Paris, 15 October 2023
The Women in Tech® Global organized its second edition of the Women in Tech® Europe Awards.
The winners in each of the WIT Europe Awards categories will be shortlisted for the WIT Global Awards. The awards ceremony will be held in Sharjah, UAE in November 2023.
The Women in Tech® Europe Awards
Nominees
Finalists
Winners
THE AWARD CATEGORIES
Aspiring Teen Award, powered by AXA
Most Disruptive Award powered by Amazon
Best Ally Award, powered by Bouygues
Most Impactful Initiative Award, powered by Pluxee
Woman in Web3 Award, powered by The Sandbox
Tech Diplomacy Award
Green Start-Up Award, powered by HelioRec
Global Leadership Award
Lifetime Achievement Award, powered by Absa
Women in Tech® Europe Award Winners 2023!
Avanti Sharma
Pro-Teen Technology Specialist, Workshop4Me a.s.b.I
Aspiring Teen Award
COLORI
Most Impactful Initiative Award
Plamena Cherneva
CEO, WonderCoders
Best Ally Award
Leanne Elliott Young
Co-Founder & CEO, Institute of Digital Fashion
Woman In Web3 Award
Elisabeth Moreno
CEO, L.E.I.A
Women in Tech® Lifetime Achievement Award
Sophie Cahen
Co-Founder & CEO, Ganymede Robotics
Women in Tech® Start-Up Award
Lubomila Jordanova
Founder & CEO, PlanA
Global Leadership Women in Tech® Award
Barbara Belvisi
Founder & CEO, Interstellar lab
Most Disruptive Award by AWS
Yam Karkai
Co-Founder & CCO, World of Women
Arts Award powered by Amazon Music
WOMEN IN TECH® Europe AWARD FINALISTS 2023
ASPIRING TEEN AWARD
Brianna-Alexandra Stan
High School Student, Changemaker
In addition to her environmental efforts, Brianna launched the AI4Future Project, which is aimed at high school students. Through workshops and summer camps, she introduces them to the world of artificial intelligence, equipping them with the skills they need for higher education and future success.
Linda Büscher
Founder Bulletpoint
Linda Büscher is a young entrepreneur who has been on a journey with her innovative app, Bulletpoint. Graduating as valedictorian from high school, Linda’s entrepreneurial dedication have earned her numerous accolades, including five prestigious awards, one of which was a nationwide competition. Her app, Bulletpoint, amasses over 3000 downloads since its launch in February, all without using of a marketing budget. With the prize money garnered from her success, Linda has taken the ambitious step of collaborating with an agency to develop cutting-edge AI features for her app. In August, she will officially incorporate her company, Bulletpoint, as a GmbH. Bulletpoint allows users to transform any text, PDF, or photo with text into organized bullet points with remarkable ease. With planned AI integrations, the app promises to revolutionize the way we interact with and summarize text. What sets Linda apart is her passion for education and gender equality in the tech world. She is on a mission to empower women and girls to explore the world of programming, speaking in classrooms and conferences to break stereotypes and inspire the next generation.
Mira Küçük
AI Developer Stemicro Education
Mira is an AI developer with a passion for creating positive change in the world. At just 15 years old and a 10th-grade student at Fatih Science High School, Mira is already making waves in the tech industry.
As the founder of Stemicro Education, Mira is dedicated to sharing knowledge with younger peers. Their outreach extends to a YouTube channel where they share their innovative projects, fostering a sense of collaboration within their community.
Mira's achievements include being recognized as a Young Technology Star by Microsoft Turkey and a Global Rising Star Junior Finalist by WomenTech Network, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication to technology.
What sets Mira apart is not just their technical prowess, but also her commitment to helping others. In the aftermath of the 2023 Turkey/Syria Earthquake, they taught basic programming to girls affected by the disaster, bringing a sense of happiness and support to those in need.
