offers a revolutionary MBA program that grows innovators into successful business leaders. The Beyster Institute at the Rady School focuses on training, education and consulting to advance entrepreneurship and employee ownership as tools for building strong, high-performing enterprises worldwide.

*RSVP required by Friday, May 13. Spaces are limited*

MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Meyertholen, (858) 822-6019 or Keri Minehart, (858) 534-0855