• Véronique SAADÉ – President, CMA Media [France]

• Aurore BERGÉ – Minister Delegate for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination [France]

Women represent only 2% of top executives in the finance sector (WEF). Yet, diverse leadership enhances financial performance, fosters innovation, and reduces risk.

How can we concretely expand the role of women in finance? How can a gender perspective be integrated into financial strategies? What new tools can we develop to build finance with a positive impact? And how can investment become a key driver of global transformation?

• Firestarter: Christine LAGARDE – President of the European Central Bank [France] (video)
• Christine FABRESSE – Chairwoman, CEPAC [France]
• Élisabeth MORENO – Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Ring Capital and Ring Africa, President of the Femmes@numérique Foundation, Former Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities [France]
• Marie GUILLEMOT – Chairwoman of the Management Board, KPMG France [France]
• Irena RADOVIC – Governor, Central Bank of Montenegro [Montenegro]

Moderator: Marie-Pierre GRÖNDAHL – Senior Reporter, La Tribune [France]

Today, artificial intelligence is shaping democracy, the economy, healthcare, education, security, and the future of work. Yet only 22% of AI professionals are women, and fewer than 14% hold leadership positions (UNESCO). This imbalance has tangible consequences: algorithmic bias, underrepresentation of certain populations, and decision-making systems that fail to reflect societal diversity.

Cognitive biases often influence our decisions unconsciously. Among them, gender stereotypes lead us to spontaneously associate science and technology with the masculine. Thanks to an awareness-raising protocol based on cognitive science research, Aix-Marseille University succeeded in increasing the proportion of women recruited as university professors in the Faculty of Science from 14% to 50%. A concrete demonstration that targeted actions can sustainably transform our institutions.

Moreover, cybersecurity has become a critical geostrategic issue, and yet, women make up only 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce (Assises de la Cybersécurité).

How can we foster an ethical, inclusive, and multidisciplinary approach to AI and cybersecurity, rooted in a human-centred vision of technology?

• John AKINBOYEWA, Leader of the HungreeFreeWorld, Chief Hunger and Waste Eliminator, The HungreeApp [Nigeria]
• Carlo d’Asaro Biondo, Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group; Independent Board Member, Poste Italiane [Italy]
• Catherine Ladousse, Co-Chair of the Gender Equality Commission; Member of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council [France]
• Prof. Isabelle Régner, Vice President for Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination, Deputy Director of the Research Center in Psychology and Neurosciences (CRPN), Aix-Marseille University [France]

Leadership can no longer be the prerogative of one gender. Shared leadership works.
Women are ready to lead and to drive transformation. Ambition is not lacking: 48% of women aspire to executive roles, compared to 44% of men. And with good reason: 45% of women have completed higher education, versus 40% of men.

Yet, only 6% of CEOs of major global companies are women, and women hold just 29.6% of board seats (OECD, 2024). France leads the world in this area thanks to bold legislative action. The Copé-Zimmermann Law (2011) introduced mandatory quotas for balanced gender representation on boards, enabling France to reach 46.3%. The Rixain-Castaner Law (2021) extends this requirement to executive positions: 30% female representation by 2027 and 40% by 2030. Progress is already evident: in 2023, women accounted for 28% of executive committee members, up from 18% in 2018.

How can we strengthen the impact of existing regulatory frameworks at national and international levels: at the G7, the G20, and beyond? How can we remove barriers to women’s access to top leadership roles?

• Caroline Codsi – Founder and President, Women in Governance [Canada]
• Gabriela Ramos – Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO and Mexico’s Candidate for Director-General of UNESCO [Mexico]

In 2024, international trade reached a record high of 33 trillion USD (UN Trade and Development 2025). However, this growth conceals deep fractures: fragmentation of flows, regulatory instability, rising tariffs, and mounting pressure on social and environmental standards.
Only 15% of companies active in international trade are led by women (EY 2023), and women represent just 12% of the global transport workforce, with even lower rates in land and maritime logistics (EIB 2025).

How can we rethink global trade? How can we ensure a more equitable distribution of added value along supply chains? And how can more women gain access, particularly to strategic roles?

• Prof. Dr. Nayla Comair-Obeid, Founding Partner, Obeid & Partners, Board Member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Former Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce [Lebanon]

• Young TAE KIM, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum, OECD [South Korea]

Today, fake news is spreading rapidly: it undermines trust in institutions and democracy, and exacerbates social divisions. Women represent only 24% of global information experts (GMMP), yet they must occupy a central role in influence and media.

How can we attract more women to debates and positions of influence? How can we safeguard freedom of expression while combating misinformation? How can we establish a culture of responsible influence that respects democratic values and embraces diverse voices?

• Gabrielle HALPERN – Philosopher, Author of “Building Bridges Between Worlds” and other works [France]
• Cynthia ILLOUZ – Founder & President, THE WOMEN’S VOICES [France]
•  Kim YOUNES – Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, TV5 Monde [France]

Moderator: Tatiana de FRANCQUEVILLE – CEO, La Tribune [France]

• Tanya SAADÉ ZEENNY – Deputy CEO, CMA CGM Group, President, CMA CGM Foundation [France]

Last year, natural disasters caused economic losses of 310 billion dollars, a 6% increase compared to 2023. 80% of climate refugees are women, who, according to the OECD, are 14 times more likely to die as a result of natural disasters. Yet, they make up only 12% of ministers responsible for these crucial issues (UN Women 2024) and just 10% at COP29.
The success of the Nice Ocean Summit in June 2025 demonstrates that determined collective political will can be a game-changer.

