Meet WOLF, the London-based start-up pioneering for change in the Middle East.
With a third of its workforce being female, based in the Middle East, London and Newcastle, WOLF is determined to be part of the story to improve gender parity in technology – which globally remains male-dominated.
WOLF is an audio, virtual world full of engaging, entertaining communities, built specifically for Arabic users. It’s fundamentally a 24/7 online environment for social connection, community interaction and content creation where people can enjoy entertainment, fun and friendship inside an app that isn’t always something that’s been immediately accessible in the Middle East.
During March, which is also Women’s History Month and the time of the year when the world celebrates International Women’s Day, WOLF launched its third female talent festival in MENA. The Alhan Festival became the first festival of its kind to be offered to the Arab region, aiming to highlight the talent and abilities of MENA women in the fields of entertainment – particularly singing and podcasting – while in a safe female-friendly environment.
The objective of the festival is to put the spotlight on MENA women; celebrating the contribution that they can make in a journey of self-discovery as performers and entertainers playing to live audiences. The Alhan Festival provides an opportunity for this pool of talented female singers and podcasters to pursue their dreams of becoming audio content creation stars.
The winners of the festival, voted for by judges in the app, will win the opportunity to produce their own song or set up industry-leading podcast equipment in their own studio, depending on their category.
In 2021 and 2022, the festival attracted almost 300+ and 1,000+ entries respectively, and the winners went on to perform on a stage in the app with Arab superstar singer Yara and the actor, singer and model Rawan Bin Hussain.
The festival aligns closely to this year’s International Women’s Day theme: Embrace Equity. This is about taking it a step further than just equality. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities – which is still on a journey of progression in MENA and continually strived for. But, equity, the focus for 2023, is recognising that each person has different circumstances. A woman living in MENA might have very different circumstances to a woman living in the West, for example, in London.
Embracing equity means offering and allocating the exact resources and opportunities that are needed by an individual to reach an equal outcome.
Gary Knight, WOLF CEO, says: “There are some good equality shifts happening in cultural attitudes in MENA, and we support that by showing our commitment and passion for embracing equity even further. We are pioneering for change and supporting the female talent that the area has to offer by providing them the opportunities, encouragement and resources they need.”
“By putting our efforts into equity, we are building the foundation to make equality possible. The future of MENA is incredibly exciting. It presents a whole spectrum of opportunities for both foreign and domestic investment but more importantly for women who live there. The next decade will be compelling for those looking to expand into the area – and for women, this is just the start.”
As many Middle Eastern governments publicly back investment in entertainment, WOLF believes that female empowerment is crucial in the region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched its ‘Vision 2030’ project that focuses in part on investment in entertainment. In doing so, internet access and mobile technology have become more freely available, generating awareness and expectations for the youth demographic which is leading to a huge change within the region. This is particularly true for women, who were permitted to have a driver’s licence in Saudi Arabia five years ago.
Closer to home, WOLF is also working hard on diversity and inclusion; ensuring it encourages women into the tech sector, making its London and Newcastle bases a diverse place to work. One of those employees is Navi Sharma, WOLF’s Data Engineer.
Navi says: “The tech industry has the potential to be a great place for women to build exciting careers and make a real impact. By taking steps to better support women, companies like WOLF are helping to create a more diverse and inclusive industry that benefits everyone.”
“Organisations can also promote transparency in their decision-making processes, making sure that everyone has a voice and that women’s contributions are valued. This can help to address unconscious biases and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.”
“Another important step is to create a supportive culture that encourages women to succeed. This can include flexible work arrangements, mentorship and networking opportunities, and support for work-life balance. By fostering a culture that values and supports women, companies can help to attract and retain top talent and promote diversity in the industry.”
Featured Photo by Good Faces on Unsplash
