Bringing out the best in business with more then 100 award winning entrepreneurs in Stockholm

Chamber Trade Sweden welcomed women entrepreneurs from Africa, Asia, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and North and South America to celebrate the Eighth Annual International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Conference (IWEC) November 16-19th.

This represented a major geographical expansion for IWEC’s since it is the first time the conference will be held in Scandinavia. The conference recognized successful women entrepreneurs from industries including computer software, fashion, manufacturing, oil and gas, agribusiness, health services, skin care, travel, research technology, shipping and freight forwarding, education and many other enterprises. The firms led by these women represent a turnover of nearly one billion dollars with 15,000 employees and they will be looking for business opportunities in Sweden.

The Founding sponsors, La Caixa Bank and IESE Business School, supported the Conference again this year with funding and with MBA scholarships.

IWEC’s mission is to develop a global business network for successful women business owners, helping them gain and expand access to international markets by presenting a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, connectivity and to promote dialogue among women entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the world.

Chambers from around the globe and 4 affiliate women’s organizations nominated this year’s awardees. Over 150 attendees were present to meet the awardees and network to build strategic partnerships and relationships. This year 34 women were honored from The United Kingdom, Peru, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, United States, Turkey, The Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Serbia, Taiwan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and India. The conference theme was “Ensuring The Health Of Your Business In A Competitive Global Market.” During the conference attendees networked with local business people and explore subjects such as: leadership, corporate social responsibility and legal and accounting practices. The Swedish winners this year are Karin Bodin, Polarbröd, Emy Blixt Swedish Hasbeens and Karin Söderlind, House of Dagmar.

IWEC was initiated in 2006 by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in association with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organization FICCI/FLO and joined by the U.S. Department of State and the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce. The organization has held annual conferences in Barcelona, New York, New Delhi and Cape Town, South Africa, Lima and was pleased to be welcomed to Stockholm.

For more information on IWEC, please follow the link.