At the age of 15, Bissan Salman had a life changing experience when she visited Hiroshima for a summit of young leaders from around the world. Having grown up in a small city in Israel, this was her first experience in a country with a culture and language at odds with what she was accustomed to. Little did Bissan know that she would reunite with Japan and work for the embassy of Japan in Israel. ISRAERU was able to speak with Bissan about bridging cultures, her career, and the life lessons she has gained for becoming a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman.
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Popping the bubble: Bissan’s passion for international relations
“My visit to Hiroshima changed my life.”
When Bissan left Israel to visit Japan and spoke to other young leaders from around the world, her sociocultural bubble popped.
“Growing up in Israel, I was focused on the politics and problems of our country, but after speaking with so many people of diverse backgrounds, I was exposed to the social issues around the world as well”
With a newfound international perspective and a passion to work around the world, Bissan started working as a volunteer as a teenager while managing a busy schedule at school.
“The volunteer work was unpaid but I was able to gain experience and work in fields I was passionate about, such as educational workshops, activism, and community service. Through my work with this international organization, I had the opportunity to travel to many countries around the world to participate in different workshops and conferences. This is how my international career started. ”
After graduating from High School, Bissan sought to break another one of her bubbles. Leaving her community in Israel, Bissan studied politics at Bar-Ilan University, a Jewish religious university. With the desire to travel around the world still instilled in her, Bissan went on to complete a master’s degree in London at the London School of Economics.
Becoming the bridge between Israel and Japan
After London, Bissan returned to Israel where she found an opportunity to work at the Japanese Embassy in Israel. Thrilled to work with the country that inspired her to work internationally, Bissan was acting as a bridge between the economic and political sectors of the Arab community in Israel to Japan.
Through her work, Bissan built a reputation as an expert on Japan. Many businesses and owners would contact her in hopes to gain insight on how to enter the Japanese market. While speaking with people on both sides, Bissan became aware of the gap between the two countries.
“There is a gap between the countries whether it be cultural or linguistic that makes business difficult, I realized that someone must fill that gap.”
With this in mind, Bissan founded Sawa Japan to become a bridge that connects Japanese companies with Arab entrepreneurs looking to enter the Japanese market. Sawa in Arabic means ‘together’ and it perfectly serves her vision. Looking to the future, Bissan hopes to nurture the relationship between the Arab and Japanese people as well as businesses using Sawa.
Making it in the business as a woman: Bissan’s advice
As a leading female entrepreneur and businesswoman in her field of business, ISRAERU asked Bissan to share her insights for younger generations of females looking for professional prosperity.
“Work hard to make your expertise and word undeniable, it may be harder to become successful due to social issues involving gender, but never give up and stack your experiences to become knowledgeable.”
Bissan also remarked on the added social responsibilities many women have while working, and the importance of balancing their life.
“Women face a huge social responsibility that is extremely difficult to balance work with. As a workaholic myself, I sometimes forget about my private life when becoming too immersed in my work. While it is important to have a career, it is also important to remember to take care of our bodies and souls.”
