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'''Sofana R. Dahlan''' (سفانة ربيع دحلان) is an accomplished Saudi lawyer and social entrepreneur. She is among the first three female lawyers to have been granted the permit to practice law in Saudi Arabia <ref>{{cite web|title =Top 100 Saudi Women - Sofana Dahlan|url=https://www.abouther.com/content/sofana-dahlan|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> and has served as a legal consultant in different parts of the Arab world including [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Lebanon]], and [[Kuwait]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Sofana Dahlan - THNK School of Creative Leadership|url=https://www.thnk.org/community/people/sofana-dahlan/|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> Dahlan was also the Vice Governor for Entrepreneurship Advancement at the [https://o.monshaat.gov.sa/en/about Small and Medium Enterprises Authority of Saudi Arabia] from 2016 to 2017, making her the first Saudi female senior economic policymaker.<ref>{{cite web|title = SRMG magazines, Saudi SME authority sign agreement|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1082466/media|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> Most recently she has enrolled at King's College, London in order to pursue a PhD in Culture Media and Creative Industries specialising in: The Obstacles Facing the Development of Creative Industries in Saudi Arabia: A Deep Dive into Intellectual Property Infringement and its Implications.<ref>{{cite web|title = Sofana Dahlan - LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofana-dahlan-b734801b/?originalSubdomain=sa|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Sofana R. Dahlan was born to the Al Dahlan (آل دحلان)<ref>{{cite web|title = آل دحلان |url=https://www.marefa.org/%D8%A2%D9%84_%D8%AF%D8%AD%D9%80%D9%80%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86
|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> family of Makkah. Her mother, Huda Kayal, was an academic specialising in English Literature at [[King Abdulaziz University]] in Jeddah and her father, Dr. Rabea S. Dahlan,<ref>{{cite web|title = Dr. Rabea S. Dahlan - Quraysh |url=http://quraysh.com/dr-rabea-dahlan.html|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> served as Deputy Governor of [https://makkah.gov.sa/ the Emirate of Makkah] from 1989 until 1999.
She has completed an undergraduate degree in Law (LLB) from [[Cairo University]], a postgraduate degree in Islamic Law from the Higher Institute of Islamic Studies in Egypt along with an MBA degree from the [[American University of Technology]].<ref name="nato.int2011">{{cite web|title=UNAOC Fellowship Programme Fall 2001 Edition|url=http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_09/20110930_110922a-participants.pdf|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=24 May 2016|page=3|date=2011}}</ref> In 2009, she was involved in the Harvard Executive program "Leading for the Future: The Arab Region in a Changing World" and has also obtained an executive degree in Global Leadership & Public Policy from [[Harvard University]] in 2013.
==Career==
Dahlan is the founder of many social enterprises that focus on developing the creative industries in the region. She is the founder of Tashkeil,<ref>{{cite web|title = Tashkeil - LinkedIn |url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/451676|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> a Saudi-based social enterprise that incubates, accelerates and promotes creative entrepreneurs. She is also the founder of [http://www.kayanspace.com Kayan Space and Studios] – a membership-based environment for creative professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers.
In 2013, Dahlan initiated, the [http://www.snci-ksa.com Saudi National Creative Initiative (SNCI)] which is a collaborative creative knowledge transfer platform that was established in 2013. Stimulated profoundly by Dahlan's passion for working with youth and the Saudi Vision 2030, SNCI aims to map and understand the Saudi Creative Industry in order to reinforce creativity and utilize the youth to unleash its full potential and drive Saudi Arabia to a knowledge-based economy.<ref>{{cite web|title = Saudi National Creative Project is Launched |url=http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/888456|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
==Philanthropy==
Dahlan is regarded as an icon for female empowerment for her advocacy to advocate cultural, heritage and socially oriented issues. She is an active member of the Board of Directors at Khadija Bint Khuwailid Centre,<ref>{{cite web|title = Khadija bint Khuwailid Center: The Starting Point |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/296355|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> a businesswoman and lobbying center at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has spoken at public platforms such as Pecha Kucha in Beirut, Beirut Design Week, TEDxWomen in Barcelona,<ref>{{cite web|title = Beyond the Label - the power of Saudi women |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-tF2WEZMSs|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> and BOLDtalks Woman <ref>{{cite web|title = Changing Perceptions, Changing Society |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HJX3dI1oRk|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> and has penned numerous articles on topics such as women's rights, social values, and inter-religious dialogue.
==Notable accolades==
* In 2011, she was chosen to participate at the Harvard Executive program - 'Leading for the Future: The Arab Region in a Changing World' where she represented her founding company, Tashkeil, socioeconomic cycle as an ecosystem for social change and development.<ref>{{cite web|title = Sofana R. Dahlan SheSource - Women's Media Center |url=http://www.womensmediacenter.com/shesource/expert/sofana-r.-dahlan|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2011, she became the first Saudi to serve as a fellow of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on a tour of Europe and the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title = UNAOC Fellows 2011 |url=https://www.unaoc.org/2011/08/fellowship-news-announcing-24-new-fellows-for-the-fall-2011-unaoc-fellowship-programme/|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2014, she was the recipient of the "Most Innovative Woman Entrepreneur" for WIL Achievement Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title = His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri Inaugurates WIL Economic Forum 2014 in Dubai |url=http://www.godubai.com/citylife/press_release_page.asp?PR=93822&Sname=Entertainment|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2015, she was recognised as WEF Young Global Leader.<ref>{{cite web|title = Young Global Leaders : Class of 2015 |url=https://widgets.weforum.org/ygl-2015/04.html|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2015, she was the recipient of "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" for Arab Women Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title = الأميرة حصة بنت سلمان تكرم الفائزات في حفل مجلة سيدتي لتكريم المبدعات |url=http://www.al-jazirah.com/2015/20150421/fe11.htm|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2015, she received a Silver Stevies Award for "Female Entrepreneur of the Year (in MENA and Europe)" whilst under her direction, Tashkeil received a Bronze Stevies Award for the "Most Innovative Company of the Year" category. She was also recognised as "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" by Arab Women Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title = The Stevie Awards for Women in Business - 2015 |url=http://stevieawards.com/women/2015-stevie-award-winners|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
* In 2018, she was the recipient of "Leadership Excellence in Social Entrepreneurship" for the 8th Global Leadership Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title = Global Leadership Awards feature three Saudi winners |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1357256/corporate-news|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:21st-century Saudi Arabian lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Saudi Arabian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Saudi Arabian women]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian activists]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian women activists]]
[[Category:Cairo University alumni]]
[[Category:American University of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian women lawyers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century women lawyers]]