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by Larry Grady · Published May 4, 2015 · Updated May 22, 2019

"Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity. It was an honor to be a part of this inspiring conference and to work with esteemed colleagues in the field of Inclusion and Diversity was the 'icing on the cake.'"

-Esther Hernandez, Chief Diversity Officer, Sandia National Laboratories

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"The atmosphere, the energy, the quality of the interactions and the program were above expectations. Many new topics and high-level speakers."

-Stephanie Cardot, Co-Founder and President, ToDoToday

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"I felt as if we were all linked with such strength. It was not power, it was much deeper, as if a new era is coming. I felt new global energy ... taking care of each other, doing your best without expecting anything, and enough faith in our future to no longer fear it. It was encouraging to all of us."

-Beatrice Ferrant, CEO, Lefranc Ferrant

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"I never know who I will connect with, but with the Summit's unique camaraderie, whoever she is, she will offer her support as I will offer her mine."

-Tess Mateo, Managing Director, CXCatalysts

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“The impact of this event will be far-reaching in Morocco and the Arab and Islamic worlds. As a Moroccan woman and as a member of the present Moroccan government, I felt delighted by the extent to which the Global Summit of Women allowed a variety of cultures to open up to each other, regardless of cultural differences and geographical borders.”

– Najima Thaythay Rhozali, Secretary of State for Literacy and Informal Education, Morocco

“I have attended many conferences and forums over the years and few have kept my interest sparked from start to finish as did this year’s Global Summit of Women in Marrakech. I was truly impressed by the talent, positions held, and capabilities of all the women participating both as presenters and as attendees. I met some wonderful people from across the globe — what an experience and a privilege.”
– Damayanti Vasudevan, United States

“The Global Summit of Women 2003 provided an excellent opportunity for me to learn about national women’s machineries and to exchange ideas and information with committed partners and dynamic businesswomen from around the world.”
The Honorable Jean Augustine, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Status of Women)

“I enjoyed this Summit very much. It was a great opportunity to meet all these prominent women. The idea I liked very much was the one-day workshop about empowerment of Arab women. We really need that forum and it was great to exchange ideas between Arab women.”
– Zeinab Safar, Egypt

“The networking was fabulous. Until the very last moment, we were still networking, and I found a prospective supplier in Bangladesh, just a few minutes before boarding the plane. I came back with many contacts and ideas. Before the closing of the summit, we were already talking about the next one.”
– Evnur Taran, Canada

What the Participants are Saying…

“The Summit was perfectly organized and professionally conducted. It is the best opportunity for networking with like-minded women in business. One cannot get a better platform for meeting women leaders and entrepreneurs from so many countries. It was the ideal forum for test marketing of my products and it was grand success.”
– Farah Khan, India

“The (Summit) once again confirmed what I strongly believe: that the only geographical barriers that exist for our projects are those that we allow to exist.”
-Donna Kelley, Spain

“What I found most valuable was meeting and networking with such high caliber, wonderful women. It was a chance to connect with women whom I would not otherwise have had the chance to meet, and to learn something about cultures and countries far removed from my own. A truly enlightening and mind-expanding experience.”
-Elizabeth Scott, Hong Kong

“I certainly left Barcelona feeling empowered, renewed and ready to face new challenges and tackle them head-on. The powerful testimonies of fellow women, their achievement and zeal is alone worthwhile being there.”
-Inge K. Zaamwani, Namibia

I was very much inspired by the synergy of talents, capabilities, experience, dynamics, and initiatives represented in Barcelona.”
-Nela Milijic, Croatia

What the 2002 Summit Achieved:

* Raised $10,000 to be used as microenterprise loans by Afghan women seeking to reenter their country’s economy

*Created a Technology Committee to develop ways of continuing the sharing of best practices among Summit participants and other women entrepreneurs globally

* Released a report through its Corporate Women Directors International project on Spanish women corporate directors in Spain’s top 300 Companies to establish a national benchmark to measure progress.

