Stockholm school
of economics
  • Education
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Library
  • About us
  • Svenska
  • Login
  • Contact
  • Education
    • Bachelor Programs
      • Business and Economics
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
        • FAQ
      • Retail Management
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
        • FAQ
    • Master Programs
      • International Business
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
      • Business & Management
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
      • Finance
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
        • Double Degree
      • Economics
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
        • Double Degree
      • Accounting & Financial Management
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
      • Double Degree
      • Previous Programs
        • General Management
        • Management
        • Marketing & Media Management
    • PhD Programs
      • Business Administration
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
      • Economics
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
      • Finance
        • Program Description
        • Application & Admission
        • Student & Alumni Stories
    • MBA
      • This is our MBA
        • Upcoming start
        • Program Modules and Courses
          • Concentration Innovation & Entrepreneurship
          • Concentration Financial Management
        • Participant Profile
        • Individual Coaching
        • Learning Philosophy
        • MBALive®
      • SSE MBA at a Glance
      • Your application
        • Tuition fee and payment structure
        • Present your business case
        • Benefits for the employer
      • Faculty, Advisory Board, Program Team
        • SSE MBA Faculty
        • SSE MBA Advisory board
        • SSE MBA Program Team
      • Voices of the program
        • Johan Berglund
        • Jenny Lantz
        • Mariette Kristenson
        • Carl Thorfinn
        • Mikael Runsiö
        • Södra
        • Ulrika Martinius
        • Charlotta Eriksson
      • Scholarships
      • SSE MBA Movies
      • Articles
      • Contact
      • FAQ
    • Executive Education
      • SSE Executive Education
      • SSE Riga Executive Education
      • SSE Russia - Executive MBA
      • Hanken & SSE Executive Education
    • Study at SSE
      • Welcome to SSE
      • Global Opportunities
        • Double Degree
        • Student Exchange
        • CEMS
        • GELS Scholarship
        • K-A Bonnier International Fellows Program
        • Wallenberg International Fellows Program
        • The Swedish Program
      • Tuition and Scholarships
      • Tests that we accept
      • Study in Stockholm
      • Student Life
        • The Introductions
        • Student clubs & activities
        • Sports, trips & tournaments
        • Career opportunities
        • Go international
        • Traditions & festivities
        • Inspirational lectures & workshops
        • Your voice matters
      • Student Association
      • Student Ambassadors
      • Housing
        • Pontonjärgatan
        • Luntmakargatan
        • Saltmätargatan
        • Lappkärrsberget
        • Högbergsgatan
        • Liljeholmen
        • Huvudsta
        • Contact
      • Student Handbook & Grading
      • After Graduation
      • Meet Us
  • Research
    • Departments
      • Department of Accounting
        • Research
          • Peer Reviewed Research Articles
          • Books and Book Chapters
          • Ongoing PhD-projects
        • Courses in the Bachelor Programs at SSE
        • Master in Accounting & Financial Management
        • PhD in Accounting and Financial Management
          • PhD Program in Business Administration
          • The Research School in Accounting - FIRE
        • People
        • History
        • News
        • Seminars
        • Contact
        • Accounting and Financial Management Center of Excellence - ACE
      • Department of Management and Organization
        • Research
          • Research areas
          • Projects and programs
        • Education
        • Publications
          • Books
          • Book chapters
          • Journal articles
        • People
      • Department of Marketing and Strategy
        • Research
        • Available Books
        • History
        • People
          • In Memoriam
        • Courses
        • Social Media
        • Contact
      • Department of Economics
        • People
        • News
        • Bachelor & Master Courses
        • PhD Program
        • Research
        • Seminar in Economics
        • Lunch Seminars
        • Dissertations
        • Job Market Candidates
        • Ohlin Lectures
          • Previous Years
        • Mini Courses
        • Conference in June
      • Department of Finance
        • People
          • Faculty
          • PhD Students
          • Staff
        • Bachelor Program
        • Master Program
        • PhD Program
          • Dissertations
          • Former PhD Students
          • Mini Courses
          • Workshops
          • PhD Seminars, Swedish House of Finance
        • Seminars
        • Vacancies
        • Job Market Candidates
        • Swedish House of Finance
      • Department of Law, Languages and Economic Statistics
    • Centers
      • Accounting and Managerial Finance
      • Arts, Business & Culture
        • Current and Recent Research Projects
        • People
        • Publications
          • Books and Doctoral Dissertations
          • Peer Reviewed Research Articles
          • Book Chapters
          • Conference Presentations
          • Reports
        • Events
      • Business Law
        • Courses
        • Libraries
        • Affiliated Organizations
          • Handelsrättsligt Forum
          • Mercurius Förlags AB
          • Stiftelsen MercurIUS
        • People
        • Links
      • Center for Retailing
        • Mission
        • Bachelor in Retail Management
        • Applied Retail Track
          • Retail Club Activities
          • Partners
        • Research
        • News
        • People
      • Consumer Marketing
        • About us
          • Nils-Erik Wirsäll
        • Consumer Knowledge
        • People
        • Contact
      • Economic Statistics
        • People
        • BSc and MSc courses
        • PhD Courses
        • Research
        • Seminars in Economic Statistics
        • News
        • Publications and Projects
        • Video Filmed mathematics lectures for new students
        • Projects
        • STATA
        • Vacancies
      • Entrepreneurship and Business Creation
        • Publications
          • Books, Chapters and Reports
          • Journal articles
        • Research
