My greatest strength has always been curiosity and the ability to connect different disciplines. Entrepreneurship taught me to see opportunities, while my academic journey taught me to question assumptions and build evidence.

My main weakness was initially believing that I needed to know everything before I could contribute confidently, particularly when entering technology-oriented environments without a traditional STEM degree.

The greatest opportunity has been interdisciplinarity. Moving between entrepreneurship, European studies, digital transformation, sustainability, and emerging technologies has allowed me to develop a perspective that would not have emerged from a single discipline.
The main challenge has been keeping pace with rapidly changing technologies while balancing academic development with an active professional career. Over time, I learned that continuous learning is not a temporary stage—it is part of working in innovation.

Do not wait until you feel completely ready. Technology changes too quickly for anyone to know everything, and confidence often comes after taking the first step, not before it.

Build strong foundations, but remain curious beyond your own discipline. Learn how technology works, how people use it, and what problems it can solve. Seek mentors, participate in international networks, develop your digital skills, and create projects rather than only collecting certificates.

Most importantly, do not eliminate yourself from an opportunity before anyone else has even evaluated you. Apply, speak, experiment, and allow yourself to grow into ambitious roles.

Learn the language of technology, but never underestimate the value of your own discipline. The future belongs increasingly to people who can connect different worlds: technology and society, research and business, sustainability and growth.

Build your network before you need it. Find mentors, but also become a mentor as you progress. Volunteer for projects that initially feel slightly beyond your experience. Learn to communicate your ideas clearly and make your work visible.

And remember: you do not need permission to become more ambitious.

By 2030, I hope we will have moved beyond discussing women’s participation simply in terms of numbers. Representation matters, but real inclusion means women having equal opportunities to lead research, build technology companies, attract investment, shape innovation policy, and participate in decisions about emerging technologies.

I would particularly like to see more women represented at the intersection of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, investment, and technology leadership. My goal is not only to see more women entering innovation ecosystems, but more women shaping how those ecosystems work.

During my studies, my biggest challenge was bridging the gap between theoretical academic knowledge and practical, real world STEM application. Keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology required significant self-directed learning outside the traditional curriculum. Additionally, balancing intense academic workloads with hands-on technical projects pushed me to develop strong time management, problem-solving, and adaptability skills.

Belonging in STEM isn’t about knowing everything from day one it’s about curiosity, persistence, and creative problem-solving. Never let anyone make you feel that technology or innovation isn’t for you; your unique perspective is essential for building better solutions. Build a strong network of supportive peers and mentors, embrace mistakes as a natural part of learning, and take up space with confidence.

In my opinion, stepping into educational innovation and STEM leadership means shaping how future generations learn. Don’t wait until you feel 100% expert in every new technology this sector evolves daily, so curiosity and adaptability are far more valuable than knowing everything from day one. Trust the unique perspective you bring, build strong collaborative networks, and remember that by stepping into this field, you become the visible role model the next generation of girls needs.

By 2030, I want to see complete equity in digital education where every girl feels confident pursuing STEM, every rural school has equal access to technological innovation, and every teacher is fully trained in inclusive, accessible EdTech methodologies. Diversity should be embedded in every curriculum so technology truly empowers all learners.

Strengths – Responsibility and perseverance.
Weaknesses – A tendency towards self-criticism.
Opportunities – Access to modern educational resources and digital tools.
Threats – Limited access to practical opportunities in small communities.

Don’t let stereotypes dictate your choice of career or education.

Be brave, inquisitive and open to lifelong learning.

I would like to see more women in leadership roles in STEM, more girls in technical education, and greater access to digital opportunities for young people from small communities.

I must admit my biggest challenge during studies was the uncertainty of the field and how what we are studying translates in the real world.

On a personal level, I run away from routine, and technology is one of the specialties where routine has no place. It is a field full of new techniques where skills, improvements and solutions appear on a daily basis.

Learning is key. Never stop learning.

It’s hard to project oneself but I do would like to see more women in the field.

Studying across Italy, Portugal, and Denmark meant constantly adapting — new cultures, new expectations, new systems. The biggest challenge was building confidence in rooms where I often felt young or out of place.

That experience turned out to be the best preparation possible for working in male-dominated industries like mining and blockchain.

You don’t need to fit a stereotype to belong in STEM.

Curiosity is more important than perfection. The ability to learn quickly is more important than knowing everything already. And most people you admire are figuring things out as they go. Also, find your community. It makes the journey so much more worthwhile!

Don’t let traditional industries scare you. Mining, supply chains, manufacturing — they’re some of the most exciting spaces right now because they’re undergoing massive transformation.

There’s so much opportunity to shape the future, and you absolutely belong there.

By 2030, I’d love to see gender balance become normal — not something we celebrate as exceptional.

I’d love to see more women in technical leadership roles in mining and supply chain tech. And I’d love for young girls to see blockchain and industrial innovation as creative, impactful, and open to them.

During my studies, one of the main challenges was navigating a context in which digital and STEM skills were not yet widespread or integrated into educational pathways.

• Strengths: curiosity, initiative, and the ability to learn independently.
• Weaknesses: an initial lack of clear references and structured pathways in the digital field.
• Opportunities: the opportunity to explore new trends and build innovative skills before they became mainstream.
• Threats: the rapid pace of technological change and difficulty in finding up-to-date educational environments.

