Interview With Dr. Harbeen Arora, FOUNDER OF WOMEN ECONOMIC FORUM

"Female Empowerment is the Root of All Civilization"

Harbeen Arora, founder, and leader of All Ladies League (ALL) and the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and G100 with more than 800 chapters worldwide, is a natural leader. She is a speaker, businesswoman, pedagogue, and one of the 100 most reputable and credible individuals globally. Above all, she is a dreamer who envisions a world where women support each other across borders in leadership and empowerment, a world in which the strength of femininity brings balance again.

“Today, women feel that they are weak and vulnerable and live in a culture of fear, that is why we have to recover that self-confidence, that belief in ourselves.”

She travels extensively and exhibits tireless energy, seeming to be present in multiple locations simultaneously—a testament to her passion for work. Additionally, she is driven by a desire to learn and grow continually, embodying a purposeful approach to personal evolution.

How is this achievable? The key is in her serenity and the clarity with which she assumes everything. She begins her day very early with meditation and organizes her time. Her kindness radiates a sense of calmness throughout her surroundings and revitalizes her team.
Managing ALL, WEF and G100 is only part of her responsibilities. Added to this is her academic role as a rector at three universities in India and as leader of a large business and industrial group in health and well-being, high-tech agriculture, real estate and construction, education, renewable energy, social networks, and technology information.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Delhi, a master's degree from King's College, University of London, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as a doctorate from the Sorbonne Nouvelle, University of Paris.

However, she makes it look so simple, she involves and collaborates with other women because she is convinced that, in addition to time management, it is the commitment that allows everything to flow. She advises to always leave time for reading and try to enjoy at least one meal with your family a day. From her parents, she inherited the spirit of service and learned responsibility, independence, and teamwork since she was a child in Delhi, values that she enriched over time. “I also learned along the way to have endless reserves of positive energy and resilience,” she says.

“When a woman grows up, she takes everyone with her, her family, her community; that's why we have to help her lift everyone up."

Harbeen believes women's empowerment is the foundation of civilization. She advises that beyond the Women's Economic Forum, this principle can be applied to any aspect of one’s daily life. “As a woman, I give you my power and I receive your power. If I empower myself, I feel less afraid, I feel stronger to stand up as I am. We are for each other like sisters and in sisterhood is our strength.”
She knows that in the trials of life, you can feel weak, but when a woman stands up and increases her self-esteem, “she feels like a queen inside and moves forward with positive energy. She becomes strong and makes other people strong, her children look at her and become strong too. A woman always shares her power, she does not keep it to herself, because a woman is inclusive, she is always thinking about others, and that is why she brings balance.”

"Find inner balance, peace of mind, purity of heart, clarity of purpose and spirit of faith with an attitude of forgiveness.”

Interview With Dr. Harbeen Arora
She also advices women to go out to work saying "you are not less than anyone else and have valuable leadership skills such as empathy or the ability to connect and feel compassion.

Remember, women, the world is changing, and many companies are looking for just that. Women “have all these qualities and we can attract all of that to business,” responding to business needs about how to become a more connected leader or how to gain the trust of customers.

She summarizes the path for all women, “Loving ourselves, not from selfishness, but from an abundance, because when you do not love and respect yourselves, other people will not offer their respect either,” a deep thought that deserves careful internal reflection.

When a woman helps others, goes to work, grows, seeks success, and reaches the top, she encourages other women to create hope, aspirations, and a vision. “If we think small, we reduce ourselves, and make ourselves smaller, we have to feel that we can be whoever we want to be.”

How did she do it? Just like an athlete does, she didn't think she had to win, she just ran as fast as she could, with the support of her partner, who guided her in terms of inner strength, visionary thinking, self-discipline, spirit of service, and bravery. “His unwavering support, unconditional love, and utmost generosity helped me every step of the way to make that journey toward my possibilities," she says. 
She shares another secret that her positive energy is like a superpower and must be accompanied by spiritual discipline so that at the end of each day, you cleanse your heart, forgive everything, and continue concentrating on your path. “And let's finish running as fast as we can, without letting negativity take over. When we generate optimism, a lot of positive energy begins to return to us, we begin to meet good people, see opportunities, and something magical happens.”
Dr. Harbeen's spiritual principle of loving and serving everyone drives her to dream that no matter where she lives, every woman can feel so much respect and self-love that she realizes her power. “When this happens, her relationships begin to be better, she begins to choose the right people, she will leave abusive relationships, she will begin to live a life that will inspire other women and other people to live better, to be better human beings.” The path is not easy, she warns, “an inner voice tells us: 'stay crouched, stay small'; but there is another voice that encourages us: 'you are the splendour, the light of the world'.”
However, Harbeen is aware that access to sufficient opportunities and conducive environments are crucial, and she has diligently worked to establish them, understanding that it will require time to fully materialize. That is why she invites the girls of the younger generations, “Come, do your job; and don't let anything stop you; and if something stops you, it will be because of the lack of an ecosystem or the lack of a support system. Come and help create that ecosystem.”
Harbeen lives to get rid of prejudices not just in other people’s minds, but the ones that women themselves hold. She works to help women understand their true potential and opens their eyes to be able to see the future they can build for themselves.
When are you going to start seeing your true worth?

By:                                                        
Cristina Calleja and Revathi Sreejith

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