DIGITAL AMAZONS

The Power of Women in Technology Conference

In 2023, a study conducted within the STEM field inspired our autumn conference. On November 26, 2024, we will continue to build on these thoughts and experiences, examining the remaining questions, this time focusing on the IT and technology sectors.

Are you interested in the challenges faced by Dame Stephanie Shirley, a pioneer in information technology, throughout her career? Curious about where we stand today—are the numbers improving, or do women still tend to avoid this field? And for those who venture here, what successes can they expect? Is leadership accessible, or is that glass ceiling still too thick? And what about artificial intelligence—does it replicate our human stereotypes, or can we nurture it to be inclusive?

Guided by these questions, we invite you to our autumn conference filled with personal stories, professional discussions, and inspiring speakers.

Date: 26 November 2024., 9:00-13:00
Location: OTP M12 HQ
(Budapest, XIII. Váci út 135-139., between B-C buildings)

PROGRAM

START
PROGRAM
SPEAKERS
08:00 Welcome, Networking
09:00 Welcome András Kuhárszki (OTP Bank)
09:10 Keynote speech – Women’s Position in Technology Anna Réz (Moral Philosopher, University Lecturer, Journalist)
9:25 My Colleagues Don’t Just See Me as a Mother Ágnes Kandra (BlackRock)
9:40 The Princesses of Parallelograms Dóra Cseresnyés (Sigma Software Kft.)
9:55 Female Algorithms for Success
– Roundtable Discussion		 Olga Békéssy (Női Váltó, moderator)
Dóra Cseresnyés (Sigma Software Kft.)
Zsuzsa Kecsmár (Antavo Enterprise Loyalty Cloud)
Miklós Rozália (MSCI)
10:40 Meet the true pioneer of women in IT Dame Stephanie Shirley CH (International IT entrepreneur celebrity)

11:00

Coffee Break
11:25 Care robots as a solution for the care crisis? A feminist critique Laura Vogel (TU Wien)
11:40 From SKOOL to Aerospace: How I Became the First Hungarian Aerospace Engineer Eszter Varga (Aerospace Engineer)
11:55 What Only Women Know Nóra Németh (PregHello app)
12:10 The Relationship and Inclusion of Women, Socially Discriminated Groups, and Individuals in Technology
– Roundtable Discussion		 Barbara Fazekas (Bobcats Coding, moderator)
Ferenc Frész (CyEx Kft.)
Dr. Antal Károlyi (SignCoders)
Zsófia Linczmayer (KPMG)
12:50 Closing Remarks Edina Heal (Equaliser Foundation)
During the conference, the Frauenmuseum Hittisau and the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Culture are running a joint project “Calliope. Join the Dots”, which will introduce inspiring women from Austria. For further details, please visit: www.calliope.at
The event is open to the press, but participation requires registration.
The event will be held in Hungarian and English, with online interpretation.
The event is free for our active members, but registration is required. For external visitors, personal attendance is possible with the purchase of a support ticket.
The cost of a support ticket is 11.990 HUF.
The conference will be streamed as a Zoom webinar, online participation is free for our members, but the registration is required. For external visitors, online attendance is possible with the purchase of a support ticket (2500 HUF)

REGISTRATION

SPEAKERS

Ágnes Kandra, Data Operations & Content Lead Vice President, EII – BlackRock

9:00 | My Colleagues Don’t Just See Me as a Mother

András Kuhárszki, Managing Director, Omnichannel Tribe – OTP Bank

9:00 | Welcome

Anna Réz , Moral Philosopher, University Lecturer, Journalist

9:10 | Keynote Speech – Women’s Position in Technology

Antal Károlyi, Co-Founder – SignCoders

As an impact investor and social entrepreneur I care about causes that matter. Gender inequality is deeply ingrained in interconnected social and environmental challenges that humanity faces in the 21st century. As a man I feel the urge to be part of the solution by supporting Egyenlítő both as a private individual and as a business professional.

12:10 | The Relationship and Inclusion of Women, Socially Discriminated Groups, and Individuals in Technology – Roundtable Discussion

Barbara Fazekas, CEO & co-founder, Bobcats Coding

Barbara Fazekas is an entrepreneur and education expert. Currently, she is focusing on her latest venture, Bobcats Coding, which is a digital product development company that places 30% of its profits into an educational investment fund. Over the past 12 years, she has worked on numerous education projects and in schools in certification or leadership roles. In recent years, as the Sales and Marketing Director at the Budapest Metropolitan University, she has focused on attracting more international students to Hungarian higher education. Throughout her career, she has been the founder and CEO of the Green Fox Academy, and served as a board member of the Hungarian IT Association between 2017 and 2022. In her personal life, she is a wife, mother, black belt Taekwondo master, and Ironman 70.3 Finisher.

