On October 12, around 40 participants gathered at NTNU for “Breaking the Myths,” an event by Boost henne. Female entrepreneurs shared insights to challenge misconceptions and inspire women to pursue entrepreneurship.
By Maja Aspelund Aure
This event aimed to challenge stereotypes about entrepreneurship and was led by Boost Henne, in collaboration with various female entrepreneurs. Their goal was to inspire women to believe in themselves and show that entrepreneurship is for everyone—regardless of what you study, your interests, or who you are. Boost Her is part of Spark* NTNU, run by students at NTNU. Their mission is to support female students in taking their first steps as entrepreneurs.
“Anyone can work in a startup, no matter who you are, what you study, or what you’re interested in! The startup world is for everyone.”- Hege Øverlie, Event coordinator at Boost Henne
Hege Øverlie said that the inspiration behind the event was to reach a broader audience, especially technology students. Many view entrepreneurship as intimidating due to persistent myths. The goal of the event was to break these myths and make entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone.
Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs: Breaking Barriers and Myths
The event kicked off with an inspiring speech from Sonia Ahmadi, activist and founder of “Women for Change.” She shared her journey into entrepreneurship, highlighting how it’s not just about who you are, but how hard you work. A friend had once told her that she only got into her studies because she was a woman. But Sonia countered:
“I got into the entrepreneurship school because I am a hardworking person, not just because I am a woman.“
Today, Sonia works to promote women’s rights, both in Afghanistan and Norway, and emphasized the importance of following your passion: “Believe in yourself, whether you have an idea or not. You are good enough.”
Next, Nora Antonsen, CTO and co-founder of Naya Development, debunked the myth that you have to know everything to succeed in a tech-driven startup. With a background in entrepreneurship studies at NTNU and a degree in physics and mathematics, she emphasized how collaboration is key to success: “I rely on networks and mentors. Together, we can achieve much more than we think.” Isabella McNeill, known as the “startup girl” on Instagram, shared her experience of combining marketing strategy, investments, and entrepreneurship. She spoke candidly about the challenges of pitching: “I hate pitching, but I love entrepreneurship.”
Ida Elise Sandtorp, co-founder and CEO of Tendro and host of the podcast Peaker, emphasized how women often have to fight to prove they’re good enough in male-dominated environments: “We need to stop being ‘good girls’ and start taking more risks without worrying about the consequences”. Sandtorp encouraged participants to set their own agenda and not hesitate to claim their space in the startup scene. Regine Larsen, Nordic Head of Marketing Strategy at IF talked about the myth that women have to do everything alone: “No one needs to do everything alone. It’s about finding the right supporters and resources.” She also spoke about the importance of work-life balance and how entrepreneurs need to learn to take care of themselves.
Panel Discussions and Practical Advice
The evening ended with a panel discussion, where the audience had the opportunity to ask the speakers questions. Topics discussed included how to find energy in daily life, the importance of taking breaks, and how to balance work and personal life. “Breaking the Myths” by Boost turned out to be a successful evening filled with inspiration, networking, and practical advice from female entrepreneurs. The goal was to show that entrepreneurship is accessible to everyone, and that no myths or prejudices should stand in the way of following your dreams. Tapas and great conversations contributed to a relaxed atmosphere, and it was clear that participants left with a new perspective on what it means to be an entrepreneur.
