Hidden Figures Awards

Carine is a transformative cybersecurity leader who combines 15+ years of technical expertise with visionary diversity advocacy. As co-founder and President of Women4Cyber Switzerland, she launched a groundbreaking initiative in 2025 that rapidly grew to over 50 members and 750+ LinkedIn followers, creating systematic change in Switzerland’s male-dominated cybersecurity landscape. Her unique three-pillar approach—Empower, Inspire, and Lead—addresses barriers at every level, from engaging young girls in schools to developing mentoring programs for male allies seeking to enhance team diversity. Beyond her successful CIRISK cybersecurity consulting firm and 13+ years as a university lecturer, Allaz represents the rare leader who doesn’t just excel professionally but actively builds bridges to lift others, making her an exemplary Hidden Figure whose behind-the-scenes work is creating lasting impact for the next generation of women in cybersecurity.

Charlotte revolutionizes global health through innovative technology and peer-learning networks that amplify frontline voices and transform humanitarian response at unprecedented scale. As Learning Science and Innovation Associate at The Geneva Learning Foundation, she orchestrates groundbreaking programs that reach thousands of health practitioners while pioneering the use of AI-powered methodologies to deliver life-saving support. Her leadership of the EU4Health PFA Connect platform provides critical psychological first aid training across Europe, while her powerful advocacy at COP28’s inaugural Health Day brought urgent climate-health intersections to global policymakers. Charlotte represents the visionary architect whose innovative approaches to peer learning and community-driven solutions are reshaping how humanitarian organizations like WHO, IFRC, and EU4Health respond to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

Maria channels her STEM passion into transformative educational experiences that spark curiosity and shatter stereotypes for the next generation of girls in technology. As a steering committee member of CERN’s Women in Technology grassroots community, she addresses the stark reality that women represent only 15% of technical roles in High Energy Physics by co-developing specialized workshops for children aged 6-9 that make ICT and Computer Science accessible without prior experience. Her strategic focus on primary school interventions—when career perceptions crystallize—multiplies impact through initiatives like Girls in ICT Day, Django Girls programming workshops, and “Expanding Your Horizons” events. Maria embodies the patient revolutionary whose educational innovations and mentoring create cascading waves of possibility, proving that meaningful demographic change in technology happens one inspired young mind at a time through accessible, engaging experiences that reveal what’s truly possible.

Elena reimagines sustainability in fashion through bold technological innovation and strategic partnerships that scale global impact across one of the world’s most challenging industries. As founder of FutureWear Group in Zurich, she has architected groundbreaking solutions including the TESTEX-FWG Academy—a global ed-tech platform making sustainability and compliance accessible to textile professionals worldwide—and CHANGING ROOM, an AI-powered B2B platform driving unprecedented traceability in fashion supply chains. Her mastery of business transformation, partnership management, and open innovation has enabled her to secure public funding while mobilizing industry leaders across public, private, and academic sectors. Elena represents the strategic visionary whose unique combination of expertise, technology, and capital is fundamentally reshaping an industry often overlooked for its environmental impact, proving that fashion and textiles can become powerful catalysts for planetary regeneration.

Jessica merges her passion as a whitewater kayaker with cutting-edge engineering to revolutionize global water management through breakthrough sensor technology that makes critical environmental data accessible and actionable. As co-founder and CEO of Riverkin, she has developed innovative optical sensors that cost 30x less than traditional alternatives while measuring real-time water quality, sediment levels, and flow across freshwater systems from Swiss rivers to remote South American locations. Her ambitious vision to place “one sensor in every single river” addresses urgent challenges including pollution detection, flood prevention, and biodiversity protection through her comprehensive Water Data Ecosystem. Born from her ETH Zurich doctoral research and deep connection to rivers worldwide, Jessica embodies the field-loving innovator whose scientific expertise and entrepreneurial courage create scalable solutions for one of our planet’s most critical resources, proving that profound environmental impact emerges when technical brilliance meets genuine care for the natural world.

Nikki transforms complex AI ethics into engaging, accessible experiences that empower organizations and individuals to navigate digital transformation with confidence and responsibility. As co-founder of Intersections, she has pioneered breakthrough solutions including AI Escape Games for interactive ethics training and the Responsible AI Check for diversity-conscious impact assessments, making technology governance both practical and inclusive. Her entrepreneurial spirit extends through co-founding FutureSense advisory firm and her former leadership as managing director of Opendata.ch, where she sparked critical conversations about digital privacy through creative campaigns and social experiments. Recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 and Digital Shaper by Bilanz, Nikki embodies the playful innovator who proves that participatory approaches can make the most complex technology challenges understandable and actionable, demonstrating that sustainable digital transformation happens when ethics education becomes as engaging as it is essential. 

