On a mission to drive more sustainable change?

Somaye is passionate about every project she takes on and looks for an innovative way to address any challenge. She does not shy away from taking up responsibilities beyond the ones listed in her contract and delivers her work to the best of her abilities. Somaye is capable of combining different disciplines and applies a nexus approach to every assignment given to her. Once she accepts a challenge, she never gives up! Interpersonal relations are of great value for Somaye and she makes an effort to maintain these relations and enhance them.

Somaye is a dedicated fundraising professional whose advise to our University College Fryslân Foundation team is very valuable. She is an expert in sustainable fundraising and has a talent for creative solutions, and collaboration with her is always motivating.

I have the pleasure of working with Somaye in my capacity as the dean of a sustainability focused faculty. Somaye is an expert in sustainable fundraising, her expertise in diversification of funding resources is greatly valued. I am extremely pleased in working with her and recommend her services without hesitation. Beyond her professional attitude, Somaye also has great people skills and is a true asset for every team!

Somaye has been an active contributor the the Humanity Hub community by sharing her insights and expertise with regard to sustainable funding with various hub members one on one and in two excellent learning sessions. Every conversation with her leads to new insights and inspiration. Somaye is both personal and professional in her approach. She is extremely thorough and I believe that she has the ability to significantly raise the quality and increase the results of those working with her.

Somaye has a wide and quite a diverse network with whom she has close connections. She is keen on figuring out what you are actually looking for and goes the extra mile to find you the right solution and the relevant network. The human side of the connection she builds is quite important for her and she maintains the strength of her network masterfully.

As a member of our community, Somaye was a great strategic connector - making valuable links between entrepreneurs and between entrepreneurs and resources. She has a keen ability to help others see their potential and structure tangible ways forward towards realization. I have witnessed Somaye as a dedicated business associate and a strong convenor of strategic conversations.

Somaye is a dedicated fundraising professional who carefully studies all the latest trends and then shows nonprofits and small businesses how they can implement these trends to improve their organizations. She always has some gems of wisdom to share. I am pleased to be able to work with Somaye and to share a mutually beneficial learning experience.

Somaye is always energetic and is very clear about her objectives. She is purpose driven, no matter which topic she embraces. Her focus is on topics that we will all benefit from, like climate change, improving the effectiveness of NGO'a and helping NGO's to really scale up their results. She knows how to engage and connect people. I have worked with Somaye on several occasions on events on the impact of Climate Change, in the setting of Liberaal Groen, the sustainability network of the VVD.

Somaye is an inspiring colleague and professional. I had the pleasure working with her while she was the chair of the University College Alumni Association.

Since joining the VVD-Sustainability group "Liberaal Groen", Somaye has brought together different stakeholders who are affected by and can impact Climate Change. The event she organised in February 2019 at the University College Utrecht manifested her skills and capabilities for connecting different actors in the discussion around the subject of sustainability. Somaye is a purpose driven professional who thrives in a complex environment. She is a great connector of people.

Somaye has the drive and strategic view to advance the funding base of development and humanitarian NGOs. She has the creativity and networking skills that fit a position like a senior philanthropy advisor or (interim) senior manager, in an organisation that is looking for smart ways of increasing its income and scaling its impact.

It is a joy to work with Somaye, asides from the humour and warmth she brings to our work, she adds new dimensions through her intellect, creativity and ability to think outside of the box. She is ambitious for herself and those around her and is generous with it, helping others to climb along with her. Her creativity, ambition and humour stretches to whatever she is working on and mediocrity is not in her vocabulary.

From the writing of grant proposals, organisation of events and conferences, and (net)working in an international environment - the variety in Somaye's assignments really showcased her versatility. As a manager, she gave me a lot of freedom to fill in how I worked on projects, while always being available for questions and feedback. I admire the amount of energy she puts into her work and how she switches between projects and tasks effortlessly. Working for her was a great learning school and (kick)start to my freelance career.

Somaye is a good networker, frequently expressing new ideas. She enjoys linking people together and building relations with different people. Fun and energetic personality.

Somaye Dehban is an excellent listener, mixing an open and interested approach with critical questions based on her experience to help you settle on what you really want on an issue. While managing a project she is able to listen to input on many levels and bring them together to create an event or an action plan that meet needs and deadlines. Dehban is reliable, clear and able to take decisions, or help you make decisions, that bring you further with your company, personal goal-setting, your financing and networking.

Somaye is a dedicated and creative collaborator who is always willing to put her energy into novel approaches.

I have had the pleasure of working with Somaye for two years in my capacity as Chair of the University College Alumni Association. Among many things, she has been a driving force behind the system of class- and regional representatives that the UCAA has set up, and has put in much effort to further strengthen the cooperation with the UCU alumni office. I have come to know Somaye as passionate, loyal, dedicated to her goals and ideals, and an inspiring person to work with.

I have very much enjoyed working with Somaye during the time we both served on the board of the University College Alumni Association. I've found her to be a very sociable, passionate and hard worker, who will often go above and beyond to reach the goals she's set out to achieve. She would make a great addition to just about any team.

Somaye Dehban has been involved in Anglia Summer Activities for 5 years and has always supported the organization in a positive and professional way. First, she was a teacher assistant and a catering support, later she grew to a position of group teacher, then head teacher, taking full responsibility.

Somayeh had been cooperating with Radio Zamaneh as a freelance journalist/Radio broadcaster for Several years. Radio Zamaneh is an independent, non-profit media institution, which produces its programs based on the universal democratic principles. Broadcasting is in the Persian language via Internet and satellite. Radio Zamaneh brings news and analysis, educational programs as well as music and entertainment. Besides being a joy to work with, Somayeh is a person who take charge and is able to present creative ideas and communicate the benefits. Creativity, finding her way around, thinking out of the box are Somayeh’s most valuable competencies. She is a reliable and committed employee. Her natural positive attitude and flexibility are a big asset of her. I highly recommend Somayeh for employment. She is a team player and would add value to any organization.