The international conference SHEleader@digital 2022, dedicated to female leaders in business and tech, will take place on October 6th at the cultural center Toplocentrala, Sofia, Bulgaria. The third edition of the event will be focused on sustainability and it will bring together the driving forces behind the green transformation. Some of the topics that entrepreneurs, innovators, activists, corporate leaders, and policymakers will discuss include:
- Enabling and growing green culture
- Green innovation in corporations and startups
- Nature-inspired solutions and business models
- Sustainability Factors for Funding
- Return on ESG investment
Co-organizers of SHEleader@digital 2022 are the Bulgarian Center for Women in Technology (BCWT), MOVE.BG, EDIT, and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA).
Why women are key for overcoming the climate crisis
“The transition to green models and sustainability is a key theme for the times we live in. This is not a transformation that happens in isolation, but on the contrary – it permeates all levels of public life, business, and art. Globally, 80% of those affected by climate change are women, and it is no coincidence that women are the main drivers of green innovation in various sectors. Our aim is to showcase good examples and thus inspire transformation in more businesses and organizations”, shares Sasha Bezuhanova, founder of Move.bg.
Even though female decision-makers are still a minority – less than 30% in EU boardrooms, 19% in the tech sector, and 20% in the VC teams, they show quite the impact.
In recent years, more attention has been paid to the values that companies portend with their activities. According to Bupa’s research, more than 50% of Gen Z choose to work for ethical companies, and this societal pressure is driving corporate machines in a better direction. Research by UC Berkeley Haas School of Business shows that companies with more women on their boards are more likely to invest in renewable power generation, low-carbon products, and energy efficiency. Thus, female leaders attract the best talents and strengthen the business, increasing the profitability of the companies.
Sasha Bezuhanova, founder of Move.bg will speak on a panel with Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, about the values of the green transformed economy and policymaking. The event is held under Gabriel’s official patronage.
Other key speakers on this year’s edition of the SHEleader@digital include Irina Obushtarova, CEO and Co-Founder of TheRecursive, who will be one of the panel moderators, Lubomila Jordanova, Plan A’s founder, a company that helps businesses lower their carbon footprint, Huseyin Yemendzhiev, Co-Founder and CEO at ENOVA H2O, a company developing smart solutions for water monitoring and management, Kim Andreoli-Pasche, Senior Director, Global Virtual Sales EMEA at Cisco, and Gergana Stancheva, Co-Founder at LAM’ON, the startup that provides biodegradable and fully compostable laminating film and packaging foil, made of corn.
To join the discussions, hear practical ideas, and see how girls actually run the world, buy tickets here.
