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?

• Christine Fabresse, Chairwoman, CEPAC
• 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

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?

• Selena Souah, Founding President, REVOLUTION’ AIR Ltd (Telecoms) & REGCARD, Board Member of Aspen Institute 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
• Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founding President, Women in Tech® Global
• Carlo d’Asaro Biondo, Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group; Independent Board Member, Poste Italiane

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?

• Marie Pierre Rixain, Member of Parliament for Essonne, 2023 Political Woman of Influence Award Laureate
• Caroline Codsi, Founder and President, Women in Governance

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

Leadership is no longer passed down solely through experience, but also through active listening between generations.

How does the vision of leadership evolve from one generation to the next? How can sustainable intergenerational alliances be created? How can ambition, innovation and experience be combined to address the global challenges of a transforming world?

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?

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?

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?

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?

• Dr. Mathilde Lemoine, Group Chief Economist at Edmond de Rothschild & Member of the Global Investment Committee, Board Member (Audit, Compensation and ESG Committees)
• Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian lawyer and human rights activist, Director of the NGO Center for Civil Liberties, 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• Donia Kaouach, President, Leaders for Peace Foundation

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
• Jean-Christophe TORTORA – CEO, CMA Média; Chairman, La Tribune