During her time at the Stockholm School of Economics, Sophia Nabil has emerged as a powerful advocate for social sustainability and entrepreneurship. Through the initiative F1RST, she has connected young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with mentors and networks, paving the way for more to pursue higher education and establish themselves in the workforce.

"There’s an enormous untapped potential among young people in Sweden. I want to help create the right conditions for more people to be able achieve their goals – both in education and in their careers," Sophia explains.

At the age of twelve, Sophia wrote a letter to the CEO of SEB and secured an internship. That opportunity, when someone opened a door for her and offered a first glimpse into the professional world, proved to be a turning point. Despite earlier challenges at school, she improved her grades and became involved with Young Enterprise (Ung Företagsamhet). In upper secondary school, she founded the UF company Starta din framtid, an initiative aimed at combating youth unemployment.

After high school, she was admitted to SSE, where she later earned her degree in Business Administration. During her studies, she engaged with several startups and sustainability-focused venture capital firms and served as CEO of the School’s Entrepreneurship Society.

”For me, entrepreneurship is about creating change, lifting others, and being a role model for the next generation,” says Sophia Nabil.

The scholarship committee emphasizes Sophia’s exceptional leadership and her ability to transform societal challenges into concrete, effective initiatives. Her entrepreneurial drive and passion for social sustainability make her an important role-model.

”Sophia truly has the ability to inspire and encourage change. With this scholarship and the support of the Wallumni network, there are no limits to what she can accomplish,” says Isabel Keulen, CEO of SSE Business Lab and SSE Ventures.