        • People
        • News
      • Governance and Management Studies
        • About the Center
        • People
        • Projects
          • Board Practice in Major Nordic Companies
          • Financialization and the New Swedish Model
          • From Industrial to Financial Capitalism
          • Governing Complex Co-operation. A Study of Swedish Corporatist Insurance Companies
          • Institutional investor corporate ownership
          • Institutional Analysis of Cross-border Hostile Takeovers
          • Institutionalization of Nomination Committees in Swedish Corporate Governance
          • Rethinking Corporate Governance
        • Publications
        • News
        • Seminars and Events
        • Contact
      • HRM and Knowledge Work
        • Research
          • Human Resource Management
          • Knowledge Work and Professional Services
          • Changing Organizations
        • People
        • Publications
          • Articles in scientific journals
          • Book chapters
          • Books
          • Student Thesis
        • Contact
      • Center for Digital Innovation and Transformation
        • Research
          • Digital Business Transformation and Structural Changes in the Networked Society
          • Digital Transformation Think Tank
          • Managing Digital Transformation – New SIR Book 2017
          • PhD projects
        • People
        • Publications
          • Digital Transformation
          • E-Business
          • Innovation
          • Mobility & NFC
          • Shaping Business
          • Technology and Industry Convergence
          • Other Research
          • Doctoral Dissertations
          • Industry Reports
        • Education
          • Managing Digital Transformation – Theory and Practice
          • Managing Digital Transformation in the Incumbent Firm
          • Strategic Thinking in a Global Digital World
          • Executive Education
          • Media Management (2003-2015)
          • Media Management Alumni
        • Contact
      • Innovation and Operations Management
        • Contact
        • People
        • Projects
        • Publications
      • Legal Research
      • Media and Economic Psychology
        • People
        • Publications
          • Books, Chapters and Reports
          • Conferences and Proceedings
          • Dissertations
          • Journal articles
          • Other publications
        • Research
        • Seminars
        • News
      • Modern Languages
        • Courses
        • People
      • Center for Retail Studies
        • Researchers
        • CFR Research School in Retailing
          • Courses and Schedule
          • Eligibility
          • Application
          • Business Collaborations
          • Important dates
          • Alumni Network
          • Contact
      • Research on Sustainable Markets
      • Sports and Business
        • About Us
          • Research and Ongoing Projects
          • Swedish Alliance for Women in Sport
        • People
        • Contact
        • News
      • Stockholm Center for Civil Society Studies
        • Research
          • The Nonprofit Sector
          • Foundations
          • Co-operatives
          • Membership
        • People
          • Lisa Maria Dellmuth
          • Stefan Einarsson
          • Torbjörn Einarsson
          • David Falk
          • Martin Gustavsson
          • Ebba Henrekson
          • Curt-Olof Mann
          • Marta Reuter
          • Erik Sjöstrand
          • Filip Wijkström
          • Fredrik O Andersson
          • Jan Ström
          • Katarina Friberg
          • Maria Grafström
          • Tino Schöllhorn
          • Erik Lundberg
          • Anna Lundstedt
          • Susanne Wallman-Lundåsen
          • Pelle Åberg
        • Education
        • European Civil Society Press
          • ECSP publications
        • Seminars and Events
      • Stockholm Centre for Organizational Research
      • Strategy and Competitiveness
        • Research
          • Strategy and International Business
          • Knowledge in Networks
          • Clusters and Competitiveness
          • Competitiveness Policy
        • Publications
          • Articles and Book Chapters
          • Books and Reports
          • Presentations
          • CSC in media
          • Other reports with contributions
          • Links
        • People
          • Visiting Faculty & Previous Staff
        • Contact
      • The Center for Market Studies
        • Research
          • VIS - The Value In Sight Group
          • IMG - International Marketing Group
          • Market Studies Research Group
        • People
        • Publications
          • Articles
          • Books
          • Book Chapters
          • Doctoral Dissertations
        • History
        • Contact
      • Swedish House of Finance
    • Institutes
      • European Institute of Japanese Studies
        • 欧州日本研究所(日本語)
          • EIJSアカデミーセミナー
          • 研究活動
          • EJARN
          • スタッフ・顧問会・役員会
          • 歴史
          • お問い合わせ先
        • Research
          • Working Paper
          • Publications
        • Education
          • PhD Program
          • Courses
        • Resources
        • EJARN
          • Activity
          • Members
        • Network
        • Recent Activities
        • Seminars
        • News
        • People
        • Board
          • Advisory Board
        • Contact
        • History
      • Center for Advanced Studies in Leadership
        • About us
          • Board and Funding
          • Contact us
        • CASL people
          • Meet faculty
        • Research areas
        • CASL in the press
        • News
        • Seminars
        • CASL impact
        • Publications
        • Leadership update
          • Editorial Team
          • Leadership update archive
        • Partners
      • Institute for Economic and Business History Research
        • People
          • Board
        • Research
          • Research Seminars
          • Heckscher Lectures
          • Håkan Lindgren Prize
          • About EHFF
          • Courses given by EHFF
        • Publications
          • Research reports
          • Working papers
        • Partners and Journals
      • Stockholm School of Economics Institute for Research
        • Research Centers
        • The SIR Research Award
        • Seminars & Conferences
          • Previous Years
        • SIR Publications
          • SIR´s Yearbook 2017
          • SIR's Yearbook 2016
          • SIR's Yearbook 2015
        • About SIR
          • The Board
          • Administrative Office
          • Vacancies
        • Contact
        • Internal
          • Research funding and applications
          • Finance and travel
          • Library/IT/Support
