WOLF, a British start-up which operates its business in the Middle East, with offices in Jordan, London and Newcastle, is determined to be part of the story to improve gender parity in the technology sector and already boasts a high percentage of female employees in its offices.
WOLF’s Qanawat app, the unique community platform for the Middle East, which offers users the opportunity to enjoy and create entertaining audio content, shows and programmes, was developed for Arab speakers only, so it made sense to have a regional office in Amman, Jordan.
WOLF is proud that over 50% of its workforce in Amman is female; something that bucks the regional and local trend. The most recent World Bank report on workforce gender split in the Middle East shows only 19% are women, one of the lowest percentages in the world, highlighting the struggle that women face when vying for jobs against their male counterparts.
Only 15% of the labour force is female in Jordan, notwithstanding Jordan boasting one of the highest regional female literacy rates. What’s more, the unemployment rate among Arab women is 42.5%, three times the average of the global unemployment rate of 14.9% and almost twice that of Arab men at 25%.
So what can countries like Jordan, who are lagging behind, do to change the workforce balance and how can women be encouraged, supported and taken seriously in the more traditionally male-dominant roles?
Gary Knight, WOLF CEO, explains why the company is proud to be bucking the current female employment trend in WOLF’s regional Amman office.
“The tech industry is one of the few fields where women aren’t bound by the same limitations they face elsewhere, thanks to its merit-based culture. This flexibility also empowers women, regardless of their personal commitments, to achieve their ultimate potential.”
“More and more young people, regardless of gender, have access to technology, and therefore it’s clear that a greater number of female tech professionals can make a significant impact and serve as inspirational figures for the next generation.”
“The fact we have over 50% female employees in our Jordan office highlights the company’s inclusive culture, ensuring women are empowered in their roles, which span technical, content, communications and community support jobs.”
“We hope that highlighting our fantastic female colleagues on International Women’s Day 2024 shows our commitment to championing women in the tech industry in the region and beyond.”
WOLF’s Amman female colleagues also support the company’s ethos regarding gender parity in tech in the region.
Nermeen Mattar, a senior frontend engineer at WOLF, says “I’m an engineer with over 7 years of experience developing apps across various industries. Among them, my favourite has been WOLF. I’m drawn to the collaborative atmosphere, supportive team members, engaging projects, and the recognition for hard work. To me, it signifies that WOLF recognises the abundance of talented women capable of bringing valuable contributions, creative ideas, loyalty, and enthusiasm to the company.”
Another Amman colleague, Alhan Almadani, who is Head of WOLF Communications Department, says: “I began working for WOLF almost four years ago as a communications officer. Since then, I’ve gained a lot of experience and honed my leadership abilities, and was promoted to Head of Communications. Leading the department brings thrilling challenges, fostering my growth and allowing me to reach my full potential. I’m proud to be part of a company that empowers women and offers them a healthy environment to grow and become leaders in their field of expertise.”
Finally, Yara Juban, WOLF’s Bilingual Copywriter in Amman says: “Throughout my years in the industry, my career has always revolved around finding the right words, conceptualising and presenting ideas, conveying messages to an audience, growing my talent, and working with other talents. I was able to do all of that here at WOLF! That makes me really grateful! I believe WOLF is an excellent place to grow, and as a woman, I feel incredibly empowered and valued!”
