Siri Abrahamsen is a passionate advocate for human connection, belonging and wellbeing. She is a social entrepreneur, a best-selling children's book author and a professional speaker.
In 2015, Siri asked her children: “What is the opposite of bullying?” Her then nine-year-old responded with the Norwegian word gleding, which expresses the many concrete ways we can make other people happy. This simple act turned the word “bullying” on its head, focusing instead on our human strengths in building relationships and a safe environment.
Since that time, Siri has been bringing together professionals, parents and children in kindergartens and schools to build positive cultures and social supports. She has sold more than 60,000 books and built a platform inspired by gleding for parents, professionals and children. (The development of gleding tools and resources is being undertaken in collaboration with CEI.)
Siri is Community Lead for Northern Europe for the Finnish education organisation HundrED. She has a Bachelor of Management, alongside studies in religion and intercultural communication, and she is a certified Co-Active CTI Coach.