Monaco Hosts First European Summit for Women Business Leaders
An inaugural gathering of European women's business associations, led by global leaders in women's entrepreneurship.
On June 4, 2025, Monaco hosted its first European Summit of Women Business Leaders, gathering 16 delegations from various European countries under the auspices of the Association of Women Business Leaders of Monaco.
The summit was marked by a commitment to advancing women's roles in the economy, an initiative led by Marie-Christine Oghly, the global president of Women Business Leaders.
Johanna Houdrouge, president of the Monaco association, highlighted the global reach of the network, founded in 1945, which supports female entrepreneurs in 120 countries.
She emphasized the need for a structured and ambitious European network to facilitate collaboration among businesses.
Oghly reiterated the importance of 'thinking about Europe with a feminine perspective', asserting that enhancing women’s contributions to the economy could lead to greater diversity and innovation.
She voiced concerns that while the representation of girls in education has improved, cultural biases often deter them from pursuing careers in fields such as engineering.
Citing a successful initiative in Morocco, where strategies are implemented to engage girls in mathematics from an early age, she called for similar efforts across Europe.
The summit also addressed the challenges faced by women in terms of representation within corporate structures.
Despite advancements in gender equality discussions across various nations, Oghly noted that there remains a plateau in progress.
She pointed out that while the inclusion of women in decision-making bodies has become a priority, some setbacks have been observed, particularly during recent global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, where traditional gender roles often reverted.
Additionally, Oghly raised the concept of implementing quotas not only for women but also potentially for men as a measure of achieving true gender balance in business leadership.
The summit served as a platform for networking and exchange of ideas, aiming to strengthen women's entrepreneurial networks on a continental scale.
The summit was marked by a commitment to advancing women's roles in the economy, an initiative led by Marie-Christine Oghly, the global president of Women Business Leaders.
Johanna Houdrouge, president of the Monaco association, highlighted the global reach of the network, founded in 1945, which supports female entrepreneurs in 120 countries.
She emphasized the need for a structured and ambitious European network to facilitate collaboration among businesses.
Oghly reiterated the importance of 'thinking about Europe with a feminine perspective', asserting that enhancing women’s contributions to the economy could lead to greater diversity and innovation.
She voiced concerns that while the representation of girls in education has improved, cultural biases often deter them from pursuing careers in fields such as engineering.
Citing a successful initiative in Morocco, where strategies are implemented to engage girls in mathematics from an early age, she called for similar efforts across Europe.
The summit also addressed the challenges faced by women in terms of representation within corporate structures.
Despite advancements in gender equality discussions across various nations, Oghly noted that there remains a plateau in progress.
She pointed out that while the inclusion of women in decision-making bodies has become a priority, some setbacks have been observed, particularly during recent global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, where traditional gender roles often reverted.
Additionally, Oghly raised the concept of implementing quotas not only for women but also potentially for men as a measure of achieving true gender balance in business leadership.
The summit served as a platform for networking and exchange of ideas, aiming to strengthen women's entrepreneurial networks on a continental scale.