Musical Performance

Introductory words

Courage can take many forms: it can be a disruptive force but also a quiet everyday action - a slow steady drop that shapes the soil. One bold act can ignite a revolution overnight, but relentless everyday grit—quiet, uncompromising integrity—can dismantle empires from the roots up. In this session we will hear what courage means to our speaker and what was the spark that ignited their fire.

Across societies and sectors, confronting systemic violence toward women demands courage, leadership and collective action. This economic toll is notably striking in the work sphere – the European Commissioni estimating in 2013 the cost of VAW at about €617 billion a year in the EU, including €273 billion due to its impact on absenteeism, and 242 due to the loss in productivity associated with it. We have some solutions and yet the problem persists. This session brings together voices from law, politics, activism, and the private sector to examine what it truly takes to drive actual change. How can we move beyond awareness toward real accountability? What legal, cultural, and institutional transformations and collaborations are needed to protect women? Keynote by Aurore Bergé, Minister of Equality France

Across societies and sectors, confronting systemic violence toward women demands courage, leadership and collective action. This economic toll is notably striking in the work sphere – the European Commissioni estimating in 2013 the cost of VAW at about €617 billion a year in the EU, including €273 billion due to its impact on absenteeism, and 242 due to the loss in productivity associated with it. We have some solutions and yet the problem persists. This session brings together voices from law, politics, activism, and the private sector to examine what it truly takes to drive actual change. How can we move beyond awareness toward real accountability? What legal, cultural, and institutional transformations and collaborations are needed to protect women?

Part 1: Why Women Must Own Their Wealth? Money equals freedom. Having enough resources gives you the power to choose: to quit jobs that don’t match your values anymore, to leave toxic relationships, and to invest in a life that aligns with who you are. For centuries women have been denied access to funds, financial education, or any tools of money management. Rules are now changing but reversing centuries of economic oppression demands deep commitment and courage. Hear from NY Times bestseller author why getting more money into women’s hands it’s now more crucial than ever, and how it became her lifelong mission.

Part 2: Breaking the Chains of Economic Exclusion Following Tori Dunlap’s conversation on individual financial empowerment, this session will take a broader look at how institutions and systems can support women in building, managing, and growing their wealth. It will explore how the financial ecosystem can ensure the next wealth transfer towards women becomes a lasting driver of economic equality and societal progress.

PANEL 2: Creative Courage: How Arts and Culture Move the World Art and culture have long been tools to challenge norms, inspire empathy, and drive change. This panel brings together visionary creators and cultural leaders to explore how creative expression becomes a powerful force for advancing women’s voices, reshaping representation, and opening space for freedom and equality. In a time that calls for both beauty and bravery, cultural courage is shaping a more inclusive future.

Escaping an abusive relationship is a highly complex process and a difficult decision that demands immense strength in the face of threats, vulnerability, and isolation. How can we ensure that women have access to the guidance, protection, and resources they need when they decide to leave? And just as importantly: how can families, friends, and institutions help victims recognize the signs of abuse and be truly equipped to support survivors before, during, and after their escape?

In this hands-on lab you’ll learn how to craft an authentic and compelling online presence that reflects who you are and where you’re going. Through practical exercises and expert guidance, you’ll refine your personal brand, sharpen your messaging, and gain the tools to confidently show up online. Leave with a clear, actionable strategy to make your digital voice resonate and stand out.

A conversation between Pascal Morand and Nicolas Santi Weil on creativity — and what it means to think and act boldly in a world that often resists change. Together, they explore how creative and business minds challenge conventions, take risks, and turn vision into action. A dialogue on daring to create, to disrupt, and to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

AI is transforming work, making digital fluency, critical thinking, and adaptability essential. Women must master AI-powered tools, from data literacy to ethical AI, to lead in this new era. AI can reduce bias in hiring and unlock career growth, but only if women shape its future. The skills revolution is here, let’s ensure women thrive, not just adapt!

In a world where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics remain largely male-dominated, more and more women are breaking barriers, redefining standards, and paving the way for a new generation of talent. What prevents gender equality in these fields from fully taking root? What progress has been made, and what barriers still stand in the way? And above all, how can institutions, communities, and individuals work together to ensure that women in STEM not only have access to these disciplines but thrive and lead within them?

Escaping an abusive relationship is a highly complex process and a difficult decision that demands immense strength in the face of threats, vulnerability, and isolation. How can we ensure that women have access to the guidance, protection, and resources they need when they decide to leave? And just as importantly: how can families, friends, and institutions help victims recognize the signs of abuse and be truly equipped to support survivors before, during, and after their escape? Followed by a Call to Action for a Fund to Protect Women in the Workplace with: Vanessa Bousardo, Vice-President, Barreau de Paris and Nannette Lafond Dufour, President of the Women’s Forum.

An often-overlooked aspect of bravery is how it naturally leads to disobedience — challenging norms, provoking reactions, and sometimes facing opposition — while also creating space to question the reality we take for granted. Whether courage arises instinctively or by choice, it demands strenght to carry it through.

