The future of technological innovation also speaks with a female voice

Every year on November 19, we celebrate International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, and at VDS this is far from a symbolic date: it reflects who we are. This international tech event has been, and will continue to be, a platform that amplifies the voices of women who are transforming the world through science, investment, business, education and technology.

At VDS 2025, more than 35% of talks were led by women. Not as a quota, but as the natural outcome of a technological ecosystem evolving toward innovation that is more inclusive, more diverse and more aligned with reality.

These voices shaped the agenda. They shared experiences, sparked debates and opened new horizons. Here is a look at some of the leaders who turned VDS into a gathering with real impact.

Kelly Rutherford, Hollywood actress and investor, shared her perspective on aligning purpose, influence and impact through entrepreneurship and conscious investment. Her session was one of the most inspiring of the event, connecting worlds such as storytelling, personal branding and social commitment.

Pilar Mateo, renowned scientist and founder of Inesfly Corporation, presented the Women Paint Too initiative, which empowers women from vulnerable contexts to develop their own inventions, lead social projects and use science as a tool for local transformation.

Gillian Tans, former CEO and Chairwoman of Booking.com, and one of the most influential women in the global tech sector, reflected on how to scale without losing sight of people. In a conversation with Ingrid Tappin, she explored leadership in times of disruption and the importance of building long-term culture.

Ingrid Tappin, founder of Diverse Leaders in Tech, was one of the strongest voices on inclusive leadership. She spoke about moving from discourse to action, and about how diversity, far from being a narrative, must become a driver of business decisions.

Drawing on her experience as VP of ESG at Mews, Ella McCann-Tomlin explained how to build companies and technological products that embrace diverse realities from the very first design stage. Diversity is not just a varied team; it is a way of thinking and solving real problems.

Olivia McEvoy, Global Head of Inclusion at Booking.com, offered the perspective of a major tech company on how diversity influences innovation and internal competitiveness. Her session helped clarify how real policies are implemented within global organizations.

Laura Urquizu, CEO of Red Points, one of Spain’s leading cybersecurity companies, addressed the challenges of scaling, emerging digital threats and the strategic role of technological protection in business resilience.

Speaking from her role as VP of Data and Applied AI at Preply, Ana Peleteiro shared how artificial intelligence is transforming language learning, making it more accessible, flexible and tailored to individual needs.

Gwen Kolader, former VP of DE&I at Hexaware Technologies, participated in several key moments of the event, discussing inclusive leadership and cultural diversity as a competitive advantage. Her experience in global environments added depth and perspective to the conversation.

Institutional support for entrepreneurship also had a woman’s name. Representing political and public administration spheres, the Minister of Science, Technological Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; the Spanish Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé; the Mayor of Valencia, M.ª José Catalá; and the City Councillor for Tourism, Technological Innovation, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Paula Llobet, all played a key role at VDS 2025. Their work demonstrates that advancing technological innovation requires a firm commitment to female talent.

The women who took the stage at VDS do more than lead companies or institutions. They lead visions, inspire careers and shape futures. From science to investment, from code to public policy, from product design to education, their voices made a lasting mark.

And at VDS, we will continue building the space where those voices are not only heard, but amplified, connected and transformed into impact.

Because the future, including the future of technology, speaks with a female voice.