PublisHer

What PublisHer does

PublisHer is a Dubai-headquartered non-profit organization founded in 2019 by Bodour Al Qasimi, the former President of the International Publishers Association. It operates as a global community platform advancing gender equality in the publishing industry, networking 1,000+ women across the international publishing ecosystem through a combination of events, programs, and digital infrastructure. The organization has a membership base of 285 listed (247 active) directory members spanning 20+ countries and runs recurring programs including the annual PublisHer Excellence Awards (third edition in 2026 with 102 nominations from 34 nationalities), the PublisHer Lounge activations at major book fairs (Bologna, Frankfurt, Sharjah, Warsaw, Toronto), and the newly launched PublisHer Pathways four-week internship programme with Motivate Media Group.

The organization generates revenue primarily through corporate sponsorships and a two-tier membership model. The free Complimentary tier provides directory access, newsletter, and event invitations, while the Premium tier (launched April 2026) adds unlimited directory connections, dedicated mentorship, spotlight features, priority event access, and a comprehensive learning library. Supporting partners span book fair organizers (Bologna, Sharjah Book Authority), publishers (Ingram), corporate brands (Air Arabia, Visa), technology providers (Shimmr AI, Editrix, EVOTEQ), industry associations (EPA, IFRRO, Toronto Metropolitan University's Diversity Institute), and media groups (Motivate Media Group). A next-generation digital platform is under development with EVOTEQ to consolidate learning, mentorship, networking, and directory features, and six new board members were appointed in December 2025 to support governance and growth.

Name

PublisHer

Legal name

PublisHer

Website

https://womeninpublishing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PublisHer is a Dubai-based non-profit founded in 2019 that operates a global membership platform advancing gender equality in publishing. It serves 1,000+ women in publishing across 20+ countries through events, mentorship, the Excellence Awards, and a Pathways internship programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Publishing industry professional community and career development

NAICS

All Other Publishers (513199)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)

Keywords

• Women in publishing
• Publishing industry network
• Professional mentorship programs
• Membership-based community
• Publishing career development

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Premium Membership Subscriptions: The organization generates revenue through a tiered membership model. The complimentary tier provides basic access to directory and newsletter, while the Premium tier offers comprehensive features including unlimited directory connections, mentorship sessions, spotlight features, priority event access, and resource library access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PublisHer is a global nonprofit movement that operates a membership-based community for women in the publishing industry, delivering networking, mentorship, training, recognition, and career-transition programmes. Its offerings include a two-tier membership ecosystem (complimentary and Premium), an immersive four-week internship programme (PublisHer Pathways), an annual PublisHer Excellence Awards programme, and recurring PublisHer Lounge networking activations at major international book fairs.

Product overview

PublisHer is a global community platform for advancing women in publishing, comprising multiple interconnected programs and membership tiers. The core offering is a two-tier membership ecosystem (Complimentary and Premium) providing access to a global network of over 1,000 female publishing professionals, a Member Directory, mentorship programs, professional development resources, and curated learning materials. Key programs include PublisHer Pathways (immersion internship), PublisHer Excellence Awards (annual recognition), and PublisHer Lounge (networking spaces at major book fairs). A next-generation digital platform is under development with EVOTEQ to consolidate learning tools, mentorship, networking, and directory features into a unified digital community experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PublisHer Excellence Awards: Awards program celebrating women's professional achievements in publishing, championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promoting professional development. Categories include Emerging Leader, Innovation, and Lifetime Achievement.
• PublisHer Pathways
• PublisHer Lounge
• PublisHer Premium Membership

