Swedish business leader Ehnbom proposed Epstein meet women she mentored, emails show

A Swedish American businesswoman who mentored young women sent photos of some of the “best and brightest” to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who selected those he wanted to meet.

Barbro Ehnbom — who has been celebrated in Sweden for “boosting women to the top” in typically male-dominated sectors including life sciences and finance — proposed young women for the late financier to meet at his New York City home over more than a decade as part of her women’s networking club.

There is no suggestion that any of the women Ehnbom proposed to Epstein were underage or were abused by Epstein. Ehnbom didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment but said in a LinkedIn post in Swedish that she was “disgusted to have had any kind of contact” with someone “exposed for actions that lack any defense.”

In hundreds of emails between Ehnbom and Epstein, or his assistant Lesley Groff, their chatty, familiar manner paints a picture of an established relationship that benefited them both. The communications continued from 2005 through 2018 — after his 2008 conviction and during his 13-month jail term. He died by suicide in jail in 2019. Ehnbom later said that she was “deeply outraged” by the abuse girls had been subjected to.

The exchanges released by the U.S. Department of Justice and reviewed by POLITICO show Ehnbom telling Epstein she was financially dependent on him to continue her projects in Sweden. These included the Swedish-American Life Science Summit, an invitation-only event for businesses, scientists, and investors that she co-founded. It also included her young women’s networking club, Barbro’s Best and Brightest — her “BBBs” — and Sweden’s Female Economist of the Year scholarship, both launched in 2001.

In numerous emails, Ehnbom asked Epstein for money and, sometimes, introductions to his network of wealthy people. The emails suggested Epstein frequently deposited $25,000 to organizations linked to Ehnbom, and Ehnbom hinted that Epstein had made a $100,000 donation.

Financial and political elite

In the messages, one woman thanked him for the “inspiring, exciting, and thoughtful conversation.” Another who he booked on a trip to Africa after speaking with him, described it as a “dream coming true.”

Ehnbom shared a LinkedIn post on Dec. 16 on social media platform X from a former “BBB,” Camilla Wagner, who said that while she had never met Epstein, she knew women “who, like many in the financial, political, and business elite, had contact with him before 2019 when his monstrous crimes became known. Judging the story behind it without context is easy, but rarely honest,” she said.

“BBB is not a network for ‘pretty women,'” she said. “It is a network of competent women who help each other in the same way they always have. Doors are opened. Contacts are shared. Careers are made possible.” This LinkedIn post no longer appears to be visible. POLITICO tried to contact Wagner but received no response.

POLITICO, which has not identified the women to protect those who may have been victims, contacted three women on LinkedIn mentioned by Ehnbom in emails to Epstein, and whose names have not been redacted, but none replied to a request for comment.

By July 2017, Ehnbom had mentored around 200 women through her best and brightest program, she told Epstein. Between May 2005 and July 2016, she discussed around 10 gatherings of “BBBs” at Epstein’s house in New York City. One evening, only a “small gathering” of six to eight women was possible. More women attended on other evenings.

Photos and notes

Ehnbom would drop names of the Swedish and American dignitaries she knew, but mainly she would discuss her “BBB girls” and the young women she’d like him to meet.  

Ehnbom sent him photos of women, along with notes on their appearance, sometimes their age and whether she thought they would suit him: “little beautiful dark haired girl”; “VERY ATTRACTIVE”; “little blond girl in the pink dress … she is very pretty I think …  I notice you seem to have similar taste”; “22 today!!” On occasion, Ehnbom mentioned the women’s professional qualifications. These types of messages continued after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Over the years, their correspondence shows a pattern of Ehnbom proposing women to attend evenings at Epstein’s New York City home with champagne and canapés. They also show that some of these women would directly contact Epstein after these events. Several would go on to visit him alone, others he mentored and one was lavished with a vacation to Africa.

Those who were in direct contact with Epstein were often incredibly polite, appeared hugely appreciative, and some seemed flattered to be considered for a job by him. Correspondence following Skype messages conveyed overwhelming gratitude for his time.

For some, Skype conversations were quickly followed by a suggestion to visit him. In the case of one woman, he asked his assistant to book her on a flight from Sweden to New York just four days later, in January 2014.

Ehnbom didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment, by email and via LinkedIn. In a LinkedIn post in Swedish, she said: “I am deeply outraged by the abuse and harm that many girls have been subjected to. I feel disgusted to have had any kind of contact with the person who has now, posthumously, been exposed for actions that lack any defense. That feeling is shared by many who met him in professional environments and then perceived him as a respected and esteemed person — an image that has subsequently been reconsidered with horror.”

Ehnbom also said that throughout her professional life, she has “worked with full transparency towards partners, educational institutions and other actors — in Sweden as well as internationally. This applies to assignments, collaborations, travels and professional contexts.”

Names, photos and dates 

Ehnbom’s relationship with Epstein predates his first jail term, coming after he pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor. He was jailed in June 2008 in Florida, serving 13 months and granted extensive work release, allowing him to leave jail to work from his office during the day.

In the years before he was jailed, Epstein would ask Ehnbom about specific women. “Jeffrey is wondering what ever happened with [redacted]? …and did you let the girl know she has a ticket to NY whenever she wants?” wrote Epstein’s assistant Groff in April 2006. She frequently wrote on Epstein’s behalf. Groff’s attorney told POLITICO she “spoke voluntarily with prosecutors and answered each and every question asked of her. Thereafter, she was told that she would not be prosecuted.”

Ehnbom would suggest names, share photos and recommend dates for “BBB” evenings. She would propose meetings with women in New York, Paris and Sweden. “Is Jeffrey still in Paris? [redacted] could come and see him there from Lyons? Attached photos! Let me know!” she wrote in April 2008.

Once his sexual offences were under investigation, Ehnbom remained loyal to Epstein. In a September 2007 email when he was facing the charges, she wrote:  “Why dont they go after that woman down there instead??!! … so sorry you have to go through all this shit.”

Ehnbom kept in touch with Epstein when he was in jail, sending the sex offender updates on her various projects, photos of young women from her programs, and generally showing her support. “are you always out??? Wow, almost a full year now..?!! [How] do you feel now?” she wrote in June 2009, when Epstein would have been released from jail during the day. She often signed off saying she missed him.

In an early 2009 email, during his sentence, she asked: “Did you like young [redacted] that I sent you last week?” It is not clear what she is referring to.

Some of the women introduced to Epstein through Barbro also stayed loyal to him during his jail time for sex offences. In one email dated June 2009, a woman inquired of his assistant Groff: “How is he? Is he out yet? I heard from Barbro that he was permitted to work from time to time from his Florida office?” 

In August of that year, another of Ehnbom’s women questioned if it was true that Epstein was out of jail, and asked to visit.

Once his jail time was served, Epstein returned to hosting “BBB” gatherings at his New York home.

Epstein and Ehnbom also spoke of women working as his “assistant” or for an undisclosed “job.” In 2013, Barbro suggested several women for him to speak with. He would vet their photos and resumes, then suggest they Skype. 

“Barbo called … she is wondering if you have a job description for a job…she has 2 more girls she thinks may be good for you,” Epstein’s assistant Groff wrote to him in March 2013.

To one woman, also in March 2013, Epstein wrote: “barbro suggested i contact you re a job in ny. could you please send me your resume.” She replied: “Unfortunately I have not had time to work that much in my life. I am turning 28 this summer. I was working full time as a fashion model before.” Epstein replied: “are you organized. computer literate . ? skpe tomomv?”

“HAVE YOU FOUND A REPLACEMENT YET FOR [redacted] IF NOT SEND ME A JOB DESCRIPTION?” Ehnbom wrote in November 2013. “Early twenties , multilingual educated and organized,” Epstein replied.

“[redacted] barbro suggested we skype, she said you wanted a job in the states?” Epstein wrote to a woman in January 2016.

Wealthy and well-connected

Ehnbom, now 80, taught business law and ethics at the Stockholm School of Economics and was a board member of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce. She had previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and on Wall Street, according to her own website.

She says on her website that she became “renowned for her valuable networks and her successful business-generating activities.” 

Ehnbom also says on her website that she has been “passionate about supporting women in their professional careers,” as she found herself the only woman in male-dominated boardrooms.

Her emails illustrate what appears to be a transactional relationship between Epstein and Ehnbom and her “BBBs”: He sends money, she suggests women for him to meet.

“Here is my girl, sweet sparkling [redacted],” she wrote in April 2014. “you have good instincts, [redacted] is as advertised ― great,” Epstein wrote back in July.

In an August 2012 email, Epstein asked “who is you r wife choice this year?” Ehnbom responds with an attached photo saying: “She is the one!”

In another email dated March 2013 and simply titled “JE girl?” from Ehnbom, Epstein responds that he can fly her from Sweden to Paris to meet him.

Many of these women were from Barbro’s best and brightest program, designed “to promote future women leaders through mentorship and interdisciplinary idea-exchange.”

Barbro did not respond to questions about whether any of the women she proposed to Epstein were abused.

In a separate LinkedIn post in Swedish, she said that she had “systematically collected and documented inaccuracies, insinuations and claims that are based on a narrative rather than verified facts. Several cases are currently being processed by the Media Ombudsman, and further investigations may be necessary.”  

She also wrote: “My commitment has always been about opening doors to power, capital and networks for women ― nothing else.” 

She went on to say that the Female Young Economist of the Year (FEOY) was financed through a fund administered by the School of Business, Economics and Law and that she did not receive any money in person.

Roundtable discussions

Emails show she had asked Epstein to act as guarantor for her New York apartment (which he declined), as well as asking him for help finding a “tough New York litigator to help me get compensation for a deal I put together for a US and Swedish co That closed today in Sweden.”

“Only FEOY winners traveled to New York ― to start their jobs,” she wrote. The BBBs project grew out of the finalists. 

She added that the “roundtable discussions” in New York concerned women who already lived there, and that participants were “established professionals, not young students.”

The Stockholm School of Economics cut its ties with Ehnbom in 2015 when it was informed by the news agency Reuters that the school was a recipient of donations from Epstein. 

Ehnbom sided with Epstein over the school. In a subsequent email to him, she wrote: “Huge thanks for giving BBB another chance!!” in response to transferring more money. She accused the dean of the school of being an “idiot” for throwing out the BBB program.

The school told POLITICO: “Following an internal review, we were able to conclude that two foundations … were linked to Jeffrey Epstein.” These foundations had donated to the Barbro Ehnbom Fund, a separate entity controlled by Ehnbom. 

The school “administered the fund but did not exercise active control over incoming donations and was not aware of who was behind the two foundations. At that time, we concluded that our internal controls regarding donors had been insufficient.”

” … We strongly distance ourselves from everything that has come to light thanks to the files and the work of the media.”