The Women in Tech Global Summit 2024 took place at the prestigious Hôtel du Collectionneur in Paris on May 6th and 7th, gathering over 350 people from 50 countries, including Women in Tech chapter leaders and members, tech experts and executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, media representatives, and sponsors (Amazon, Cardano Foundation, Cegeka, Axa, Mastercard, Veeam, OPMG, Aurora Tech Award). For the second time, the event was held under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
The summit not only hosted meaningful discussions but also acted as a central networking venue, providing opportunities for attendees to meet industry leaders, potential mentors, and partners. It was an ideal setting for creating new connections and seeking funding opportunities, which was particularly advantageous for the entrepreneurs and startups present.
Beyond Ceilings
The summit began with the avant-première of Women in Tech’s first awareness campaign, the short film “Beyond Ceilings,” created by the Parisian creative agency WAY TV and directed by Canadian director Maïlis, with the support of UN Women. The campaign depicts the everyday existence of a girl living in tight quarters with low ceilings, compelling the women and girls in this world to walk hunched over.
This claustrophobic short film powerfully impacts the audience by visually representing the barriers that women and girls face in standing tall in the corporate world and reaching their full potential. It serves as a creative interpretation of the “glass ceiling” metaphor, coined in 1978, which symbolizes the barriers faced by women and minorities in career advancement. The presentation of this campaign set the tone for the summit, reinforcing the message that women must dream beyond the ceilings and support others in doing the same.
The campaign was officially launched on May 13th through digital platforms and television broadcasts globally.
From Fintech to Space Missions
The event continued with a series of panels, ignite talks, keynotes, fireside chats, an Oxford-style debate, and a pitching competition for women-led startups.
The discussions covered numerous pressing topics, underscoring the importance of including women in decision-making roles to create a more equitable present and future. The agenda included artificial intelligence, Web 3, financial technology, the digital economy, diplomacy, cybersecurity, insurance, and space missions, emphasizing how diversity drives innovation. Speakers shared their personal journeys and effective strategies for navigating challenges in a predominantly male field, as well as insights on cultivating diverse and inclusive teams.
Women in Tech® Internal Awards
At the Gala dinner, Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and President of Women in Tech Global, congratulated the winners of the Women in Tech® Internal Awards under the 4 pillars.
🏆Women in Tech®Burundi – Education
🏆Women in Tech®Cabo Verde – Advocacy
🏆Women in Tech®Mongolia – Social & Digital Inclusion
🏆Women in Tech®Romania – Business
What People Are Saying
Philippe Vogeleer, Chairman of the Board Global Partners for Digital Development
“Weekend thoughts: What’s the English expression for the French word “scotché”? Impressed? Floored? Convinced? Wowed? All of the above? Whatever it is, that is my feeling one week after the start of WOMEN IN TECH ® Global in Paris. Beyond the super good to-the-point content, I have to say as a man that a tech conference where 90% of people are women instead of the usual 90% men mostly in dark suits (aka like me) proved to be SUPER positive: not a single boring speech; not a speaker spending most of their speaking time explaining how incredible they are; “just” well educated tech people discussing about various topics based on data and data and data vs their opinions. Plus champagne! Honestly: Loved it. Such a fresh wind of change. Made me think about the data presented during the event, and inspired me to help grow this movement. Well done to Ayumi Moore Aoki, to her team of organisers, to the speakers, and the super active audience.”