Alexandra transforms personal triumph into collective empowerment, scaling her remarkable journey from arriving in America with $320 to becoming a powerful advocate who reshapes opportunities for the next generation of female leaders. With over 15 years of MedTech excellence through building, scaling, and exiting companies that advance value-based care, she now channels her expertise as CEO of The Scale Foundry and fractional CEO of EdgeVitals while serving on ten global boards across healthcare, AI, and venture. Her commitment to advancing women extends far beyond professional achievement—actively mentoring female founders navigating funding challenges, advocating for women in boardroom leadership, and speaking at prestigious platforms including UN AI for Good to champion inclusive innovation. Alexandra represents the multiplicative leader who doesn’t just break glass ceilings but builds elevators for others, proving that true empowerment means using your success as a foundation to lift entire industries and transform the very structures that determine who gets to innovate and lead in technology.

Corina transforms vulnerability into strength, evolving from someone who “didn’t dare to speak at a meetup” into an internationally recognized leader who creates safe spaces for women to discover their voices in the male-dominated SEO industry. As co-organizer of SEOnerdSwitzerland and an accomplished SEO consultant, she dedicates her evenings to writing dozens of LinkedIn outreach messages encouraging Swiss female SEOs to step onto stages, running brainstorming sessions to help them find compelling topics, and providing personalized speaker training and coaching. Her impact multiplies through volunteer initiatives like free “SEO for Beginners” sessions at “Zürich lernt” and her commitment to fostering feedback culture in professional environments. Corina embodies the generous mentor whose patient investment in others’ confidence creates cascading waves of representation and empowerment, proving that authentic leadership means turning your own growth journey into a roadmap that others can follow toward their own success.

Kateryna Portmann redefines what leadership looks like by fearlessly taking center stage while seven months pregnant to present cutting-edge robotics trends to thousands, proving that strength, intellect, and motherhood create a powerful combination rather than competing priorities. As Senior Product Manager at ANYbotics and co-founder of Women in Robotics Switzerland, she channels extraordinary energy into building vibrant communities—from organizing robotics BBQs and talent shows to hardware meetups that connect hundreds across Innovation Park Zurich. Her advocacy spans generations, participating in the 50:50 Hello World initiative for gender balance in coding while developing partnerships with Tekmania to introduce girls as young as five to inspiring female role models in STEM. Kateryna represents the connector who believes collaboration trumps competition, using her technical excellence as a springboard to create multiplying opportunities for others, demonstrating that authentic empowerment means building ecosystems where everyone can thrive rather than climbing ladders alone.

Lorena weaves inclusion into the very fabric of ETH Zurich through her quiet yet profound commitment to justice, transforming individual lives while reshaping institutional culture. As Senior Career Advisor and diversity strategy core team member, she operates as both architect and nurturing guide—designing salary negotiation workshops for women, providing inclusive career coaching for marginalized talent, and mentoring female founders building their startups from the ground up. Her collaborative partnerships with LIMES and WiNS ETH Diversity create ripple effects of empowerment that reach women, disabled individuals, international students, and those facing invisible challenges, proving that sustainable change happens through patient, intersectional action. Lorena embodies the culture shifter who doesn’t seek spotlights but instead illuminates pathways for others, demonstrating that true allyship means building bridges where none existed and ensuring that equity becomes woven into the organizational DNA rather than remaining an afterthought.

Ralph champions diversity allyship by turning his leadership role into a powerful catalyst for change, opening doors and creating opportunities for women in STEM through dedicated mentorship and advocacy. As Manager Programming at Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, he goes far beyond his job description to provide invaluable guidance and resources to Women in Robotics Switzerland, leveraging his position within one of the country’s most influential innovation hubs to elevate underrepresented voices. Ralph embodies the quiet champion whose steady support and strategic influence create ripple effects of empowerment, proving that authentic allies don’t just talk about inclusion—they actively use their platforms and networks to ensure the next generation of STEM women have the mentorship, resources, and visibility they need to succeed.

Kateryna embodies empowered leadership by breaking barriers in robotics while systematically building pathways for the next generation of women in STEM through visionary community initiatives. As Senior Product Manager at ANYbotics and co-founder of Women in Robotics Switzerland, she powerfully demonstrated that strength, intellect, and motherhood are not mutually exclusive when she took the main stage in front of thousands at a Dublin robotics conference while seven months pregnant, presenting cutting-edge trends in humanoid robotics. Her extraordinary energy extends beyond professional excellence to transformative community building—from participating in the 50:50 Hello World initiative that encourages gender balance in coding education to organizing the robotics BBQ, talent shows, and hardware meetups that bring together hundreds of attendees across Innovation Park Zurich. Through her upcoming initiative with Tekmania, she’s creating opportunities for girls as young as five to meet inspiring female role models in STEM from ANYbotics and beyond, ensuring the next generation sees what’s possible. Kateryna represents the Hidden Figure whose behind-the-scenes work combines technical leadership with systematic mentorship, proving that empowered women don’t just succeed—they lift entire industries by creating inclusive spaces where collaboration thrives over competition.