Did you enjoy the first edition of ‘NextGen Women: Digital Minds, Global Impact’?
On Friday we came together for an inspiring day of powerful speeches and insightful discussions about (gender) equality and diversity in the digital space. From exploring the impact of the EU Gender Equality Strategy (2025-2030) to discussing the challenges faced by bicultural women and the importance of legislation and role models, this event was an important reminder that gender equality and empowerment in the digital landscape is essential.
The most important lesson:
Closing the gender gap isn’t just about fairness and justice for women, it is a sound investment that pays off for all of us and promotes overall progress and well-being in society. Diverse teams perform better in organizations and show better results in innovative settings like startups. Representation of women fosters inclusive, sustainable decision making, allowing for personalized, effective tech products, services and more valuable innovations. It drives the necessary systemic changes we need to tackle key societal challenges.
However, it is crucial to back equality with concrete actions. While talking, connecting, and representation are important, true diversity and equality are cultivated within organizations, inner circles, and key decision-making processes where they can truly take shape.
We are happy to have supported the organization of the event together with our partners: the European Parliament, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam, Provincie Zuid-Holland, Stichting Droom en Daad, Women In Immersive Technologies Europe, and the University of Twente. Thank you to Mahasin Tanyaui for your tenacity in initiating and driving the event.
A big thank you also to Danny de Paepe for your support and for setting the stage for thought-provoking discussions, Farshida Zafar for the unapologetic insights shared and the clear call for action, and Kim van Sparrentak for her talk on the importance of promoting gender equality in the digital and tech space for a thriving society, highlighting how this is crucial for advancing technological developments in the EU, as well as the EU’s role in shaping policies that foster equality.
The panel discussion, moderated by Dorothy Seguy, included our advisory board member Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen, Regina van Tongeren, Rosanna Nazir, Vanessa Abel, and our immersive tech program manager Frederike Manders, who explored the effects of the EU Gender Equality Strategy on women in the digital landscape and the empowerment of bicultural women in the Netherlands. Thank you all for your honest stories and opinions.
Beyond the discussions, the incredible Alice & Eve exhibition powered by the University of Twente showcased 30 pioneering Women in Technology.