AVANTI SHARMA
Pre-teen Technology Specialist Workshop4ME A.S.B.I
Avanti's journey of advocacy and empowerment began with her TEDx talk on "How an iGen would implement the Sustainable Development Goals." Since then, she has made her mark on the international stage, sharing her ideas at prestigious forums like the Economic Times Global Business Summit, Digital Education Stakeholder Forum hosted by the European Commission, and the Microsoft Accelerator. Her contributions extend to renowned technology events such as Campus Italia, ICT Spring, and WomenInTech.
As a coach and mentor at Workshop4Me, she has introduced over 400 girls worldwide to the world of coding and technology. Avanti's keynote at the ESTEAM Fest, organized by Deloitte Belgium and the European Commission, exemplified her dedication to breaking down barriers for young girls in the tech field. Avanti's recent achievement includes the creation of Studified™, a software process to combat catfishing and impersonation attacks on social media, earning recognition from the National Young Scientist Foundation of Luxembourg and winning accolades at a prominent science exhibition in Portugal.
Era Thaqi
Chair of Growing with STEM-Kosovo
Era represented Kosovo in the TechGirls program, receiving extensive training in Python and leadership. This experience inspired cross-cultural exchange and encouraged young girls to pursue careers in technology. Her brainchild, "Growing With STEM," educated 50 girls in Front End Web Development and established supportive STEM clubs.
Her commitment to children's rights led her to chair the National Child Led Group "Respect our Rights." Era orchestrated impactful campaigns on environmental conservation and tirelessly advocated for children's welfare and protection.
As a co-founder of "Merr Frymë," supported by UNICEF and PEN, Era raised awareness about air quality and pollution in Kosovo. She is involved in the UN Youth Assembly and co-founded the Coding Club at her school.
Recognized as "Student of the Generation" and Kosovo's representative at the International Physics Olympiad, Era continues to inspire and drive positive change, making her a true catalyst for a brighter future for Kosovo's youth. Her dedication to STEM inclusion and empowerment has earned her full scholarships to five IVY league universities, with Princeton as her chosen destination.
ARTS AWARD, powered by Amazon Music
Yam Karkai
Co-founder & CCO World of Women
Yam's NFT collections are a testament to her dedication to celebrating diversity and elevating the voices of underrepresented groups. Through her digital illustrations, she places women and minorities at the forefront of her artistic universe. Her signature style blends vivid and harmonious color palettes with whimsical, intricate lines, injecting a touch of fantasy into her creations.
Yam Karkai's work is an exquisite reflection of her life experiences and multicultural background. Through her art, she underscores the pivotal role of women's visibility within the Web 3.0 sector, ushering in a new era of empowerment and representation.
The WoW project, an ambitious endeavor, stands as a testament to her vision and creativity. It has garnered substantial recognition, ranking 21st among the top NFTs of all time on Opensea. With her NFTs, Yam aspires to break barriers and invite more women into the crypto space, making it accessible and inclusive for all. Her creation of a universe featuring 10,000 distinct women symbolizes her dedication to authenticity and diversity, reflecting the voices and experiences of individuals from around the globe.
In the digital realm, Yam Karkai is not just an artist; she is a pioneer and a catalyst for change, proving that the Web 3.0 ecosystem is richer and more vibrant when it embraces the diversity and creativity of all.
Bénédicte Vanderreydt
Visual Artist
Bénédicte Vanderreydt graduated with honors from IHECS in Brussels, honed her skills at the drama school Xavi Gratacos in Barcelona, and further enriched her knowledge in photography at the prestigious Gobelins School in Paris.
In her series of photographs, Bénédicte delves into the intricate layers of female identity. From adolescence to adulthood, she captures the successive roles that women inhabit, be it as a child, wife, mother, or mistress. Her projects possess an aesthetic that employs staging, reminiscent of cinematic imagery that lingers in the viewer's mind long after exposure. Bénédicte's art challenges and questions the endurance of ancient rites of passage in contemporary society, as exemplified in her series 'I never told anyone,' which explores the enigma of Carnival.
Notably, Bénédicte Vanderreydt's work highlights the illusionist power of masks, whether in the realm of social media or the masks donned at a carnival, as portrayed in her photographic series. Her theatrical training infuses her art with a unique perspective, echoing the silent but evocative connections found in the paintings of Paul Delvaux.