In a world where facts are challenged, science is politicized, and misinformation spreads at lightning speed, finding the truth, spreading it and protecting it all become bold acts. This panel explores not only the rising pressures facing journalists and workers in the field, but also examines the critical responsibility media companies bear in how they operate, and how businesses can influence the information landscape through their investments and narratives. Panelists will examine what it takes to stand firm — and why a courageous, independent press is more vital than ever.

In every field of society, it comes a time when people need to face high risks and deal with the immediate consequences. Whether it is in the field during humanitarian operations, or in a high-stake negotiation, taking sharp and immediate decisions in risky arenas demands courage and forward-thinking. We’ll discuss how to cultivate this bravery, how to operate in risky situations, and how we deal with the impact of our choices on the lives of others.

In every field of society, it comes a time when people need to face high risks and deal with the immediate consequences. Whether it is in the field during humanitarian operations, or in a high-stake negotiation, taking sharp and immediate decisions in risky arenas demands courage and forward-thinking. Join us for a Keynote by the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

As society rethinks health, aging, and women’s well-being, this panel breaks longstanding taboos to build new narratives and find concrete solutions for embracing longevity with dignity and vitality. By openly addressing aging and what it entails when it comes to health, job opportunities and personal finance, we can drive innovation, foster understanding, and empower women to thrive at every stage of life.

As society rethinks health, aging, and women’s well-being, this panel breaks longstanding taboos to build new narratives and find concrete solutions for embracing longevity with dignity and vitality. By openly addressing aging and what it entails when it comes to health, job opportunities and personal finance, we can drive innovation, foster understanding, and empower women to thrive at every stage of life.

What does it really mean to care for your body as it changes over time? In this hands-on lab, you’ll work with self-reflection frameworks and concrete wellbeing tools to better understand how you relate to your age, health, and physical identity. Whether you're navigating change, seeking balance, or looking to reconnect with yourself, this session is about building a stronger, more conscious relationship with the body you live in.

For women, the path to entrepreneurship is often filled with even greater challenges—access to funding, biases, and the pressure to prove themselves. This opening keynote explores the resilience, strategy, and support system needed to succeed. Opening Keynote - Entrepreneurship: A Battle, A Competition by Sarah Ourahmoune Oly, Boxing Champion & Entrepreneur. Followed by the Panel discussion.

Sport is more than competition — it’s a powerful force for equality, resilience, and transformation. This panel brings together athletes, and advocates who are challenging not just records, but the systems that have long excluded or silenced women. From the fight for gender equity to confronting violence — both within sport and beyond it — these voices show how courage on the field can drive change in society. Through stories of defiance, leadership, and perseverance, the discussion will explore how sport can be a platform for empowerment, a shield against violence, and a space that must itself evolve to protect and uplift every player.

During this dynamic session, WE4G finalists will present their projects to a jury composed of partner organizations: HEC Paris, Bank of America, Bredin Prat, Rexel and the Women’s Forum. As an attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to discover inspiring initiatives and cast your vote for the Public Prize Winner. Meanwhile, the jury will deliberate selecting the Jury Prize Winner. Both winners will be revealed during the official Prize Ceremony on 7 November.

Sport is more than competition — it’s a powerful force for equality, resilience, and transformation. This panel brings together athletes, and advocates who are challenging not just records, but the systems that have long excluded or silenced women. From the fight for gender equity to confronting violence — both within sport and beyond it — these voices show how courage on the field can drive change in society. Through stories of defiance, leadership, and perseverance, the discussion will explore how sport can be a platform for empowerment, a shield against violence, and a space that must itself evolve to protect and uplift every player.

Une initiative cofondée par BNP Paribas et le Women’s Forum BNP Paribas et le Women’s Forum ont lancé la saison 2 du « French Women Entrepreneurs 40 », (FWE40), le palmarès dédié aux 40 entreprises françaises en développement dirigées par des femmes, sous le haut patronage du Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances et en partenariat avec Bpifrance, SISTA, HEC Paris, Be a boss et Carbone 4.

Whether starting a company or steering a major organisation through instability, business leaders often stake their reputations on bold innovations, navigating uncertainty with courage to drive progress. But while individuals may be brave, the system is not. Our economic model rewards short-term, risk-reducing strategies that maximise shareholder profit, often stifling diverse ideas and prioritising safe bets over transformative, inclusive solutions.Yet, we see examples of businesses thriving through long-term investments in the resilience and adaptation of our economies and societies— and it can make financial sense: every $1 invested in resilience can generate more than $10 in benefits over ten years, according to a recent WRI report. Could leaders follow these examples into a market-wide shift — and should we question their bravery if they don’t? Or are we deceiving ourselves, placing too much responsibility and faith in businesses to lead systemic change?

A keynote by Yaël Braun-Pivet — a reflection on courage, leadership, and the power to shape change.