Malmö, Sweden, is the city with the greatest potential to thrive, blossom and create the next Silicon Valley in Europe. The infrastructure, the cultural richness, the spoken languages, the best and innovative hubs, a young and modern university are the key pillars to this vision.
It is my firm belief that Malmö is the only city in the world to outgrow conventional structures and established business models. I, together with the brightest females in Malmö, Sweden, are all aiming to make Malmö Europe’s Innovation HUB by 2030.
She Told Me A Story, Evolution Media, Malmö, Sweden
Ever since I joined She Told Me A Story in April 2023, co-founded by Victoria Sandberg, Ashley Schilling and Poliana Dias, they have swept me away with their vision. Their drive, their passion, hunger and emphatic approach to make this world a better place immediately seeped into my being, body and senses. They gave birth to this beautiful community simply because they decided to build their own table instead of crashing others parties. They understand the true nature of communities and how we can build a sustainable infrastructure driven by purpose, inclusivity and empathic leadership. We have, together with other female peers ever since, co-created a safe place in which we have made space to not only say our dreams out loud but also to nurture our dreams and give them wings. The collective healing, the invisible red threads, the unbreakable circle of trust have rippled extraordinary ways. Victoria Sandberg saw something in me and I saw something in her. Maybe it was our own reflections mirrored to one another, maybe it was faith that imposed or maybe simply random. We were immediately drawn to each other. Sandberg approached me after their introduction at the event and the first thing she asked me was
- Can I be your friend?
And I replied, can I be of any help?
That’s how we instantly fell in love with each other’s kindred spirits. Without grasping the ripple effects of our unspoken commitment to each other, we decided to devote ourselves to our goals, visions and dreams to make this world a more human one. We also signed a non-negotiable contract, the most underrated element to growth and expansion; we’d look out for one another no matter what happened to us, our dreams or in private life. I told Sandberg that I loved her no matter the outcome. That I’d stand by her side in the ups and down. Even though we didn’t fully understand the task we took on to lead with kindness and softness and the challenges that would come with it, we kept at it. We paved a way that no one saw coming. Even though few people grasped the nature of our vision, we had each other to lean on.
- We come as a village, is Sandberg’s usual saying and she has proved it over and over again.
Sandberg’s relentless belief in me and me in hers. Together, we became invisible. We made our weakness our strongest suit; dyslexia and kindness wrapped up in twin flames. This soul convergence, rippled in ways I never set out to do simply because I never knew I had it in me. I was approached to be the artist in which I channeled my creative persona ODD JADE through She Told Me A Story. https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-told-me-a-story/
The HOUSE – Women’s Innovation HUB in Malmö, Sweden
Sandberg’s vision is to create opportunities for women with different backgrounds, cultures and qualities in order to maintain a sustainable lifestyle in the startup industry through the House – women’s innovation HUB, located in Malmö, Sweden. Her focus is to nurture every aspect when it comes to running a business, being a parent, and juggling life as a female founder. She grasps the following; women make better decisions than men that benefit the society overall.
Nearly three years ago, she and I were standing in my studio in Eslöv, (the most boring city in Sweden), dreaming about making a difference, if only a tiny bit. Sandberg pinched me in the arm just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I was to be the artist of the House; in a tech business, an industry I never, previously, set foot in or yet alone identified something that I would be contributing to. I have, ever since, unapologetically and unconditionally aspired to Sandberg’s vision. It has been channeled through every breath, every decision, every room I entered, every text piece I have written, every creative outlet, every interaction and ultimately expression of any sort. My work has all been made to make this vision come ALIVE and ALOVE and it is slowly and slowly coming about.
People often overlook the unique talents and abilities that individuals with dyslexia possess. By embracing our differences, we can unlock new possibilities for personal growth and collective innovation. Sandberg with her dyslexia and my inability to remain kind in a harsh world have set the tone in what we are building; a legacy worth aspiring for.
The Mihwa Foundation
There is hidden potential in every individual. This mindset, that I named the Theorem of Hidden Treasures and Unused Social Welfare Benefits and the Anger Theory, has guided my work, particularly since becoming a parent 2017. The Mihwa Foundation sets the tone to a place where we feel safe enough to expose our vulnerabilities, unveil our imperfections and voice our heart’s longings and belongings. It is, foremost, for those females who hold it all together. I created this space, Soul BreatHER, and they all represent when the body, the mind, the heart and the soul converge into an effortless state. Operating from a breathless state in where we incorporate our soul gives our lives and loves meaning and wholeness. This is when we are in harmony with our authentic self, Mother Nature, our surroundings and those we interact with on an everyday basis. They all represent the atomic whirl, one pillar representing one whirl. From my own experience, questioning an already existing infrastructure naturally comes with a great deal of resistance. Change requires that we outgrow our previous versions that hold us back when breaking entry and shattering the ceiling.
With the Mihwa Foundation, I want to open up opportunities that allow individuals to support one another in a more sustainable way. My aim is to reshape the way success is defined, by emphasizing collaboration, re-investment into the community, and counteracting business models that benefit the entire society, not only the elite. This approach is not just about business, it’s about shifting focus on what we consider valuable or not. To me, the human aspect is superior to any other measurable outcome or external achievement. The most important superpowers are the following; ‘thank you’, ‘help’, ‘yes please I’ll miss out’ and ‘I am sorry’. If we miss out on these basic greetings, we are missing out on the adventure to explore who we really are.
Laura PatelSmith – a Shape Shifter in its own essence
Malmö is a city on the rise, with a vision of attracting social innovation and new ways of thinking about success, and opportunity. It emphasizes sustainable growth, cutting-edge technology, and inclusivity. As part of this vision, I am dedicated to co-create The House, an innovation hub designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and female entrepreneurial spirit. There is unwavering support in a most unlikely unfolding. The women that I have met all have brilliant minds but what makes them brilliant is not their achievements but their character, their integrity, their passion, their vulnerability and their emphatic approach and support to SisterShip. They are all rock stars and my greatest inspiration to continue this path. I’ve met hundreds and hundreds of women who are both capable and suited for emphatic leadership that is paving the way for a new era; tidera. I represent them all and they are among others Ashley Schilling, Giedre Gaizauskaite Poe, Leslie Alfredsson, Leah Neutel, Lena Penno Andersson, Martina Djerf, Stephanie Darvill and many many more. We have BLING – co-founded by Deqa Abukar, Minc, FemOwn co-founded by Jeanette Andersson, EmpowHER co-founded by Nejra Celik among others and of course Sara Sterner. Toastmasters International, where we can practice public speaking, Näktergalen,STPLN, Media Evolution, Glokala Folk High School, Mitt Möllan and Malmö University – a young, vibrant and modern university in its essence, a work place where I get to be surrounded by the most intelligent people that I have ever worked alongside.
Last but not least, Laura PatelSmith who is the first individual who took a leap of faith in the concept of She Told Me A Story. In hindsight, there wouldn’t be a She Told Me A Story if it wasn’t for her creating a space for this community to grow deep roots. PatelSmith has my endless respect for taking this community on and she is also one of the co-founders of The House. You can find her profile here https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-patelsmith