How can we ensure that women are fully involved in climate governance and biodiversity preservation? What strategies can be implemented to strengthen their leadership and develop innovative solutions to protect our planet?

•  Firestarter: Patricia RICARD – Chairwoman of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute [France]
• Rosalie MANN – Founder & CEO, No More Plastic Foundation [France]
• Prof. Milena ANGELOVA – Secretary General, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, Member of the Economic and Social Committee and Executive Vice-President of SGI Europe [Bulgaria]
• Christopher Córdova – CEO, AI for Climate [Mexico]

The creation of sustainable infrastructure and resilient energy networks is a strategic challenge to ensure a stable and interconnected future. Yet women occupy only 24% of positions in the energy and infrastructure sectors in Europe (European Commission 2024) and 26% in the United States (US Department of Energy 2024).

How can women be involved in shaping the future of energy and high-performance infrastructure? How can transformative leadership be deployed to reconcile technological efficiency, environmental sustainability, and inclusion?

• Firestarter: Gérard MESTRALLET – Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for IMEC [France]

• Camille EGLOFF –  Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group [France]

• Emilie DE LOMBARES – Chairwoman, ONET [France]

• Selena SOUAH – Founder & President, REVOLUTION’ AIR Ltd (Telecoms) & REGCARD, Board Member of the Aspen Institute France [Gabon – France]

More than 170 armed conflicts worldwide affect 612 million women and girls, a 50% increase since 2017, while their presence in peace processes remains marginal (UN 2024). In 2023, women accounted for less than 10% of negotiators and around 13% of mediators in global peace processes (G7 GEAC 2024). Women’s participation is not just a matter of equity: it increases the likelihood of a peace agreement lasting at least 15 years by 35% (Council on Foreign Relations – CFR).

How can today’s decision-makers foster a more balanced, visionary, and representative global governance? How can diplomacy, conflict prevention, and international cooperation be strengthened by fully recognising women’s leadership in decision-making processes for lasting peace and security?

• Firestarter: Salomé ZOURABICHVILI – Former President, Georgia [Géorgia]
• Donia KAOUACH – President, Leaders for Peace Foundation [Tunisia]
• Florence NOTTER-DAUGNY – Board Member of the CyberPeace Institute, President of the Society of Members of the Legion of Honour in Switzerland [Switzerland]
• Dr. Mathilde LEMOINE – Group Chief Economist Edmond de Rothschild & Member of the Global Investment Committee, Member of Boards (Audit, Compensation and ESG Committees) [France]
• Oleksandra MATVIICHUK, Ukrainian lawyer and human rights activist, Director of the NGO Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2022 [Ukraine]
• Loredana TEODORESCU – Secretary General, Women in International Security Italy [Italy]

Women’s investment in the public interest is tangible. In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, between 30% and 34% of businesses are founded or led by women, exceeding the national average.

These awards recognise women leaders in the following categories:

• Science and Research
• Entrepreneurship
• Civil Society

• Chiara CORAZZA – Representative for France at G20 EMPOWER & Special Advisor to the Global Leadership by Women Summit [Italy & United Kingdom]
• Delphine O – Ambassador and Secretary-General of the Generation Equality Forum [France]
• Jean-Christophe TORTORA – CEO, CMA Média; Chairman, La Tribune [France]
• Ayumi MOORE AOKIi – Founder & President, Women in Tech® Global [Brazil – Japan]
• Dr. Harbeen ARORA RAI – Founder & President, G100, ALL Ladies League (ALL) | Women Economic Forum (WEF), WICCI, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry [Inde]
• Dr. Hartini OSMAN – President and Group Managing Director of Prihatin Group, President of the ASEAN Indian Business council, G100 Global Chair for Philanthropy, Business and Poverty Eradication [Malaysia]
•  Karen BRUGES – CEO, Mujeres Violeta® and MiPartner Foundation [Colombia]
•  Nadereh CHAMLOU – Former Senior Advisor, The World Bank and Member of the Arab International Women’s Forum [Iran & United States]

Moderator: Dr. Anino EMUWA – Founder, 100 Women @ Davos [Nigeria]

There have always been two arts of negotiation. The first, more classical and well-known, consists of making the other party believe they are in control, charming them, pretending to concede in order to ultimately dominate and obtain what you want. This is the style of Julius Caesar, Roosevelt, or even Mata Hari.

Yet, there is another approach: that of Babylonian merchants, of Elissa, Princess of Tyre, of Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, or of American Sheryl Sandberg. For these women, the art of negotiation is not a battle but a collaborative and inventive search for mutual satisfaction and the creation of lasting relationships.

Let’s share our experiences, explore their common philosophy, and reflect on excellence in the art of commerce and negotiation—an art that generates new economic and human value!

In a world where women are invited to navigate the complexities and constraints of a society they did not create, leadership can no longer be limited to simple management or resilience. It must become a conscious act of transforming oneself and the world.

This session is an invitation to explore another path: that of subversive leadership. Far from being a confrontation, subversion is an art, a “step aside” that questions paradigms without colliding with them head-on. It is the alchemy of an inner revolution where we learn to:

• Know ourselves, to anticipate and choose our battles.
• Cultivate our inner flexibility, to surprise ourselves and dare unexpected actions.
• Practice “strategic letting go,” so we no longer sacrifice ourselves and affirm our right to receive.

During this interactive workshop, we will explore how ambition, authenticity, and lightness can become powerful levers for a leadership that does not seek to impose itself, but rather to inspire, influence, and create new trajectories.

Together, we will see how to become pilots of our own destinies and architects of a fairer, more human future.