91����

4 July 2018

Everyone knows about Iceland’s infamous hot springs, jets of boiling water shooting into the air, the where East meets West, and of course (or E15). Honestly speaking, I had never done any other research into the country and was not sure what to expect when we embarked on the annual Edinburgh 91���� Business Trek to Iceland.

Reaching Iceland

The first leg of our trek took us on the famous . Everyone knows about this. You visit some unique natural geysers, waterfalls, and areas that have defined Iceland's heritage and culture. We saw the location of the first Parliament in the world, and where the continent of North America meets Eurasia. Out of everything that we saw, the thing that shocked me beyond belief was the sense of ownership and pride that Icelandic people have for their country. It reminded me of the Metro Car Medellin in Colombia, where the locals were taught how to use the system, and later assumed ownership in a transportation system that not only improved logistics, but gave them security from cartels and other illegal activities.

Business Trek Visits

One of the first stops of the business trek was . The 2008 crash and its global repercussions were particularly evident in Iceland, and the 91���� cohort were reminded that strategy is critical. , the newly appointed CEO of Íslandbanki at the time, had to come up with a new strategy that would ensure the continuation of the bank and also improve the general feelings of her employees. Today, Í�������Ի�������԰쾱 is a significant financial institution in Iceland.

, a company started by an Edinburgh alumnus, was one of the companies that inspired the inner entrepreneur in all of us. had a simple yet effective idea; to create a platform where entrepreneurs, business leaders and marine specialists can come together and bring sustainability to the fishing industry.

Additionally, a visit to opened our eyes to the threat that increasing tourism poses to the delicate environment of Iceland. Tourism in Iceland has risen considerably in the past decade or so, particularly with the growth of adventure seeking tourists, and it was essential for us to understand the pressure felt across the emergency services. We also took a visit to , a public organisation created to raise awareness of Iceland, its culture and nature, and to decrease tourist seasonality. They also aim to promote Iceland as an adventurous, creative and mysterious country waiting to be discovered. Since their inception, they have run some successful and exciting campaigns, like and many other advertisements.

Our last stop was at , an organisation started by Ö�����ܰ� Kristinsson, a prosthetist, who himself was disabled and required the use of prosthesis. Upon realising that there was a gap in the market, and that better products can be created to serve the market, the company was born.

At Ö�����ܰ�, we met , the Senior Designer and Orthopaedist at Ö�����ܰ�. As a shoe cobbler, Larus learned how to design shoes for the disabled before Ö�����ܰ� bought his company and hired him. He has nearly 50 patents under his name and his creations have improved the lives of many people around the world, including some well known Paralympians.

Overall the Iceland trek was successful. Not only did we enjoy the business visits, and meet some very influential people who have literally changed life in Iceland; we also had the chance to see the untouched beauty that nature has created.

You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.

On a personal level, this was sadly my last trek with the Edinburgh 91���� and the University of Edinburgh. Having completed the Business Trek to Colombia, the Women in Leadership Trek in London and finally the Business Trek in Iceland, I believe I have grown into the person I wanted to be when I commenced my 91����.

The cultural experiences, the professional and personal development and the networking, have all met my expectations of this programme. Now I am in my Consulting Capstone phase, and I am looking at how I can further broaden my horizons, head on. A new job in consulting? A new venture? Who knows where life will take me. I am just waiting for the right moment and I will take it by the hand and go with it.

Saad, 91���� 2018