Seven years ago, the idea of organizing the first gala dedicated to women’s excellence in economy in Romania seemed like an ambitious game of chance. At the time, few were talking about female leadership as a real driver of economic development, and even fewer were investing in initiatives to give visibility to women in business. Most of the time, the debates centered on statistics: how many women we have on boards of directors, what is the percentage of funding for startups, what are the obstacles or what percentage of women are in the entrepreneurship area. At CONAF, we decided to switch the paradigm. We believed in one simple thing: that merit should be recognized, that leaders need visibility and entrepreneurial unity, and that future generations need genuine role models.
This was the birth of Women in Economy, a project that has grown beyond all expectations, quickly becoming a reference platform for female entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe. 90 awards, 5,000 entrepreneurs, leaders and officials. These are not mere numbers. They are proof of a movement that has redefined excellence. Every year, the Women in Economy Gala stage has celebrated exceptional women in business, finance, technology, education, sports, culture, etc., women who have transformed industries and broken barriers. Among them, Romanian women from the diaspora who carry forward the Romanian entrepreneurial spirit, strengthening economic and cultural bridges between nations.
In economy, every percentage point of growth counts. McKinsey has shown that organizations with diverse leadership teams have a 25% higher ROI than those where the decision rests in the hands of a single demographic. CONAF understood this and acted accordingly.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all these years, it’s that equality is not built by creating more inequality. Authentic leadership is not just about having a seat at the table, but about building a bigger table where everyone who has something to say can be heard. Leadership is about balance, complementarity and collaboration. That is why, at CONAF, we have chosen to build a board where women and men work together for a common purpose. A fantastic team of people who think strategically, who put vision above ego, who have had the courage to align their personal goals with the higher good of a community, and who you will rediscover in other roles in Women in Economy magazine.
Today, CONAF is a leadership ecosystem with more than 30 branches, economic and cultural partnerships in Europe and the US, and a steady international expansion. The priorities? Education, digitalization, labor market, health, tourism and competitiveness. I am deeply grateful to all those who have joined us, to my colleagues of the board, because together we have shaped, we have laid, we have built. We have engaged, we have strived, we have delivered national programs and, moreover, we have learned something new every year, with every gala.
Each edition of Women in Economy has come with something new, but also with lessons. And from each lesson we learned what we needed to improve. Creating excellence isn’t just about putting people on stage, giving out trophies or applause. It means staying behind the curtain and asking the hard questions: How can we do this better? What is our real impact? What is our legacy?
Today, after six editions of organic growth, Women in Economy takes a decisive step into the future. In March 2025, with the seventh edition of the Gala, we are officially launching Women in Economy magazine, an editorial project that will go beyond Romania and become an international platform for women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and economic impact. It is not a mere magazine. It is a commitment. A commitment to document the stories of game-changers, to shine a spotlight on women transforming industries and to create a space where excellence is recognized, analyzed and celebrated. For the first time in its history, a Romanian employers’ confederation is being officially recognized by the highest European institutions. The European Parliament and the European Commission have given the Women in Economy Gala their patronage and this year’s edition is being held under this prestigious aegis. This is not a formality. It is a clear signal that Romania is now playing in the big league of women’s leadership. It is a confirmation that entrepreneurial excellence transcends borders and that the voice of women in business matters – not only here, but also in Brussels.
Because Women in Economy was never just about awards or events. It’s been about impact. Over the years, CONAF – the National Confederation for Women’s Entrepreneurship, the initiator of the project – has broadened the economic agenda of women’s entrepreneurship through strategic initiatives in education, digitalization, labor market, financial legislation and innovation. International partnerships, from UNICEF to Google, from governmental organizations to global business networks, have strengthened our vision and enabled us to create a strong ecosystem for sustainable economic development.
The seventh edition of the Gala not only reconfirmed this status, but reinforced it. In a world where economic power is being rewritten through innovation and diversity, Women in Economy is becoming a European benchmark. It is not just about Romania. It’s about the future.
In a world where female leadership is still underrepresented in boardrooms and economic decision-making centers, Romania is writing a different story, offering a different model compared to other emerging markets: female leadership is not a discourse, but a reality built on results, performance and strategic collaboration. We were among the first in Eastern Europe to bring top-level officials into the dialog on female entrepreneurship. Over the years, Women in Economy has been joined by presidents of Romania, prime ministers, ministers, leaders of the Parliament, MEPs, ambassadors, as well as the European Commissioner for Gender Equality, Helena Dalli. In 2024, Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, was guest of honor. In 2025, the surprises will continue.
Today, Women in Economy is no longer just an event. It is a symbol of change. With more than 30 branches in Romania and a growing network of international collaborators, the movement has gone beyond its initial borders and is preparing to extend its influence across Europe.
The launching of Women in Economy marks the beginning of a new era. A commitment to continue to give visibility to women who are changing the rules of the game and leaving a legacy for generations to come. An era where female leadership is no longer the exception, but the rule. An era where the stories of women creating economic value become lessons in strategy, vision and power.
This is not just our story. It is the story of a generation that refuses to accept limits. It is the story of a global economy that needs diversity, balance and authentic leadership. Female leadership is not a question of gender, but of global competitiveness. If you look at the world’s economies through the lens of data, you see a clear pattern: countries and companies that support women in business and leadership have more sustainable economic growth, higher productivity and greater capacity to innovate. It is no ideology. It is pure economics.
And if Women in Economy has proved anything over the past seven years, it’s that the future is not written by those who predict it, but by those who build it.
Welcome to a new era of excellence!
