Reem Asaad - Saudi Arabian Women at Work - Warwick Economics Summit 2013

Reem Asaad giving a talk on ' Saudi Arabian Women at Work' at the Warwick Economics Summit. A successful wealth manager and analyst at Saudi Fransi Capital with over 12 years of experience in investment management and finance, Reem Asaad boasts an impressive résumé. But that's not all that defines her work. Recently named one of the most influential Arabs in the world Reem has been hailed as a champion of Saudi Arabian women, with the self-proclaimed aim of encouraging and raising financial awareness in Saudi Arabia and promoting the social and economic well-being of its people. Her 'Lingerie Campaign', calling for better employment opportunities and improved consumer rights for women in the lingerie business, has received international recognition. In Saudi Arabia, one of the world's most conservative nations, women had long been required to buy underwear from stores staffed exclusively by men. But in 2008 Reem launched one of the most successful social media campaigns in recent years. She set up a facebook group calling for action to ensure that only women could work in lingerie shops, and in 2011, after years of tireless writing and public speaking, her work paid off. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah passed a directive ensuring that all such shops would be staffed solely by Saudi women. The campaign culminated in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs for Arab women - not only changing the law but also empowering Saudi women and moving the nation one step closer to economic gender balance. Unwavering in her campaign for equality, Reem is now aiming to improve the provision of childcare for working mothers, and she looks set to continue to address underlying issues regarding women's rights in Saudi Arabia.