Ataa Dabour is the founder of Sustainable Seed. Sprouted from the idea that every individual and project holds the potential to become a force for positive change. The mission is to empower people and organizations to drive change, inspire people, and embrace sustainability as a way of life and thinking. Sustainable Seed offers consulting and training services and equips clients with the tools, knowledge, and mindset necessary to catalyze systemic and positive transformation and engagements to co-create impact initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable world.
When did you realize you wanted to be a social entrepreneur? How did you define your purpose?
My purpose is to empower individuals and organizations to be catalysts for systemic and positive change, fostering sustainability in all its diverse manifestations. My ultimate vision is to inspire people to adopt sustainability as not just a practice but as an intrinsic way of life and a fundamental aspect of their thought processes and decision-making.
I am a multicultural, human-centric, and engaged woman. I was born and grew up in Geneva, but I am originally from Palestine and Syria. I hold two masters degrees: Middle Eastern Studies and Global Security and Conflict Resolution. Throughout my academic career, I had the opportunity to study and live abroad, such as in Germany, Belgium, and the UK. Throughout my professional career, I explored working in various fields and sectors. My experiences led me to understand how much developing our soft skills and building ourselves is crucial for our own sustainable and continuous development.
I am passionate about entrepreneurship, sustainability, and sustainable development. I started my first entrepreneurial journey in 2019, with many failures, lessons, and successes, and the second one in 2022.
I am a professor at a private university in Switzerland, where I impart my knowledge and innovative teaching methodologies on various topics: social entrepreneurship, systems thinking, CSR, sustainable management, and sustainable business strategies. I am also a member of the Evaluation Advisory Board of the Future Council (U24), an initiative developed by the Swiss Society for the Common Good and the Swiss Commission for UNESCO.
What was your first project? What were your lessons learned?
My first project, Security and Human Rights Academy (SHR), started in 2019 and ended in 2021 by choice. I've learned that failure is more important than success, that the uncomfortable zone allows us to grow much more than the comfortable zone, and that everything is a process or a journey. I've learned how to manage and lead myself and others.
I have learned that people are systems that evolve in ecosystems and that our words and actions will always negatively and positively impact others, our environment, and our society. Finding a balance is fundamental. Finally, I've learned that we, as individuals, and our projects or ideas have the potential to grow, evolve, and make a positive impact. This is why and how I founded Sustainable Seed in 2022.
Describe your journey. Smooth sailing or a roller coaster ride?
Since I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2019, my journey has gone from a roller coaster ride, marked by both triumphs and challenges, to smooth sailing. These challenges, from personal setbacks to professional hurdles, have tested my resilience, aspiration, and determination. I overcame them through perseverance, learning from failures, seeking support from mentors and loved ones, and maintaining an unwavering focus on my goals.
Each challenge has been a stepping stone, shaping me into a stronger, more adaptable individual and fueling my drive to continue pushing forward in pursuit of my aspirations. I think we do not learn from experience; we do learn from reflecting on our experience.
What are you building right now? What is your ambition?
I am diligently building Sustainable Seed into a dynamic force for positive change in the realm of sustainability.
My ambition is to create a thriving ecosystem where individuals, organizations, and projects are empowered with the knowledge, tools, and mindset needed to drive sustainable and systemic transformation. I aim to inspire a global shift towards sustainability as a way of life, fostering a mindset that transcends boundaries and cultures.
My goal is to continue expanding my consulting and training services, forging partnerships, co-creating impactful initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable world, and creating an inspiring team.
How can everyone support you?
Supporting me and Sustainable Seed means becoming part of a transformative community for positive change and personal growth. Engage with us to access valuable sustainability knowledge, training, and resources, enriching your own understanding and impact. Whether as a partner, investor, team member, or future Advisory Board member, you amplify sustainability efforts, contributing to a more sustainable world.
Join our team and become a catalyst for change, spreading sustainability across diverse sectors. Additionally, through the future Ambassadors Program I will launch, you can advocate for sustainability, inspiring others to embrace it as a way of life. In every role, supporting me and my organization means embracing sustainability and leaving a lasting positive impact on our planet and future generations.
If you would like to learn more about Sustainable Seed, please visit the website or social media pages.
