In the journey of running the WiE project, I have learned the value of actively listening to feedback and adapting based on the insights gathered from our team and customers (the founders that we are serving). As we ventured into 2022, it marked a transition as we bid farewell to Andrea. However, this change also brought forth an new chapter as we welcomed two fresh faces Kataline and Ashley, the co-head of WiE project, who renewed energy into our project.

Inspired by their perspectives, we made a decision to pivot the format of our events.

  • We saw an opportunity to align our initiatives with our #WomenCrushWednesday marketing campaign. Hence, we revamped our events to take place every Wednesday.
  • We started to work closer with Ideon Innovation which will be the central meeting place for WIE.
  • Each month, we curated specific topics to delve into. In March, we chose to shine a spotlight on mental health of entrepreneurs.

Below is my learnings from managing WiE during March.

March 16th WiE at The Ground

WiE started off the year 2022 with the first #WomenCrushWednesday Fika at The Ground in Malmö.

  • One point of discussion was the higher prevalence of mental health concerns among entrepreneurs. This issue is highlighted by a study conducted by the University of Berkeley and San Francisco.
  • Ines, a graduate student from Lund University, shared her research on the struggles faced by women entrepreneurs in securing funding. Despite evidence indicating that startups founded by women yield higher returns on investment, women are still less likely to receive funding compared to their male counterparts.
  • The conventional portrayal depicts entrepreneurs as outgoing, competitive, aggressive, and solely motivated by money. We questioned the implications of this limited perception and its impact on diversity within the entrepreneurial community.

The following participants joined our discussion:

  • Ally Iversen is the co-founder and MD at Mixfame, connecting Talents with production houses in MEA.
  • Coline Scharfenberg is a German founder of sustainable condom production business. She has a background in economics and a passion for empowering women.
  • Ines Lopez is a Spanish entrepreneur pursuing a Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University.
  • Sara Birde Lissmyr recently became the CEO of The Ground and is helping to foster an innovative ecosystem.
  • Sofia Granlid is the Marketing and Communications Strategist at YEoS, building a strong network of young entrepreneurs in Skåne.
  • Zarish Adil is an Investor Relationship Manager at Skåne Startups.
  • Katalin Vikuk is a psychologist from Hungary now living in Sweden and working as the head of WiE and Venture Advisor at Skåne Startups.
  • Ashley Schilling is originally from the U.S. She is currently the Community Manager of WiE.

March 16th 2022 WiE

March 23rd WiE at Ideon Innovation

Our second #WomenCrushWednesday Fika was held at Ideon Innovation in Lund. The focus is on building connections and collaboration. Mental health and challenges faced by female entrepreneurs has been the main discussion points.

  • Female-led startups in Europe are five years behind their male-led counterparts, raising less funding and joining accelerators later according to a report by Startup Heatmap. It is also discovered that there are eight countries where women founders raised the same amount or more than their male counterparts. Four countries out of the eight were Nordic.
  • Lisa from RECILIO shared advice on embracing imperfection, failure, and taking care of her team members. Her startups enables organisations to effectively promote health through digital customized solutions.

I was happy to have these knowledgeable ladies joined the discussion.

March 23rd WiE

March 30th WiE at Ideon Innovation

Gathered at Ideon Innovation, we delved deeper into the theme of mental health, exploring the concept of imposter syndrome. This psychological phenomenon takes hold when individuals, despite their accomplishments and expertise, perceive themselves as inadequate or fraudulent. As entrepreneurs, it comes as no surprise that imposter syndrome affects a staggering 84% of us, particularly first-time founders.

During this event, we shared personal stories, revealing the challenges we face when battling imposter syndrome. In particular, we discussed the difficulties of being a young woman in male-dominated industries. The constant feeling of not fitting in, questioning our place, and doubting our abilities can be overwhelming. We often find ourselves wrestling with self-confidence, feeling the need to prove our worth twice as much as our male counterparts. And here are some tips from the participants on how to battle imposter syndrome:

  • Remember that everyone, regardless of their experience or success, has felt the sting of incompetence at some point. Don't hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance.
  • Establishing alliances and finding mentors, especially male allies who amplify your voice and champion your work, can make a tremendous difference.
  • Striving for perfection and setting unrealistically high standards can hinder progress. Embrace failure and take necessary risks.
  • Surrounding ourselves with strong, like-minded women entrepreneurs creates a safe space to share experiences, exchange knowledge, and forge meaningful connections. Luckily, we just happen to know an incredible group of brilliant women who meet regularly – the very group you're part of right now. Together, we can empower one another.

I was happy to have these knowledgeable ladies joined the discussion.

March 30th WiE

Share this post