Follow the adventures of Karen Darby, SimplySwitch founder, as she prepares to address women in business... in Libya.

2 April 2007: Just got a phone call from Real Business' Matthew Rock, asking me if I fancy doing another public speaking gig.

“Yes!” I reply enthusiastically. But there is a slight catch: the conference is in Libya. Hmmm… I’ll have to brush up on my Arabic.

“Would I have to wear a hijab?” I enquire.

“Don’t know,” replies Matthew, not at all sure if I’m being serious. Apparently the Libyans are trying to encourage entrepreneurs, female ones in particular, and he thinks they would like my “rags to riches” story. And they are prepared to pay a speaker’s fee. Oh, all right then, it will be an adventure.

I’ve just found out the event is being hosted by the British Council. I feel somewhat more secure now. Have been on their Libyan website and they are raving about Cherie Blair’s recent visit. So that means they shouldn’t be too hard to please…

3 May 2007: Received an email:

“The British Council’s interest in this is that we have been working closely with a group of Libyan business women who have been running their own business for a few years, have just begun or who are thinking of starting up in business.

“This group is the first of its kind in Libya, and it has been very inspiring and motivating for many Libyan women in business because they are not yet well recognised in this country.

“Therefore, we would like to invite you to give a talk to Libyan women and other people who have an interest in entrepreneurship.”

I emailed a suitably enthusiastic yet professional reply.

14 May 2007: Haven’t heard anything back yet – maybe I shouldn’t have cracked that joke in my email about my husband being Tunisian and my Arabic being therefore limited.

29 May 2007: At last the dates are confirmed. It’s a three-day trip and I arrive on 27 June. I need a visa (which they are arranging) and I’m not allowed to leave the country for ten days beforehand – sounds a bit strange?

And they want me to send a scanned copy of my passport just to check that I have never been to Israel (which I haven’t).

3 July 2007: Now they want a copy of my speech for their translators. It’s not for another three weeks – I haven’t even thought about it yet. And, what’s more, I don’t do written speeches; they are too wooden. I prefer to speak from the heart, not from a script. Damn.

Don't miss Karen Darby's next diary entries, where she embarks – and leaves her mark – on Libya.

Related tags: karen darby, simplyswitch, libya,