*Agreed to develop a compendium of corporate best practices in creating equal opportunities for women.
More on this report

Home of the 2016 Global Summit of Women

Warsaw Old Town Market Square

Mermaid Statue in Warsaw's Old Town Market Square

Frédéric Chopin Museum

Chopin's Famous "Pleyel et Cie" Grand Piano

The Royal Castle of Warsaw

Inside the Royal Castle

Inside the Royal Castle

Saxon Garden of Warsaw, oldest park in Warsaw opened in 1727

Chopin Monument in Łazienki Park

Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum

Inside Politechnika Warszawska- Warsaw University of Technology

Golden Terraces Shopping Mall in Warsaw

Copper-Roof Palace of Warsaw

Carmelite Church, created 1761-83

Łazienki Palace

Wilanów Palace

Inside Wilanów Palace

University of Warsaw Library

Sapieha Palace

Warsaw at night

Global Summit of Women President Irene Natividad ringing opening bell at GPW-Warsaw Stock Exchange

Europe’s growth champion - Poland has more than doubled its GDP per capita since 1990, and was the only EU economy to sidestep the 2008-09 financial crisis and recession.

The leading economy in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland is a magnet for multinational companies both as a manufacturing and growing consumer base, as well as a gateway to emerging markets in the region.

A leading symbol of regional stability, this country has successfully transitioned to a vigorous democracy, while it continues to advance its political and economic profile on the international stage.

A country with an increasing number of women leaders from the Prime Minister to the Mayor of Warsaw to numerous government ministries and corporations, Poland’s influential women’s networks are making a mark on public policy through its innovative nation-wide Congress of Women.

Poland has a rich heritage based on a 1,000-year historical tradition while it embraces a thriving, vibrant modern culture.

Check out the New York Times' piece 36 Hours in Warsaw, Poland for the best in entertainment, dining, and culture.

"enjoyed learning and connecting with these great leaders from around the world. Yes, Switzerland it is .. Count me in!"

-Patama Chantaruck, General Manager of Worldwide Software Asset Management, Microsoft

"The entire experience of the Summit was outstanding and so inspiring. These few days had tremendous impact and will be with me personally and professionally for the rest of my life."

- Shannon Studstill, VP, Product Develop-ment, Sony Playstation

"The content is timely and value-added, the speakers are engaging, and the networking is exceptional! My colleagues used words like “life changing” and “inspiring” to describe their experiences."

- Kimberly Admire, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC

"Just a word: amazing! Great presentations, great professionals, great workshops. To see all these women gathered around a common theme, a common goal was really a strong motivation to continue.”"

-Isabelle Kuster, Senior Vice President for Operations and IT, McDonald's France and Southern Europe

“I never know who I will connect with, but with the Summit’s unique camaraderie, whoever she is, she will offer her support as I will offer her mine”

-Tess Mateo, Managing Director, CxCatalysts

“What an impressive event! The whole event was so well- thought through, and every day was so colorful and meaningful -- From presenters, to the topic of discussion which was so relevant, and all the events.”

-Parnsiree Amatayakul, CEO, IBM Thailand

Congratulations on a successful Summit. I was impressed with the energy and excitement of the 1000 participants who came from different countries and walks of life! I know that it take a high level of dedication and perseverance to organize 17 successful Summits, which is an amazing achievement. – Shinae Chun, Director, Women’s Bureau, US Department of Labor

The organisation was perfect, the quality and diversity of all the attendees made it very rich and positive. Thank you for also letting everyone talk and express her own situation which vary a lot according to the origin, obvious, it is not the same to be a sales manager in IBM in Madrid and be stressed sometimes by the glass ceiling and to “struggle for life” in Congo, and we certainly need to hear about that as well. – Catherine Delaunay, IBM, Spain

This week in Berlin we came together from 95 different countries and united behind commonalities as women, businesspeople and world leaders…. I was reminded of how important it is to continue to reach out to one another. To continue to listen, learn, and exchange experiences across borders. – Gay Gaddis, President and CEO, T-3

