An electric mix of leaders, tech innovators and creative visionaries will converge on 29 April 2025 at weXelerate, Vienna’s largest innovation hub, for “AI, Web3 & Media – From VISION to VICTORY”. This will be the third exclusive evening event hosted by HerBizz International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women in emerging tech sectors.
The event agenda promises a dynamic blend of keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking opportunities. It is a celebration of turning bold ideas into action and a rallying call for inclusive innovation – from the rise of AI and Web3 to transformative storytelling in media. “Your dreams deserve more than wishful thinking. It is time to make them real,” as keynote speaker Michaela Ernst puts it. This event radiates a make-it-happen energy, promising to ignite inspiration and chart a course from vision to victory.
Visionary Voices: From Dream to Reality
Leading the charge is Michaela Ernst, co-founder and publisher of SHEconomy, who will share “Turn Your Dream into Action: Unleash Your Potential.” Ernst turned a vision into a platform elevating women’s voices globally, and her journey embodies the event’s spirit of aspiration made real. A passionate community-builder and TEDx speaker, she advocates a mindful, human-centred approach to the digital age. In her inspiring opening talk, Ernst encourages breaking personal limits because even the loftiest ideas can be realised with courage and action.
AI in action: inclusive innovation unleashed
The keynote lights the spark and is followed by “Let’s put AI into Action,” a discussion with innovators who are applying AI to make a real-world impact. Elena Ardelean, an internationally recognised expert in AI policy and digital transformation, will share insights on harnessing technology for social good. She explores how AI can meaningfully drive social impact, strengthen public institutions and foster inclusive innovation across regions from Europe to Africa. Ardelean’s résumé spans advising the World Bank and European Commission on tech strategy, leading digital transformation for the Tony Blair Institute, and founding the AI4Development Agency to promote AI education for youth and inclusion. Her work has shaped ethical AI frameworks in the public sector, earning her awards for bridging tech and society.
Joining Ardelean are two dynamic entrepreneurs at the forefront of AI innovation. Ramona Bordea, co-founder of the Vienna-based startup Averis AI, contributes a founder’s perspective on building technology that “respects time, talent, and truth.” With a background in business strategy, Bordea focuses on human-centric AI solutions, ensuring that advanced technology serves people in transparent and efficient ways. Alongside her, Mila Georgieva offers the industry insight of a tech leader who knows how to implement innovation at scale.
Georgieva is Head of Sales for Central and Eastern Europe at ServiceNow, a global enterprise software firm. She has seen first-hand how AI and automation are revolutionising workflows and customer experiences in business. Together, Bordea and Georgieva represent the new wave of female tech disruptors, turning cutting-edge concepts into products and companies. They will discuss challenges and successes in applying AI in sectors ranging from enterprise services to social enterprises, complementing Ardelean’s policy and non-profit angle. Attendees can expect a robust conversation on how to turn AI visions into concrete victories.
The ethos of inclusive innovation is further amplified by Kambis Kohansal Vajargah, who will deliver a featured talk that bridges the worlds of startups and venture capital. A renowned figure in Austria’s startup ecosystem, Kambis is Head of Startup-Services at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and has co-founded multiple companies (including career platform Whatchado and tech ventures such as Freebiebox and ALVERI). His session, “Investors, Impact & Inclusive Innovation: What Every Startup Must Know,” promises an unvarnished look at how to drive innovation that leaves no one behind.
Web3 and media: charting the next frontier
In his talk “Leading the Change: Women at the Forefront of Digital Finance and Web3,” Walter Mösenbacher will spotlight the often-overlooked but rapidly growing influence of women in shaping the future of decentralised finance. As Managing Director of the Digital Assets Association Austria (DAAA), Mösenbacher brings a seasoned perspective on regulatory evolution, digital assets and tokenised economies. His session will underscore why diverse leadership is not just ethical but essential in Web3 innovation. Expect real-world examples of women driving blockchain adoption, pioneering business models and building inclusive financial infrastructures. It is a forward-looking call to action: the next era of finance must be equitable, accessible and inclusive – with female leadership.
Another highlight is a fireside chat with Martina Ernst, a former HR executive and seasoned entrepreneur who champions fair pay. As the founder of FairEqualPay, Martina has made it her mission to ensure everyone gets what they deserve. In “How to Get the Salary and Career You Deserve,” she will share practical strategies to own your worth, master negotiations, and build transparent compensation systems. “This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about knowing your worth, owning your value, and being empowered to ask for what you deserve,” Martina emphasises. Expect tangible career advice and an empowering message about equity in the workplace – a crucial theme in driving inclusive leadership.
HerBizz International
Inga Alika, CEO & Founder of Alika Media and Tech, Victoria Davies, Managing Director of Accelerate Consulting International, and Jan Frelek, CCO of Backscreen and sponsor of the event, will discuss “The Future Starts Today: Beta Babies Born to Disrupt, Impact and Redefine Tomorrow.” Focusing on innovation and disruption in tech and media, the panel will explore how emerging technologies are reshaping not only how content is created and distributed but also how it is consumed by a digitally native generation. These leaders will offer diverse perspectives on the cultural shifts, storytelling formats, and business models evolving in response to technological advancement, as well as how new platforms are empowering fresh voices to shape the media landscape of tomorrow.
In “Beyond the Script: Authentic Storytelling Where Women Take the Lead,” Myriam Lopez-Otazu, SVP of International Unscripted Content & Global Networks EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery, shares insights from launching global streaming platforms and leading unscripted content. Her focus on authenticity and inclusion will show how diverse storytelling changes culture and business.
HerStory: empowering journeys and authentic leadership
One of the most heartfelt segments of the evening is “HerStory,” an intimate session spotlighting inspirational personal journeys. Two founders who have transformed challenges into opportunities and built communities along the way. Regine Eitelbös and Yvonne Poul, best friends and co-founders of MADITA, will share under “From White Lies to a Movement: What If You Just Get Going” the success story of Circle of Joy, an uplifting initiative they launched to connect and empower women. Their story is all about timing, trust and staying true to your values. It is a lesson in inequitable leadership and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
The HerStory session will be inspiring – a reminder that behind every start-up or movement, there are human stories of perseverance. Expect heartfelt moments and hard-won wisdom from these leaders.
From vision to victory – together
Across keynotes and panels, the themes interlink: turning ideas into action, championing career possibilities in AI, Web3 and media, inclusion, and forging new paths in technology and media. The event not only highlights women at the forefront of these fields but also the allies and ecosystems that amplify their impact.
Beyond the talks, attendees can look forward to an exclusive networking cocktail where conversations will flow as freely as the ideas. The organisers promise a chance to connect with like-minded founders, investors, creatives and leaders.
In the end, “AI, Web3 & Media – From Vision to Victory” is a milestone for a community that believes in inclusive innovation and the power of storytelling. The future of technology, business, and media is being written by those who dare to lead with vision and authenticity. On 29 April, in the heart of Vienna, that future is coming into focus. The message to all attendees is clear: come curious and leave empowered—ready to turn your own vision into victory.
AI, Web3 & Media – From VISION to VICTORYby HerBizz International
April 29, 2025, at 17:30 CET
weXelerate, Praterstrasse 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Registration for the in-person event and full agenda can be found here.
