Attending the Women’s Forum was an enriching, inspiring and empowering experience for me. I met entrepreneurs and leaders from different walks of life, ranging from non-profit and fashion to politics, media and banking. I was inspired by the women I met who are making a difference in the world and are so passionate about what they do. Attending the conference really made me ask myself: “What am I passionate about and what do I want to do for the rest of my life?”

Three people who stood out for me were:

• Wendy Lu Habe: she set up a Private Equity Fund that provides capital and business experience to women owned enterprises in Africa and gets returns of over 30%. There are only 5 women private equity funds in the world and I wonder, how much potential remains untapped and waiting for the right investors? She had the most amazing smile; looked very young and energetic even though she has two sons and two grandchildren. I don’t know how she does it but I guess there is hope for those who want to follow her footsteps. She was also the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Jury member and has worked to empower South African Women.
• Mona Mourshed: I could identify with her dream of improving the education system and enabling people to change their lives, and was inspired to see the work already done by her and others. We have kept in touch even after the Forum and she sent me a copy of her work “How the World’s Best-Performing School Systems Come Out on Top” (download PDF, 9 MB). I was able to connect her with a friend of mine in India who is the Head of Education and Ability Confederation of Indian Industry. I strongly believe that education is what transforms lives and I hope to make a difference in this arena.
• Maryana Iskander: She has worked for a top consulting company and now works in non-profit. She said, “Lot of smart people spend a lot of time thinking about the future and forget to live in the present.” Her worlds remain with me even after I left the conference and I hope to make the most of each moment of my life rather than worrying about the future.

There were many other women I met and have kept in touch with. We can collectively build trust in our societies and make this a better place. It is about trusting and willing to take a chance on people. This is an excellent support network for women and I hope to return to the Women’s Forum.