Bénédicte's work is a testament to her ability to sublimate and interpret reality, leaving a lasting impression on all who engage with it.
Nadja Verena Marcin
Visual Artist
Based in both Berlin and New York, Nadja's work delves into an intriguing intersection of gender, history, morality, psychology, and human behavior.
She wields an intersectional feminist perspective to craft thought-provoking encounters within theatrical and cinematic contexts, which she aptly terms ""emotional architecture.""
Nadja Verena Marcin is renowned for her performances, notably "OPHELIA" and "How to Undress in Front of Your Husband." Through her artistry, she challenges established historical and media portrayals of women, shedding light on the underlying power structures and psychological ramifications. Her creative journey involves the repurposing of diverse source materials from literature, history, philosophy, and pop culture, often in an absurdist and surreal manner, to explore ecological and human rights concerns.
One of her standout projects, #SOPHYGRAY, is an interactive installation, live performance, and mobile app that offers a feminist perspective on humanized AI technologies, dissecting stereotypes embedded within virtual assistants and gynoid visual interfaces. Nadja Verena Marcin's work is a testament to her ability to provoke thought, shift norms, and reevaluate social constructs in our ever-evolving world.
Anna Ridler
Artist & Researcher
Her art has been exhibited worldwide at prestigious institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Barbican Centre, Centre Pompidou, HeK Basel, and more. She has received commissions from Salford University, the Photographers Gallery, Opera North, and Impakt Festival. Ridler's work in exploring AI's creative potential earned her recognition as one of the nine "pioneering artists" by Artnet. She was also an honorary mention recipient in the 2019 Ars Electronica Golden Nica award for AI & Life Art.
Living and working in London, Anna Ridler continues to push the boundaries of art and technology, offering fresh perspectives on understanding our complex world through her creations.
Anna Zhilyaeva
VR Artist
During a TEDx conference, she coined the term 'Volumism' to describe her unique approach to creating sculptured paint in virtual reality, emphasizing the technology's ability to break the boundaries of traditional artistic expression.
Anna's live virtual reality painting performances have gained widespread acclaim. She represented Google Tilt Brush at the 1st International VR Awards, where it won the 'VR Experience of the Year' award. Her live shows involve creating virtual reality artwork in front of an audience, with the process projected live on screens. Notably, she recreated a classical painting during a three-hour performance at the Louvre museum and captivated 45,000 spectators with her live performance at the Worldskills 2019 opening in Khazan.
BEST ALLY AWARD
Plamena Cherneva
CEO WonderCoders
Jennifer Cox
Security Engineering Manager Tenable
Jennifer's accolades, including the 2021 Women in IT Ireland's ""Outstanding Contribution of the Year"" award and UK's ""Women in Tech Excellence Awards"" nominations, underscore her contributions. Her advisory roles, such as with Leaders In Tech Ireland and WITS Ireland, further demonstrate her commitment to expanding opportunities for women in tech.
Geke Rosier
Founder RightBrians
Anna Vainer
Creator & Founder #IamRemarkable
Begonia Vazquez Merayo
Founder & Managing Director Why Consult Powering net4tec
Diversity Recruiting: Begonia helps companies attract and retain diverse talent, enhancing their long-term success.
Change Management Consulting: She guides organizations in translating their purpose-driven strategies into inclusive practices, driving cultural transformation.
Networking and Community Building: Through initiatives like net4tec, Begonia builds powerful communities that champion female careers in technology (STEAM) and work relentlessly to close gender gaps in the field.
START-UP AWARD
Sophie Cahen
Co-founder & CEO Ganymed Robotics
As the co-founder and CEO of Ganymed Robotics, Sophie leads a mission-driven team dedicated to transforming orthopedic surgery through advanced robotics technology. She recognizes the growing demand for surgical procedures, particularly in orthopedics, and aims to address this challenge. Her goal is to make life-changing orthopedic surgeries more accessible, safe, and affordable worldwide. Ganymed Robotics is incubated at Paris Biotech Santé, a leading life science incubator, and has secured significant seed funding. With a world-class team, Sophie is determined to revolutionize surgery, providing more people with access to essential orthopedic procedures.
