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Women in international businesses

International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge, IWEC Sweden

We promote Swedish business women who want to expand their businesses internationally through International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, IWEC. Read more

Highlights from Make Trade’s work on Women’s Economic Empowerment

We also support women owned international businesses. Get inspiration from our interviews with successful women entrepreneurs from all over the world. Watch videos

International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge, IWEC Sweden

We promote Swedish business women who want to expand internationally through International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, IWEC.  The 2021 awards ceremony will be held digitally on November 9-10. We welcome Swedish nominations for 2021 – nominate here

Each year, the world’s most successful women-owned international businesses gather somewhere in the world, under the umbrella of IWEC, International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge. The 30 countries participating in IWEC nominate 2-3 successful international business women. Since 2013, fifteen Swedish business women have won this award and are now part of a powerful IWEC network which represents companies with a total annual revenue of 29,8 billion USD and employing over 260 000 people.

“It is tremendously exciting to be part of the IWEC network and it is expanding each year, says Charlotte Kalin from Make Trade. For us it started in 2012 when the chambers of commerce in South Africa got in touch about expanding IWEC into Scandinavia. Since then, each year between one and three successful Swedish business women have been awarded in Barcelona, Lima, Istanbul, Brussels, Seattle and Shanghai. In 2014 we hosted the IWEC awards in Stockholm.” 

Make Trade is the home of IWEC in Sweden.

We welcome nominations for 2021 IWEC Swedish awardees hereThe IWEC awardee needs to be a woman, the majority owner of her company, have a turnover of 1,2 million USD or more and strive for international success. 

Presentation of Swedish awardees

Moving Floor Gotland AB will be awarded at the IWEC virtual conference on Nov. 9th-10th, gathering some of the world’s most successful women-owned businesses. Peg Söderberg and Katja Lindvall, the two sisters and owners behind the Swedish company Moving Floor Gotland AB, will receive the 2020 IWEC Foundation Award, during the organization’s 13th annual conference held virtually this year due to the global pandemic.

IWEC 2020 Awardees

Moving Floor Gotland AB will be awarded at the IWEC virtual conference on Nov. 9th-10th, gathering some of the world’s most successful women-owned businesses. Peg Söderberg and Katja Lindvall, the two sisters and owners behind the Swedish company Moving Floor Gotland AB, will receive the 2020 IWEC Foundation Award, during the organization’s 13th annual conference held virtually this year due to the global pandemic.
IWEC 2019 Awardees in India, New Delhi : Karin Lindahl, Indiska, and Maria Frykman, Isbjörn.
IWEC 2019 Awardees in India, New Delhi : Karin Lindahl, Indiska, and Maria Frykman, Isbjörn.
 2018 in Shanghai: Marie Walleberg, Imse Vimse, and Ulrika Nilsson, Secure State Cyber together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.
2018 in Shanghai: Marie Walleberg, Imse Vimse, and Ulrika Nilsson, Secure State Cyber together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.
2017 in Seattle: Helene Åkerström Hartman from Orbaden Spa & Resort, Marie Lindqvist Pahlstad and Jenny Helldén from Zilenzio together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis and HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan.
2017 in Seattle: Helene Åkerström Hartman from Orbaden Spa & Resort, Marie Lindqvist Pahlstad and Jenny Helldén from Zilenzio together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis and HRH Princess Noor Asem of Jordan.
2016 in Brussels: Britt Marie Stegs, Hälsingestintan and Isabelle Löwengrip and Pingis Hadenius, Löwengrip Care and Color together IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis, sponsors and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.
2016 in Brussels: Britt Marie Stegs, Hälsingestintan and Isabella Löwengrip and Pingis Hadenius, Löwengrip Care and Color together IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis, sponsors and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.
2014 in Stockholm: Karin Bodin, Polarbröd, Karin Söderlind, House of Dagmar, and Emy Blixt (missing in picture), Swedish Hasbeens together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis, previous Swedish IWEC awardees, Malin Dacke and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade
2014 in Stockholm: Karin Bodin, Polarbröd, Karin Söderlind, House of Dagmar, and Emy Blixt (missing in picture), Swedish Hasbeens together with IWEC’s chair Ruth Davis, previous Swedish IWEC awardees, Malin Dacke and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade
2013 in Lima: Ida Backlund, Rapunzel and Signhild Arnegård Hansen, Svenska Lantchips together with previous Swedish IWEC awardees and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade
2013 in Lima: Ida Backlund, Rapunzel and Signhild Arnegård Hansen, Svenska Lantchips together with previous Swedish IWEC awardees and Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade
2012 in Barcelona: Pernilla Stålhane, Pallmax and Maud Spencer, Svalson together with Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.
2012 in Barcelona: Pernilla Stålhane, Pallmax and Maud Spencer, Svalson together with Charlotte Kalin, Make Trade.

Highlights from Make Trade’s work on Women’s Economic Empowerment

We support women owned international businesses! Get inspiration from our interviews with successful international women entrepreneurs from alla over the world!

Swedish IWEC Awardee

Karin Bodin, Polarbröd

Swedish IWEC Awardee

Karin Söderlind, House of Dagmar

Swedish IWEC Awardee

Emy Blixt, Swedish Hasbeens

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