      • Mistra Center for Sustainable Markets
        • About us
          • More about us
          • Misum Board
          • Press Contact
          • Find us
          • PRME
        • People
        • Misum Research
          • Sustainable Finance
          • Sustainable Socioeconomic Development
          • Innovating Markets
        • Misum Archive
          • Academic Publications
          • Misum Interviews
          • Misum in the media
          • Misum Podcasts
        • Event archive
          • Sustainable Consumption
          • Cass Sunstein on Nudging
          • Green Finance
          • Misum/Mistra Financial Systems meets Harrison Hong
          • Misum och Naturskyddsföreningen seminarium
          • Nu kör vi mot 2030 - hur blir din affärsidé en vinnare?
          • Misum and Hybrid Talks
          • Från invandring till vinnvandring 22 mars
        • Events and Activities
        • News from Misum
      • Stockholm China Economic Research Institute
        • About Us
          • Statement from the Director
          • SCERI Board
        • Research
          • Working Paper Series
          • Financial Markets and Financial Integration
          • Financial Policies
          • Political Participation by Business Owners
        • Education
        • People
        • Seminars and Conferences
          • 2017 Conference
          • 2016 Conference
          • 2015 Conference
          • 2014 Conference
          • 2013 Conference
          • 2012 Conference
          • Lecture by Leif Johansson, Chairman of the Board of Ericsson, 8 April 2016
          • 2018 Conference
        • News
      • Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics
        • About us
          • Contact
          • History
          • Board and Funding
          • Sister Institutes
          • Social media
        • Events
        • News
        • People
          • Affiliated Faculty
        • Publications
    • Dissertations
  • Outreach
    • Alumni and Friends
      • Upcoming Events
      • Official Alumni Associations
        • UK Friends of SSE
        • SSE Alumni Club
        • American Friends
      • Alumni of the Year Award 2018
      • Homecoming
      • Annual Fund
      • American Friends of SSE Scholarship
      • Rally for SSE!
        • terms
        • Bankgiro
          • Thank you
        • Prizes and winners
        • Sponsors
        • FAQ
      • Donate Now
      • Hermes Leadership Circle
      • Donor stories
      • Reunions
    • Corporate Relations
      • Corporate Partnership Program
        • New concept Capital Partners
      • Advisory Board
      • Corporate Partners
      • Involvement in Education
      • Voices about the Corporate Partnership Program
      • Team Corporate Relations
      • Innovative and Sustainable Business Development
        • Professorship, Center and Research Program
        • Professor Sarah Jack
        • Outreach Program
        • Our Supporters
    • Career Management
      • Career Services for International students
      • Skills Courses
      • MSc Mentor Program
        • Mentee
        • Mentor
        • Contact us
    • SSE Initiatives
      • Global Challenges
        • Educational shift
        • Courses
        • Global Challenges Foundation
        • Advisory Board
      • SSE Gunnar Hedlund Award
        • Previous winners
      • SSE Art Initiative
        • Events and Exhibitions
          • Symposiums
          • Research Colloquia
          • Collection
          • Exhibitions
          • Screenings
          • Art Talks
          • Streaming Poetry
        • Calendar
        • About us
        • Visit us
        • The Board Room
        • Sustainable Art
      • SSE and the Nobel Prize
        • Award Ceremony Speech
      • RAMP
        • Apply Now!
        • Admission Criteria
        • Application Process
        • Important Dates
        • Information Meetings
        • Our Internship Companies
        • Voices of RAMP
        • Class of 2016/2017
          • Adel al Lulu
          • Afaaf Naddour
          • Ali Rajab
          • Azeb Samuel
          • Basem Alsalameh
          • Bisrat Zeleke
          • Housam Hallak
          • Hussam Alhumsi
          • Ibaa Halal
          • Jack Bandek
          • Lana Haddad
          • Majd Dagher
          • Negin Namazi
          • Rand Entabi
        • Contact Us
      • Female Economist of the Year
        • About the scholarship
          • Previous winners
          • Press
          • Founder
        • Host Company 2018
        • Contact
      • SSE Business Lab
        • INITIATE
          • The Startup School
          • Sthlm Pitch Meetup
          • Hackathon
        • INCUBATE
          • Apply to INCUBATE
          • The Incubate Program
          • Professional Services Partners
          • Software & Tools Partners
          • Incubate Members
          • Incubate Alumni
        • People
        • Careers
      • SSE Sisters
  • Library
    • Services
      • Borrowing
      • Consult a Librarian
      • Off Campus Access to e-Resources
      • Databases
      • E-Books
      • Reading Impediments
      • Suggest a Book for Acquisition
      • FAQ
    • News
    • SSE Publications
      • Licentiate Dissertations in Fulltext
      • Doctoral Dissertations in Fulltext
      • Working Paper Series
      • Master's Theses
      • Bachelor's Theses
  • About us
    • Organization
      • Board of Directors and International Advisory Council
      • Management
      • Stockholm School of Economics Association
      • Professional Services units
        • Academic Affairs
        • Academic Support & Records
        • External Relations
          • Career Management
          • Communications & Marketing
          • Corporate Relations
          • Alumni and Foundation Relations
          • Special Events
        • Quality Assurance
        • Office of Finance and Accounting
        • IT Services
        • Human resources
        • Program Office
        • Research Office
        • Services and Purchasing
      • Departments
      • Mission and Vision
      • Equality and Diversity
      • SSE in Print
    • History
      • Year by Year
      • 100 Years Jubilee
        • Centennial Lectures
    • Accreditations and Rankings
      • International rankings
      • PRME
      • EQUIS
      • SSE Worldwide
    • Contact
      • Press Contact
        • Press Photos
        • Press Clips
      • School Visits
    • Vacancies
  • Svenska
  • Login
  • Contact
  • SSE
  • Outreach
  • SSE Initiatives
  • Female Economist of the Year
  • About the scholarship
  • Previous winners
  • 2010 - Saana Azzam
Female Economist of the Year
  • About the scholarship
    • Previous winners
    • Press
    • Founder
  • Host Company 2018
  • Contact