The Global Summit of Women was truly amazing. Women leaders from business, politics and society exchanging views, connecting and working towards a better world: congratulations to you and your team for making this happen!
– Mirella Visser, Supervisory Board, Royal Swets & Zeitlinger and CEO Centre for Inclusive Leadership

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30 Years of The Global Summit of Women

Hear about the Summit from the Summit President

Members and partners

Be Part of the 2019 Summit

Hear from Summit Special Guest Gala Vilarrasa

Be Part of the 2020 Summit

What Summit Participants are Saying

2020 Summit Supported by:

In-Kind Sponsors

2020 Virtual Sponsors

Supported by:

In-Kind Sponsors

Media Partners

Summit President on Straight Talk with CNBC’s Bernie Lo

Interview with Irene Natividad on CNBC-e

2016 Speaker Highlights

2016 Summit Information

2015 Summit Information

2014 Summit Information

2013 Summit Information

2000 Summit Information

2017 Summit Information

2012 Summit Links

2007 Summit Links

2018 Global Summit

2011 Summit Links

2010 Summit Links

2007 Summit Links

1992 Summit Links

2009 Summit Links

2008 Summit Links

2003 Summit Links

2003 Sponsors

What the Participants are Saying…

2006 Summit Links

2002 Summit Links

Explore the Summit Brochure

What Participants are Saying

What the Participants are Saying…

Summit Outcomes…

What the 2002 Summit Achieved:

Summit President, Irene Natividad

What Summit Participants Accomplished

“The greatest opportunity for our association was to participate in the creation of a confederation of Mediterranean women entrepreneurs’ associations.”

-Daneille Rousseau, President, Dirigeantes, France

What is the Summit?

2005 Summit Links

2016 Poland Corporate Sponsors

2016 Partners

More 2014 Summit Photos

2004 Summit Links

2004 Sponsors

What the Summit Offers

Welcome to Warsaw, Poland!

Home of the 2016 Global Summit of Women

Europe’s growth champion - Poland has more than doubled its GDP per capita since 1990, and was the only EU economy to sidestep the 2008-09 financial crisis and recession.

The leading economy in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland is a magnet for multinational companies both as a manufacturing and growing consumer base, as well as a gateway to emerging markets in the region.

A leading symbol of regional stability, this country has successfully transitioned to a vigorous democracy, while it continues to advance its political and economic profile on the international stage.

A country with an increasing number of women leaders from the Prime Minister to the Mayor of Warsaw to numerous government ministries and corporations, Poland’s influential women’s networks are making a mark on public policy through its innovative nation-wide Congress of Women.

Poland has a rich heritage based on a 1,000-year historical tradition while it embraces a thriving, vibrant modern culture.

2014 Summit Sponsors

2015 Summit Sponsors

2013 Summit Sponsors

Sponsors

Media Partners

In-Kind Sponsors

What Participants are Saying…

"enjoyed learning and connecting with these great leaders from around the world. Yes, Switzerland it is .. Count me in!"

-Patama Chantaruck, General Manager of Worldwide Software Asset Management, Microsoft

"The entire experience of the Summit was outstanding and so inspiring. These few days had tremendous impact and will be with me personally and professionally for the rest of my life."

- Shannon Studstill, VP, Product Develop-ment, Sony Playstation

"The content is timely and value-added, the speakers are engaging, and the networking is exceptional! My colleagues used words like “life changing” and “inspiring” to describe their experiences."

- Kimberly Admire, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC

"Just a word: amazing! Great presentations, great professionals, great workshops. To see all these women gathered around a common theme, a common goal was really a strong motivation to continue.”"

-Isabelle Kuster, Senior Vice President for Operations and IT, McDonald's France and Southern Europe

“I never know who I will connect with, but with the Summit’s unique camaraderie, whoever she is, she will offer her support as I will offer her mine”

-Tess Mateo, Managing Director, CxCatalysts