The Learning Curve Podcast - Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East - Their experiences, their stories
  • HOME
  • Podcast Show
  • ABOUT
  • Online Learning
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • HOME
  • Podcast Show
  • ABOUT
  • Online Learning
  • Contact
  • Blog

#66 - 'Learning Will always take you to the next Level' says Rana El Chemaitelly. Founder of The Little Engineer. (Beirut, Lebanon)

PictureRana El Chemaitelly, Founder of The Little Engineer. (Beirut, Lebanon)
​The Learning Curve Podcast - THE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East.

How many of you would like to see your kid or nieces or nephews or even your friends kids step away from the ipads or computer games and engage in activities like 
robot building, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and renewable Energy. Interested?  I know I was. I like Ipads but they offer no phyisical interaction, my daughter just sits and stares at it and it offers limited sensory interaction because you can' smell or touch what you are working on or viewing.  these thoughts are very much similiar to Rana, the Founder of The Little Engineer.

Rana was an instructor in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut, teaching in the Mechanical and Engineering Management Department, a mother of three kids decided to launch the Little Engineer venture in Beirut in 2009.

The Little Engineer is dedicated to educating young minds and increasing public understanding and appreciation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through interactive tailored programs. She focuses on Robotics, Renewable Energy and Environmental related sciences delivered in an easy yet very effective method with a concept of bridging the gap between theory and practice & schools and universities.  Young minds connect with a real life problem and then use the STEM theories to apply to the problem.

For her initiative and business plan, she was recognized as one of MENA's most promising entrepreneurs by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009. She was awarded the “Coup de Coeur Femme by “Medventures” for the Mediterranean in 2010, selected the woman entrepreneur by the American Embassy to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program “IVLP” 2011, won the Cartier Women Initiative for the MENA region in 2011 and the Green Mind Award in 2012. In 2013 The little Engineer signed a strategic Partnership with Airbus Middle East to deliver regional workshop for youth .She is working hard to be a voice of change in the Arab World by investing in young minds. This is Rana, entrepreneurial journey and how she is making a difference in children's future.

The Audio Interview
'I was not always a good delegator, but I am now'
Rana El Chemaitelly, Bio

​Rana El Chemaitelly, holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering 1993, AUB Penrose Award 1993, and Master's in Engineering Management 2008. In 2009 she launched  her second venture The Little Engineer®, a Beirut-based Edutainment center geared towards engaging young minds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through proven hands on learning activities to unleash their full potential in pre-engineering skills while highlighting robotics, renewable energies and latest technologies working in parallel on their leadership and presentation skills. For her initiative and business plan, she was recognized as one of MENA's most promising entrepreneurs by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009. She was awarded the “Coup de Coeur Femme by “Medventures” for the Mediterranean in 2010, selected the woman entrepreneur by the American Embassy to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program “IVLP” 2011, won the Cartier Women Initiative for the MENA region in 2011 and the Green Mind Award in 2012. In 2013 The little Engineer signed a strategic Partnership with Airbus Middle East to deliver regional workshop for youth .She is working hard to be a voice of change in the Arab World by investing in young minds, our future leaders, preparing them for the challenging future, while at the same time aiming high to empower woman in her community, country and around the world.
The Interview Questions

1. ​Tell us a little bit about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.  How your particular journey into starting your own venture came about? 
2. Tell us  a little bit about your business and your vision for your business
3. Can you give us an insight into day to day business activities? How do you organise your day and how do you prioritize?
4. How Did you get your credibility quickly?
5. How important has collaboration and partnerships been with the success of your businesses? Do you think you can had the same success without them?
6. Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
4. Is social media a large part of your business and what tools are working for you right now?
5. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
6. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
7. What is the best piece of business advise you have ever been given?  And how is that working for you right now?
8. How (if ever) did you rise above failure or struggle? What action did you take?
9. Where do you see yourself and your businesses in the next 10 years? How will they have evolved?
10. Who is your ‘go to person, book or quote’ that gets you pumped and helps you refocus when you are feeling de-motivated or low?
11. What books or resources would you encourage other women to explore to help them learn more about entrepreneurship and strategy?
12. If you could time travel back to day one of your startup and have 15min with your former self to communicate any lessons you've acquired with the intention of saving yourself mistakes and heart ache, what would you tell yourself?
13. Closing question:  What advise would you give to those ladies out there that are on the edge of taking the plunge into being an entrepreneur?
​
Connect With Rana & The Little Engineer
​

Social media connections
Twitter: @tlelebanon
Linkedin: Rana El Chemaitelly
Facebook: The Little Engineer
​
Instagram: thelittleengineer
W: www.thelittleengineer.com

​
Your Thoughts
Do you have a question?  Let us know your comments and feedback. We would love to hear from you?
Picture
Follow Us!


Subscribe To Our Podcast
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly