Panel discussion;
Credit: Otilia Dragan/Chronicle.lu
On the afternoon of Friday 8 March 2024, Girls in Tech Luxembourg held the Women Power Fest 2024 event at the Meliá Luxembourg Hotel in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
The event combined talks, networking and live entertainment surrounding women’s empowerment in Luxembourg and beyond.
The “Shaping Tech for All” panel discussion kicked off with an opening speech by Sasha Baillie, CEO of Luxinnovation. Sasha Baillie emphasised the significance of Luxembourg’s diversity, stating that it is a key factor ("a trump card") that distinguishes individuals and contributes to innovation. She highlighted the importance of embracing different dimensions, mindsets, experiences and networks from various regions around the world, as they drive economic progress and enhance competitiveness. In this context, she brought up gender diversity.
Regarding gender diversity in entrepreneurship, Sasha Baillie noted that, unfortunately, women still encounter obstacles due to gender bias and stereotypes, in Luxembourg, which is why it is important to have initiatives like Girls in Tech to help empower them. She cited historical figures such as Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin as examples of women who have made significant contributions but she warned that women often, historically but even at present, do not receive full recognition for their work. Baillie expressed concern that without the perspective of women in innovative fields such as AI, there is a risk of not meeting the needs of society and even potentially causing harm in the long run.
Baillie’s team discovered that only 6% of startups and scaleups in Luxembourg are led by women, a percentage significantly lower than the European and US averages of 11% and 25% respectively. Furthermore, when women are involved in startups, she noted that they are often not given the status of co-founders. Baillie emphasised that Luxembourg is falling behind in fostering entrepreneurship and urged greater support for women in the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sasha Baillie thus highlighted the importance of inspiring others by showcasing the women behind innovative tech projects and giving them visibility and recognition. She mentioned the Startup presentation initiative launched in February last year, aimed at highlighting women's contributions in the tech industry. Baillie provided examples of women leading innovative projects, including Ruby Pillai (Founder and CEO of iWarranty), Clelia Beck (Co-founder of Cycle Group), Shivani Sondhi (Innovation Manager at Tomorrow Street), Ariana Arenzo (CEO at VoiceMed), Tahereh Pazouki (Founder of Magrid) and Genna Elvin (Co-founder of Tadaweb).
Sasha Baillie finally expressed concern that self-doubt and lack of confidence are holding women back from fully embracing opportunities. She attributed this to societal norms and upbringing, which create a sense of predictability and reluctance to step out of comfort zones. However, she emphasised that the brain can adapt and seek the unknown as well, and she urged women to challenge themselves and break free from conventional behaviours to realise their full potential in the tech industry.
A panel discussion followed, moderated by Sara Oliveira, Communication and Marketing Advisor at House of Startups Luxembourg. The panel brought together Sabrina Andiappane Space Program Manager at ClearSpace (SpaceTech), Sabika Ishaq, President of Women CyberForce (Cybersecurity), Estelle Godard Associate at Promus Ventures PromusVentures (Deep-Tech / Space Investor,Venture Capital), Marina Andrieu, Managing Director of Women in Digital Empowerment (WIDE) and Ala Presenti, Co-Founder of Moniflo (Fintech).
The speakers took turns discussing their career paths, their challenges and successes as well as their journeys (not always linear or easy) that got them where they are today. They all commented on the small numbers of women in tech and the need for women (and men) to work together to drive gender equality forward. The panel’s conclusion highlighted some advice for women who may want to become entrepreneurs or act on a big career change in their lives: “Most of us most of the time don’t know what they’re doing but I know what I don’t know and ask for help. There will never be the perfect time or moment – you just learn by doing. Don’t expect that anyone would care more about your goals or needs. If you want something go for it, work for it, do it,” Ala Presenti said. Estelle Godard added “Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams; take on the opportunities that come in front of you. It’s okay to not feel prepared.” Marina Andrieu concluded: “Don’t worry about not fitting the bill. Don’t expect an immediate return on investment, give it a chance.”
Before the startup pitches, in a recorded video address, Luxembourg's Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes, highlighted the importance of women's representation in ICT and green technology, urging for the "shattering of stereotypes" to empower women as leaders in sustainability.
In the first startup pitch, Fabienne Stanitz from FabstWines told her story of how she found her way into the fine dining and wine industry. Her startup aims to address challenges in the wine industry, focusing on finding new customers and reducing waste, but also on facilitating the process of finding wine one enjoys through a connective application.
Angelika Bocian-Jaworska presented Äerd Lab - her innovative startup providing a potential solution for construction using locally sourced clay and 3D printed bricks, noting that 11% of CO2 production is due to the production of construction materials such as brick and concrete. She added that she and her startup team are in the process of 3D printing their office space.
Heidi Van Dyck discussed Athena Studio, a fashion tech platform optimising profit and environmental footprint because, she noted, 80% of these outcomes can be planned from at the products’ inception stage.
Emanuele Santi, the only man in the lineup, then shared insights on his upbringing and learning curve in becoming a feminist and social entrepreneur, founder of Riding the Rainbow, an app that allows people to donate bicycles and other items directly to refugees, thereby also forging connections.
The closing speech was by Stéphanie Damgé, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, who emphasised the need for more support for female entrepreneurship and the importance of creating an inclusive environment for women to thrive. She explained that in Luxembourg 39% of women reported not having the knowledge and skills to start their own business. In fact, she added, women also struggle to find confidence, which is why it would be particularly important to plant the seeds of curiosity or innovation, which should be encouraged from a young age. “We need to give women more chances to speak and speak up,” she said, adding that female entrepreneurship can take different avenues beyond starting companies, such as the creation of societies or groups. “It is crucial that we cultivate an environment of solidarity – celebrate achievements as a collective success,” she concluded.
The event proceeded with networking, drinks and an improvisation session led by Melissa Dalton. Three Festrogen comedians provided entertainment with stand-up comedy, followed by fireside chats with various organisations. An auction by the Think Pink Lux non-profit organisation took place, followed by dancing accompanied by a DJ. Spanish flying buffet catering was provided for attendees.