Products and services

• PublisHer Membership Two-tier community membership for women in the publishing industry, offering a complimentary tier with Member Directory access, insider newsletter, priority invitations to public events, curated online resources, and networking experiences. The Premium tier adds unlimited directory connections, mentorship sessions, Member Spotlight visibility features, exclusive partner benefits, and full learning library access. Available globally to female publishing professionals at all career stages.
• PublisHer Pathways Four-week immersive internship programme hosted at Motivate Media Group's Dubai offices, offering hands-on experience across editorial, marketing, advertising, sales, and digital publishing through structured department rotations, mentorship, live projects, and direct access to industry professionals. Five participants selected per cycle; open to UAE-resident women with academic backgrounds in publishing, literature, media, or creative arts.
• PublisHer Excellence Awards Annual awards programme recognising women's professional achievements in publishing across three categories: Emerging Leader (publishers under 35), Innovation (industry innovations), and Lifetime Achievement (20+ year careers). The ceremony is hosted at the Bologna Children's Book Fair each year; the 2026 edition received 102 nominations from 34 nationalities. Open globally to female publishing professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 102 nominations from 34 countries for 2026 Excellence Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Motivate Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Partnership to establish PublisHer Pathways, a four-week immersive internship programme addressing the gap between academic preparation and professional publishing careers. Hosted at Motivate's Dubai offices with structured rotations and mentorship.
• Toronto Metropolitan University (Diversity Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Partnership for inaugural Canadian event hosting senior publishing leaders and emerging talent. Diversity Institute provides academic and research focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2026Strategic partnership to strengthen knowledge, rights awareness, and professional development opportunities for women in publishing. Includes in-person expert sessions, structured mentorship programme, and access to educational resources on reproduction rights.
• EditrixcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 February 2026Strategic partnership to advance AI-powered editorial education for publishers worldwide. Editrix provides members with webinars, live training sessions, and preferential pricing on AI-powered editorial tools.
• Emirates Publishers Association (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Strategic partnership to amplify the voice of women in UAE's publishing industry, enhance regional and international presence, open new prospects for institutional cooperation, create reciprocal representation opportunities, and support mentorship programmes.
• Shimmr AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 November 2025Strategic partnership to expand access to high-quality AI education, mentorship, and visibility for women-led publishing businesses. Shimmr AI delivers AI in Publishing masterclasses, quarterly mentorship sessions, and thought leadership at publishing events globally.
• EVOTEQcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 November 2025Partnership to design and develop a next-generation digital platform for PublisHer. The platform will offer tailored learning tools, mentorship opportunities, fingertip networking, and a global directory of female publishing professionals.
• Sharjah Book AuthoritycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey supporter and partner providing Guest of Honour programme opportunities at international book fairs and coordinating cultural exchange initiatives. SBA supports PublisHer events and programmes.
• Ingram Content GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter aligned with PublisHer's mission of advancing gender equality within the publishing industry, bringing a global perspective on important initiatives.
• Air ArabiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAirline partner supporting PublisHer in its mission to empower and celebrate female publishing leaders, championing diversity in the publishing industry.
• VisaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to support women in publishing and entrepreneurship through initiatives including the She's Next in Publishing programme in the UAE.
• Bologna Children's Book FaircoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual host of PublisHer Lounge and Excellence Awards ceremony. Long-standing partnership hosting lively PublisHer lounge for several years.
• Q7 EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent support partner committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and advancement of women in the publishing world.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• New York Women in Publishing: Long-running NYC membership organization for women across book publishing, offering networking events, mentorship, and professional development — sharing PublisHer's mix of community-led programming and industry access.
• Women in Publishing (UK): UK-based nonprofit professional network advancing gender equality in the book publishing industry — the closest mission-aligned peer to PublisHer, with overlapping goals of mentorship, networking, and visibility for women in publishing careers.
• International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO): Global umbrella organization for collective rights management in publishing — relevant as PublisHer's newest core partnership suggests shared priority of professional development for women in rights and publishing administration.

Broad incumbents

• PEN International: Global literary and free-expression organization promoting writers' professional development and rights — shares a mission of supporting authors/publishers globally, but with a broader advocacy remit than PublisHer's gender-equity focus.
• Association of American Publishers (AAP): Major U.S. trade association for the book and journal publishing industry — comparable as a membership-driven publishing industry body with policy, networking, and event programming analogous to what PublisHer offers on a global stage.
• International Publishers Association (IPA): The global trade body of publishers and industry associations; relevant as a broader incumbent with comparable global membership and event footprint (e.g., International Publishers Congress) to which PublisHer itself routes its community.

Regional players

• Women in Books (Verein): European network supporting women in the book sector — directly comparable to PublisHer's mission of advancing women across the publishing value chain, but with a regional rather than global operating footprint.
• Publishing Scotland: Scottish trade body supporting publishers through training, networking, and events — comparable as a smaller-publishing-industry support organization with membership, mentorship, and resource programming analogous to PublisHer's model.
• Book Industry Study Group (BISG): U.S.-focused nonprofit industry association advancing publishing supply-chain standards, research, and education — overlaps with PublisHer's role as a publishing-industry community convener, though with a research/standards focus rather than a gender-equity agenda.

Emerging players

• She Writes: Online community and publishing platform for women writers; adjacent to PublisHer's mission and audience (women in publishing/writing), though primarily author-facing rather than covering publishers, editors, and rights professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/publisherevents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/publisherevents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PublisHer