Strong female network

There are trade links between Scandinavia and the United Arab Emirates – but a lack of personal relationships, reflected Lund University student Jaleh Taheri. Today, the association Women for Sustainable Growth strengthens ties between women from Sweden and the UAE.

“It was great to see how the women met on both a professional and a personal level and really got to know one another”, says Jaleh Taheri, who has recently returned from Dubai, where 18 women from Sweden and the UAE took part in a leadership course organised by Women for Sustainable Growth, W4SG.

Jaleh Taheri, who was born in California to an American mother and Iranian father, started W4SG almost two years ago. The project grew out of the idea that Scandinavia and the Gulf states are two very different worlds, but by bringing together women with similar professional backgrounds from business, the public sector and academia, networks can be created and strong and sustainable development achieved.

The recent leadership course in Dubai was attended by women in management positions from Volvo, Sveriges Television, Lund University, the Dubai Foundation for Women & Children, Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company and the UAE Ministry of Labour.

The organisation has great visions for the future. In the autumn, W4SG is planning to hold another leadership course for women in senior positions.

Text: Liselotte Fritz

Photo: Kennet Ruona

Published: 2013