Learnings from WiE during November 2021

In November, progress was made in the development of the Women in Entrepreneurship (WIE) event. Andrea and I organized weekly fika sessions and provided an opportunity to gather a select group of relevant women entrepreneurs. These sessions included focused discussions on specific topics, allowing for in-depth conversations and knowledge sharing. Here are some of my key takeaways from these discussions.

November 1st at Minc

This small event on the impact of social entrepreneurship brought together change-makers working across various sectors. We discussed the concept of social entrepreneurship share experiences and learned from each other. The topics include child rights protection, sustainable food supplements from Caribbean seaweed, upcycled natural skincare, and a job platform connecting seekers with impact opportunities, all aimed at improving lives and creating social impact.

• Gloria-Karin López is an experienced project leader and sustainability coordinator specializing in children's rights. She currently works as a project manager and theme leader at Mötesplats Social Innovation, focusing on "Innovation and cooperation for the rights of the child."
• Irene Atance is the founder and CEO of Go Cirkulär AB, a skincare and personal care brand that upcycles natural ingredients to create products that are beneficial for both the skin and the environment.
• Krishma Jean-Baptiste is the founder of Seatrients, a company that highlights the health benefits of Caribbean seaweed through food supplements.
• Kristina Pihlblad Bohnerth is the founder of Impact Jobs Sverige, a community that supports purpose-driven job seekers in building sustainable careers.
• Merve Nur Okutan is an enthusiastic advocate of social entrepreneurship and has been working with Ashoka, a prominent global network for social entrepreneurs, for the past 7 years.

November 8th at the Ground

This session is of particular interest as it brings together feminists from various countries to discuss women's rights in the Middle East, Africa, and the Nordics. It presents a fascinating opportunity to compare and learn about the variations in these regions. However, it is disheartening to acknowledge that the need for equal treatment of women is a global phenomenon. Selin Heckler, Yasmin Sakhnini, Jasmine Rocco, Wanji, and Anna Blixt joined our discussion.

November 15th WiE Fika at MINC

In this gathering, we brought together a few impact entrepreneurs and investors who engaged in a discussion centered around practical advice on fundraising. Julia Wiklander, Kristina Nyzell, Nooria Dariab, and Filippa J Rüde joined the event.

• Building trust with investors and potential partners and establishing credibility by showcasing a track record of execution and delivering on promises are key to successful fundraising.
• Seeking out women-focused funding initiatives, leveraging mentorship and support networks, and advocating for equal opportunities are needed in the tech community.

November 22nd at MINC

Dzenis Skopljak, Community Program Manager at Minc, Verenice Bengtsson, Human Rights Lawyer working for an inclusive and sustainable society, Tatiana Amaya Vanegas, CEO and Co-Founder at ClowID and Ilaria Di Meo, Administrative Manager at Edgy Veggie AB joined the event and the discussion centered around human rights.

• During our discussion, we explored various aspects of entrepreneurship, and I was particularly impressed by Tatian's personal stories. Despite her family not considering themselves entrepreneurial, Tatian shared how she has embraced entrepreneurship throughout her entire life. Similarly, Dzenis shared her own experiences of organizing successful fashion shows at a young age, demonstrating her innate entrepreneurial spirit.
• We also delved into the importance of representation in entrepreneurship. Verenice, a diversity expert, provided valuable insights on using inclusive language and imagery to effectively communicate with diverse communities. Her feedback highlighted the significance of creating an environment where everyone feels included and valued.
• One intriguing topic that emerged was the language barrier and the discrimination that can occur based on accents and languages. We explored sources such as Horizon Magazine and BBC's work-life article, which shed light on the pervasive issue of linguistic racism. Verenice emphasized the importance of avoiding biases when working with entrepreneurs who may not be fluent in English, as their language skills do not diminish their intelligence or entrepreneurial potential.
  

November 29th WiE Fika at Ideon Innovation

We hosted our final WiE fika of 2021 at Ideon Innovation. Gabriela Anna Zoltek, Sylvia Heuvelman, Alejandra Cuellar Dole, Gema Sornoza, Maja Frankiewicz, Josephine Alvén, Julia Karlsson joined the event. Here are some key takeaways:

• The pandemic presented obstacles to growing and maintaining networks. The in-person gatherings and the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals were important.
• Community builder Marie Greco provided valuable tips on relationship building. This included reaching out to others without fear, nurturing connections over time, and actively participating in events to meet potential collaborators and like-minded individuals.
• The meet-up acknowledged existing hurdles such as the gender and pay gap and lack of representation, even in Sweden. Creating spaces for discussion and thought-sharing about these issues was recognized as essential.