Jessica Olander and Karin Ernerot from She Creatives.

Together with highly acclaimed Scandinavian network of professional female creatives, She Creatives of Sweden and U.K. based network She Says, the Hyper Island Learning Team has designed a Master Class course aimed specifically at industry professional women already working as creatives.

She Creatives of Sweden is a professional network for women holding creative positions in advertising, digital agencies, design studios and the commercial film industry. It was founded by Karin Ernerot (Creative Director at Tewonder) and Jessica Olander (Art Director at Söderhavet) in October 2007.

- We started as a group on Facebook and we soon realized there was a great urge for a real life Network. So we arranged a get together with some food and drinks. 30 creative women showed up, and from that point the Network has kept on growing. Today we are 280 members. This year we have arranged several seminars and events and also have a mailinglist where our members are very active. Our aim and goal is to create more, stronger and happier She Creatives, Karin Ernerot says.

Laura Jordan Bambach from She Says.

The Uk based network She Says are a charity which was started in March 2007 by Ale Lariu and Laura Jordan Bambach (who works at Glue London), after heated discussions about why they weren't seeing any CVs from women at their digital agencies.

- We decided that rather than moan about it, we'd do something - hold monthly free events and run a mentorship scheme where top females in the industry would share their thoughts and help people to either get started or work their way up, Laura Jordan Bambach says.

Why are the women in this industry so few?

- We don’t have the complete answer for that. But we guess it’s because you need to fight for ideas, stand tough criticism and have sharp elbows as a creative in this industry. Women more often hold positions as project- and production leaders, even if some have an education in creative arts, Karin Ernerot says.

Laura Jordan Bambach agrees:

- I think it has to do with a lack of role female models, the bachelor-pad atmosphere of many digital offices, stereotypes of women not being "techy", a focus at universities on working on your own rather than collaboratively... The list goes on, but I think lack of visibility and lack of networks is a big one.

It was Karin Ernerot and Hyper Island CEO Mattias Hansson who first came up with the idea of a Master Class especially for women when she held a class at Hyper Island about screenwriting and she liked the way Hyper is designed.

- The students get a lot of tools for processing and concepts. Actually it was Mattias Hansson that first came up with the Idea of a Master Class for She Creatives. Jessica Olander and I thougt about it and designed it to fit our members. When She Says from UK joined we where more than happy.

Laura, why did you join this project?

- We joined to bring the fantastic training that Hyper Island offers to our network, who will hopefully go back to their jobs and spread their knowledge to others. Its a great opportunity for members to get some really sound training in an atmosphere where they don't have to be afraid to ask.

What do you hope to get out of it?

- I hope that this project will see a group of women heading back into the workforce a more confident, assured and knowledgeable bunch. Ready to take that step towards mentoring and supporting other women, Laura says.

- In the future I dream of more female Creative Directors, Art Directors, Copywriters, Filmmakers, Webdesigners and others who can make a difference and get top positions and make their voices heard all over the world, Karin adds.

Why should I take this class?

- If you want to boost your self-esteem and become a more edgy creative, If you need greater toolbox when processing ideas for advertising, digital media and communication. If you like to broaden your knowledge about group dynamics and get the power to make a difference. If you want to be able to face clients in a better way, and be more convincing when presenting ideas and creative solutions. If you want to create a strong sustainable network of other female creatives from Sweden and the UK. Then you should take this class, Karin says.

Will you take the class?

- I'd love to! I think that women at all levels can really benefit from the intensive training and you're never too experienced to learn something new, Laura says.

The course is in November, will there be more opportunities to take the class later?

- If the Master Class in November becomes the injection of inspiration and knowledge that we believe it will. Then we will absolutely arrange more courses, maybe next spring already, Karin says.

Read more about Master Class for She Creatives and about how to apply here.