2010 - Saana Azzam

We are very proud to announce the tenth winner of the FEOY award - Saana Azzam. Female Economist of the Year celebrates 10 years - Saana Azzam unites International Economics and Entrepreneurship

For the tenth consecutive year, the prestigious Female Economist of the Year has been awarded to an outstanding female student at the Stockholm School of Economics. This year's winner Saana Azzam has experience from both the financial industry and retail; in addition she has studied entrepreneurship and leadership in Sweden and abroad. As part of the scholarship Saana Azzam will work in Business Development & Planning at this year's new partner company - American Express.

Saana is an excellent representative of the Female Economist scholarship. Saana is a person with great drive, a broad academic background, international experience and high ambitions. She is not afraid to help herself in the male-dominated areas, which is a needed drive in Sweden, "says Barbro Ehnbom, initiator of FEOY scholorship.

Parallel to her master's degree studies in economics, Saana Azzam has worked and studied in six different countries. She speaks four languages fluently, has worked in Private Banking at SEB, as a currency trader at Barclays Capital in London and also as a business developer in sports company Nike. Saana also has a background as a basketball player at the elite level.

- The scholarship is an incredibly important moment in my life and in my career! While I personally gain a strong profile and lots of experience, I now also have an opportunity to reach out to a large group of women who have the odds against them, but the self-confidence to know they can accomplish what they are wishing for. It is also very gratifying for me to be given this wonderful award after all these years of hard work, "said Azzam Saana.