12:10 | The Relationship and Inclusion of Women, Socially Discriminated Groups, and Individuals in Technology – Roundtable Discussion | moderator

Dame Stephanie Shirley is a groundbreaking figure in the IT industry and philanthropy.

As a refugee who arrived in Britain at a young age, she faced adversity but persevered to achieve remarkable success. She founded a successful software company, pioneered flexible work practices for women in technology, and became a venture philanthropist dedicated to autism research. Through her charitable work and inspiring story, Dame Stephanie has made a significant impact on the world.

10:40 | Meet the true pioneer of women in IT

Dóra Cseresnyés, Managing Director – Sigma Software Kft.

I have been working in the ICT sector for 19 years, including 16 years at the Swedish Sigma Group. I had both local and international positions such as Project Manager, COO, Global Account Manager, and Managing Director. I was the CEO of the Hungarian-owned Autsoft Zrt. for 2 years. In 2021, I ranked 7th in the IT Business magazine’s Top10 ICT Managers, being the highest ranked female leader on the list.

My career has been full of significant changes and fresh starts. I believe in bravery, strategic thinking, diversity, and the mission of women in the IT sector!

I have three adult children, I am a member of Mensa HungarIQa, and my hobbies include wine tasting and gastronomy

9:50 | “Female Leaders in IT ” – Roundtable Discussion

Edina Heal, founder and leader – Equaliser Foundation

A senior executive experienced in managing change, fostering innovation, inspiring a diverse workforce, and creating motivated and effective teams. Forbes Magazine has selected her as one of the five most influential women in the business category. Her personal goal is to create equal opportunities for women and men.

12:50| Closing Remarks

Eszti Varga, pioneering aerospace engineer

Eszti Varga is a pioneering aerospace engineer, likely the first Hungarian woman in the field. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech and currently works as an Aerospace Safety Systems Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. Eszti has been recognized by Aviation Week as one of the prestigious “20 Twenties” and is an active member of the AIAA SciTech coalition. In addition to her technical achievements, she is passionate about science communication, mentoring young talents, and inspiring through her popular platform @justeszti. With her groundbreaking work and dedication, Eszti is helping shape the future of aerospace, especially for young girls.

11:25 | From SKOOL to Aerospace: How I Became the First Hungarian Aerospace Engineer

Ferenc Frész , CyEx Kft.

12:10 | The Relationship and Inclusion of Women, Socially Discriminated Groups, and Individuals in Technology – Roundtable Discussion

Laura Vogel, MA, Doctoral researcher and teaching associate at the Vienna University of Technology

9:25 | Can Robots Take Over the Caring Roles of Women?

Nóra Németh, Co-founder and CEO – PregHello

11:55 | What Only Women Know

Olga Békéssy, founder – Női Váltó

She worked as an editor-reporter for nearly twenty years in the most prestigious programs of RTL Klub’s news department. Her films won Kamera Hungária and Hégető Honorka awards. After the birth of her second child, she switched careers and founded a communications company. In 2018, she launched Női Váltó magazine, focusing on career and life transitions.

In January 2023, she founded the Női Váltó Entrepreneurial Club, for which she won the Bridge Budapest Womenpower award. In 2023, she was also recognized with the international TOP100 Woman in Social Enterprise award.

9:50 | “Female Leaders in IT ” – Roundtable Discussion | moderator

Rozália Miklós, Managing Director – MSCI

Rozália Miklós is the Managing Director responsible for Global Financial Engineering and Climate Analytics at MSCI, and the Head of MSCI’s Budapest office. She has been with MSCI for over 10 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Analysis and a master’s degree in Financial Mathematics from Corvinus University of Budapest.

9:50 | “Female Leaders in IT ” – Roundtable Discussion

Zsófia Linczmayer, Associate Partner, Advisory – Finance Process and Managed Services – KPMG Tanácsadó Kft.

12:10 | The Relationship and Inclusion of Women, Socially Discriminated Groups, and Individuals in Technology – Roundtable Discussion

Zsuzsa Kecsmár, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer – Antavo Loyalty Cloud

Zsuzsa Kecsmár won the “Person of the Year” award at the International Loyalty Awards this year – a prestigious recognition awarded to a Hungarian professional for the first time. Over the past decade, Antavo, a Hungarian startup, has grown into the world’s leading loyalty program technology provider. The London-based company has 100 employees working from various countries around the world, while product specialists and software engineers carry out their work in Hungary. Zsuzsa lives in Szeged and has three children.

9:50 | “Female Leaders in IT ” – Roundtable Discussion

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