My advice is to cultivate curiosity and confidence in your abilities, without being held back by stereotypes or the fear of not being “prepared enough.” The STEAM sector is constantly evolving and rewards those who experiment, make mistakes, and learn quickly.
Seek practical opportunities, explore coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence creatively, and build a network with other women and professionals in the field. Don’t wait until you feel ready—start, because skills and confidence develop through action.

It is important not to be limited by stereotypes and to actively seek learning opportunities: courses, projects, school-based experiences, or educational innovation initiatives. Surrounding yourself with people who inspire you and share the same vision greatly supports both personal and professional growth.

I would like to see greater female participation in technological and entrepreneurial pathways starting from primary school, with programs accessible to all socio-economic contexts. I also hope that schools will increasingly become spaces of open innovation, where coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence are everyday tools for developing skills and reducing educational inequalities.

A particular field which, till now, is still not my favourite. However I learnt a lot by still pushing through.

There are many many areas in IT – one can either specialise in a particular field, or become an all-rounder in multiple fields. Explore and make IT work for you.

Be curious, confident, and don’t wait to feel “ready” — skills can be learned, but confidence grows by doing. Find mentors, build things that interest you, and remember that your perspective is not a weakness in IT, it’s a strength.

More opportunities to work in various forms, eg remotely, reduced hours. More women in higher positions.

When I started my MBA I was working full time and hadn’t done such type of studies for over than 6 years so had to learn to find a balance between family, studies and a full time job. COVID hit when I was studying so even though it was challenging it created a unique learning environment.

Given that at that time we were working remotely and having lectures online, it was more stressful and less easy to take a break from the routine as there were restrictions and limitations, however, it is all about navigating complexity with integrity and knowing when to stop and ask for help if needed and maintain the focus on what really matters.

In the past few years, the visibility of strong female figures has increased. Be encouraged by it. My advise would be simple:
1. Find mentors everywhere – seek out for role models but learn from diverse leaders across genders and backgrounds
2. Build your own narrative – create your own success
3. Embrace the learning curve – there is a learning path for everyone
4. Support other women – as you progress, lift others up, the sector grows stronger when we all succeed.

Start now, don’t wait to be ready as you don’t need to be perfect or have all the answers before you begin.
Build you network and find your people.
Set boundaries and protect your well being.
Don’t try to fit into a mold or replicate someone else’s success.

Technology itself should be designed with diverse teams, ensuring products and services work for everyone. Beyond numbers, I want a culture where psychological safety, work-life integration, and continuous learning are standard,not exceptional.

While studying economics, finance and business administration, the pervasive role of digital technologies was not yet fully clear and hence insufficiently covered. I thus had to further apply myself and learn about these on my own. 

Combine social sciences with technology studies. For example, by stacking a BSc and MSc from these different areas. This will be crucial as we more forward in a world more and more influenced by automation, robotics and AI. We must be able to ensure that the human stay in the loop.

Don’t be afraid of entering the sector. Skill, reskill and upskill as necessary, leverage and build upon any other experience you have. The digital sector is not a vertical anymore but a horizontal enabler, thus allowing women to enter when any other previous work areas.

Have women equally shaping digital technologies, not just being users.

Over the past 20 years, the field of media and digital technologies has evolved rapidly, creating a constantly shifting landscape. Computer-mediated communication was -and still is- a game changer, and keeping pace with this change has required continuous learning and rapid adaptation to new tools and approaches. as concepts, technologies—even entire fields such as media law—were quickly becoming outdated.

This, At the same time, this dynamic environment pushed me to think across disciplines, combining technology, media and real-world applications, while also fostering creativity—since everything felt new and evolving. The allure of constant change has always been what sparked my curiosity about what comes next. Over time, this became one of my key strengths. During my studies, I often struggled with attention to detail, as I was naturally drawn to big ideas and the broader conceptual framework rather than finer execution points.

An open mind and flexibility towards change—these are essential ways of thinking and key attitudes in a rapidly evolving field. A genuine curiosity and love for learning are the most precious skill. Technology and science are constantly advancing, and the ability to continuously explore new knowledge will set you apart.
Develop the ability to think beyond the boundaries of your own discipline—to connect, synthesize and create at the intersection of fields, where technology meets other domains.This interdisciplinary mindset is critical for navigating the new era we are entering, where artificial intelligence is already reshaping the rules of the game.

Stay open-minded and adaptable—curiosity and continuous learning are your greatest assets in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Think beyond boundaries: the future belongs to those who connect disciplines and create at the intersection of technology and society, especially in the age of AI.
-Redefine success on your own terms: not as a choice between career and motherhood, but as a balance you consciously shape at the intersection of both: Embrace this dual path—it will challenge you, but it will also build resilience, a unique kind of leadership, grounded in real life—one that only women can truly define.

By 2030, DEIS in my sector should move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and truly recognise that equality does not mean sameness. It should take into account that women and men work differently, real-life factors—such as motherhood—that require thoughtful and supportive structures, not neutral treatment. True inclusion means designing conditions that respond to these differences, enabling everyone to thrive on equal terms.