7 Questions with @join_hon founder Aleksandra Avli
Her Online Network (@join_hon) - the new Linkedin for women
Aleksandra Avli is the woman behind a new kind of women’s professional network platform. HON (Her Online Network) is all about strengthening and supporting each other, sharing values and giving. Rather than protesting about men and inequality it is action focused. Mobilising a modern, fearless and forward thinking group of women creating new norms, collaborations and opportunities. Recently she and her team closed their second round of funding, with high profile - mainly female - investors, and have thousands of women in line wanting to join the network.
1/ What is currently happening in your life?
HON - I started HER 2 years ago and decided to develop the physical professional women’s network into a digital one last year. Our journey with our HON app has been way faster and expansive than we ever dreamed of. Recently we closed our second funding round with some really high profile investors, mainly female. So this sums pretty much that my life is about breaking stigma norms around female entrepreneurship and at the same time building a community around women that want to grow personally and professionally alongside one another.
2/ How did it all start?
Well, I come from a minute family - my mum and I - and we had to leave everything behind in the Balkans and flee to Sweden when I was 6 years old. My mum is the bravest, strongest and kindest person I know. Managing to find a life for us and raising me to be a confident woman with strong beliefs and moral was no easy journey but she made it and I am forever grateful to her, my role model in life. When I was offered to work with the EU Parliament in Brussels I was completely frozen out by the women in my team. This was such a shock to me - women working against women? Out of fear, jealousy or simply stupidity? I then began building a network outside of the EU, of women supporting one another. HER was born, and now five years later HON.
3/ Life lessons learnt so far?
I am naturally a introvert (yes you might be chocked now!) so I guess I have learnt to speak up for myself - and others. To trust and believe in my intuition. To say No when things become too much, even if all is positive. To trust my fragility just as much as my strength.
4/ What are you grateful for in life?
A way to express my full personality, and my energy. I thrive on all things communication and just by watching people you can read what they want in life. For me Fashion is that external diary of a person’s soul!
5/ Your style?
I love colors and like to dress in a adventure fun style. I define this adventure by “dressing with a challenge” and work with both my feminine, masculine and playful side.
6/ Your inspiration?
The HON community and all women engaged never ceases to inspire and strengthen me. And as for always my friends and my mum. I really have the fountain of creative life around me.
7/ Dreams and Goals?
That women keep support and strengthen one another on their unique set of journeys! That HON will enable more women to build their lives according to their own values and purpose in life, around the world.
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