Our Story

In 2014, while living in Hanoi, Vietnam, Irene Ohler, founding curator of the Women’s Storytelling Salon felt that “something was missing in ‘her town’” - a place where women could connect with other professional women in a meaningful way.

Irene deeply believes in the Power of Storytelling to build trust and connection, to trigger our imagination, and to inspire us to take purposeful action.

She was also inspired by the tradition of her hometown Vienna, Austria where in the 19thcentury influential women would open their Salons (ie. their living rooms) for gatherings of the ‘influencers’ of their time to mix and inspire each other.

So, in November of 2014 the first Women’s Storytelling Salon was born together with co-founder, Nandini Ooman, who has since made the Salons a success in the USA following her return there in 2015.

Since 2014 we’ve had 30 Salons in Hanoi an in Ho Chi Minh City with always 2 inspiring storytellers from different fields sharing their different perspectives on a theme, and their triumphs and trials on their pathways.

Our Salon Community has been growing and growing, in numbers as well as in diversity in professional backgrounds, nationalities and generations, making it a unique place for Connection, Conversations, Celebration of women’s achievement, and Inspiration.

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