Mathilde Grivet
CO-founder & COO Jimmy
Andreea Plesea
Co-founder & Global VP Chief Customer Success Officer DRUID AI
Nicole Romano
Co-Founders & CTO Moonlight AI
Diana van Stijn
Chief Medical Officer & CO-founder Lapsi Health
Beyond her professional endeavors, Diana is a futurist, technology developer, and a compelling public speaker. Her insights on unconscious bias, equity, digital transformation, and innovation in the medical field have been shared on prestigious platforms, including Med-Tech World 2022, FIME 2022, CES Unveiled Amsterdam, and more.
MOST DISRUPTIVE AWARD, powered by AWS
Barbara Belvisi
Founder & CEO Interstellar Lab
Aude Guo
Co-founder Innovafeed
Greta Preatoni
Co-Founder & CEO Mynerva
Gina Neff
Executive Director Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy
Laura Tocmacov
Co-founder & Managing Director ImpactIA foundation
MOST IMPACTFUL INITIATIVE AWARD
Souad Boutegrabet
Founder and CEO DesCodeuse
DesCodeuses has challenged biases in the corporate world, with partner companies recognizing the potential of its graduates. Three ministries have endorsed and supported the organization, expanding its reach and impact.
Souad's work transcends education; it's about breaking down barriers, fostering diversity, and creating opportunities. Her dedication and vision have bridged the gap between marginalized communities and the tech industry, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of women in technology.
Nikky Hofland
Managing Director TechMeUp
After completing her studies in Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam, Nikky embarked on a multifaceted career in IT, which included founding her digital start-up, spot&shop. Her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation paved the way for her to mentor and guide start-ups, helping them navigate the complex landscape of product development.
Nikky has created the TechMeUp Fund. This initiative aims to address the significant labor shortages in the Dutch tech sector while promoting diversity and inclusion. By providing financial assistance and support to underprivileged individuals, TechMeUp empowers them to pursue careers in ICT. Her dedication has garnered widespread support from government bodies and corporate entities, making her a catalyst for transformative change.
Amélia Matar
President COLORI
Olga Maximova
Head of NonProfit development Czechitas
Tahereh Pazouki
Founder Magrid Learning Solution
Chelsea Slater
Co-founder and Director InnovateHER
WOMAN IN WEB3 AWARD, powered by The Sandbox
Zoe Adamovicz
Co-founder & CEO Neufund
Leanne Elliott Young
Co-Founder & CEO Institute of Digital Fashion
Leanne is a trailblazing innovator, commentator, and keynote speaker on metaverse and digital fashion innovation, inclusivity in tech, and sustainability in the digital landscape. Her work involves shaping the future of fashion into one that is inclusive, diverse, decentralized, and sustainable. Her expertise and insights have earned her recognition on a global scale, with features in renowned publications like Vogue Business, Forbes, Vogue, Business of Fashion, Dazed, and more. She has also been an advocate for the metaverse and Web3's economic potential at a government level for UK trade. Leanne is not only a thought leader but also an educator, sharing her knowledge at prestigious institutions such as UAL, CSM, LCF, Parsons, Harvard, Istituto Marangoni, and Cambridge University. Her visionary leadership and dedication to shaping the future of fashion make her a true luminary in the metaverse and digital innovation space.
Marieke Flament
CEO NEAR Foundation
Simone Maini
CEO Elliptic
Ambre Soubiran
CEO KAIKO
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP WOMEN IN TECH® AWARD, powered by OPMG
Eva Berneke
CEO Eutelsat
Shrestha Chowdhury
CO-Founder & CTO Razor
Delphine Donné
VP & General manager Logitech
Lubomila Jordanova
Founder & CEO PlanA
Carlota Pi Amoros
Co-founder & CEO Holaluz
WOMEN IN TECH® LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Secretary General ITU
Elisabeth Moreno
CEO L.E.I.A.
Jacqueline de Rojas
President Digital Leaders
Laura Urquizu
CEO & President RedPoints