Female Economist of the Year scholarship was awarded for the first time at Stockholm School of Economics in 2001 and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. This year with a new partner, American Express.

- American Express is actively promoting diversity. Our clients are diverse and so we must be. The cooperation between AmEx and FEOY is a win-win for all parties. We are getting a top talent into the organization who can create value for American Express and the Female Economists are getting the opportunity to enter an exciting business where they can grow and have international careers, "says Kathleen Fiorello, Vice President, Nordic Countries, American Express.

The jury that selected this year's winner consists of Barbro Ehnbom, founder of the Female Economist of the Year, Kathleen Fiorello, Vice President Nordic Countries American Express, Lars Bergman, president of the School, Agneta Dreber, CEO in the Food industry, and last but not least Marketing profile Steve Trygg, which among others founded the advertising agency Anderson & Lembke in New York.

- Female Economist of the Year is an important scholarship. We need more women in senior positions and the scholarship is one step in that direction. The winners are also great female role models for our students,"says Lars Bergman, president of the SSE

Saana Azzam received the scholarship June 7 at an official ceremony on Confidence at Ulriksdals Palace Theatre. Among the invited guests were outstanding representatives from the Swedish and American business and cultural life.

Saana's speech

Your excellences, ladies and gentlemen, BBBs, friends and family,

To be here tonight and be acknowledged to receive this honor is beyond expression through words for me. I am truly grateful.

I believe that it is important for us to understand the achievements of our predecessors to truly appreciate what they have achieved and also what we have the potential to achieve. My mother has been a most inspirational woman in my surrounding; she brought up 8 kids and was the provider of the family many years. She constantly instilled in me the value of persistency, hard work and honesty. Most importantly, my mother thought us about the personal empowerment through education. I stand her today with 7 successful siblings and a coming diploma from one of Sweden’s top institutions. This is an example how by sheer will and ambition, the sky is the limit for anyone regardless of their background.

Now, we are here today for a purpose. So let us talk numbers. The number of female CEOs of noted companies in Sweden amounts to a total of 1,7 procent. That is 4 females. 72% of all managers, at all levels are male, and the average wage for women is 83% of men’s wage. There are a obvious disproportions between the male and female ratios. But there are many benefits to be had by integrating a higher percentage of females into the workplace at senior management positions. Benefits include diversified forms of resources and experiences combined with additional angles of perspectives when forming strategies and solutions. Countless of studies have been made about this, in the States, a study showed how the Fortune 500 firms with the best records of putting women at the top were 18 to 69% more profitable than the median companies in their industries. Female managers have proven their worth to these companies and have exhibited exemplar performance by increasing profitability, and the figures given back this up. I also believe that for us women, it is time for us to eliminate all of our inhibitions and break free of any stereotypes so we can obtain our place alongside our male counterparts. This award is an exact representation of that. Encouraging young females to dare to aim high from the starts just as we involve the decision-makers in also taking an active part.

There are many actors whom have made this award possible and whom I would like to thank. Barbro, thank you for your support and dedication to this project. 10 years have passed and you still show such great enthusiasm to this award. Madeleine Albright said ”There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't support other women" so Barbro, see you in heaven.

Kathleen, Bora and future American Express colleagues. Your co-operation with this event is commendeable and you’re a great example of how companies can proactively support women in their careers. For that I say well done and thank you.

Principle Lars Bergman, Helena and SSE team, thank you for sustaining the high standards and the great reputation of this university and for supporting FEOY.

To all Female Economists, BBBs and Friends it is through you that we can truly shape the market and change its demographics. You are the people whom are actually implementing the change. Keep inspiring and continue to be role models in the spirit of change.

For all, we are presented with a great occasion which allows us to get together and share experiences but more importantly through collaboration we are redefining the rules to achieve real visible change. Many of you are here because you have succeeded with just that and I applaud you but there is still much that needs to be done.

Maya Angelou said, 'When you learn, teach. When you get, give.' I want you to know that this award means that I will continue to strive to give back to the world what it has given to me. I will contribute by redefining the rules in the domains that I am present in. By sharing my values, always working hard and with a high level of integrity will I ensure that at least one seed will be sown through me.

I hope that you also acknowledge that and continue to support Barbro, this fantastic network and all the rising stars out there. Let us be be the change we want to see in the world.

Thank You!

Saana Azzam
Stockholm School of Economics | Box 6501 | SE-113 83 Stockholm | E-mail: info@hhs.se | Phone: +46 8 736 90 00
Apsia
CEMS
EFMD
PIM Network
PRME