The FIDEM Awards recognize the leadership of eight leading women
With this 28th edition, the FIDEM Awards have already recognized more than 180 women entrepreneurs, executives and businesswomen.
The International Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs (FIDEM) celebrated the 28th edition of the FIDEM Awards at the CosmoCaixa Science Museum, an annual tribute to the talent, determination, and excellence of women entrepreneurs and executives in Catalonia. The gala presented eight awards recognizing female leadership in projects and careers that have significantly contributed to economic and social progress, as well as to equal opportunities. Josep Rull, President of the Parliament of Catalonia, closed the event, along with Cristina Cabañas, President of FIDEM, and a message of institutional support from the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni.
"In this new phase, we are guided by a 'leadership that inspires': a leadership that doesn't raise its voice, but ignites consciences, illuminates, and multiplies. This is the leadership we want to defend and inspire," remarked Cristina Cabañas. Rull, who championed the role of women entrepreneurs as a driving force for transformation and social cohesion, also emphasized that "Catalonia has decided and stood up. It has decided to have a bright future, a powerful flame," capturing the spirit of the evening's motto, #lideratgeflama (leadership is flame).
The award winners were Judit Camargo, founder and CEO of Roka Furadada (Innovation), for developing smart sun protection molecules with the aim of reducing the incidence of skin cancer through highly efficient and sustainable solutions; Maria José Martí, founder and CEO of Cero Error (Technology), for her contribution to technological advancement through the development of high-precision solutions applied to strategic sectors and for her career in a highly technical field; and Karina Gibert, co-founder and director of the Intelligent Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (IDEAI) research center at the UPC (Co-responsibility), for her leadership in the field of big data and artificial intelligence, and for their work promoting ethical, diverse technology committed to equal opportunities, especially for girls and young women who want to pursue STEM careers. Sister Lucía Caram and the Santa Clara Convent Foundation (Social Entrepreneurship) also received the award for their sustained commitment to social responsibility, particularly for projects like "250 Smiles for Ukraine," which have provided spaces of peace, welcome, and support to hundreds of children and families facing exclusion through programs like Invulnerables. Anna Alzamora, CEO of Alzamora Group (Family Business), received the award for driving the transformation of a historic family packaging company into a highly innovative and sustainable model, leading pioneering projects like LatCub and BotCub and consolidating the group's international presence with plants in Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Sara Arbós, CEO of Bellapart (Internationalization), was awarded for positioning this unique family-owned engineering and architecture firm among the international leaders in complex steel and glass structures, participating in iconic projects such as the Eiffel Tower, Apple stores in various cities around the world, and L'Oréal's headquarters in Paris; M. Àngels Vallvé, founder and president of GVC Gaesco (Professional Trajectory), as a pioneer in the Catalan financial sector and the first female stockbroker in Spain; and Teresa Plaja, founder of Excursiones Dating (Entrepreneurship), for a tourism entrepreneurship project with a social impact that combines travel and emotional well-being, receiving excellent feedback from participants. They completed the list of award winners.
Institutional dialogue on leadership, innovation, and social impact
The gala also included a conversation on female leadership, innovation, and social impact, moderated by Clara Sánchez-Castro – the event's presenter – with the participation of Eva Menor Cantador, Minister of Equality and Feminism, and M. Eugenia Gay, Second Deputy Mayor of the City Council. This dialogue highlighted the need to continue building collaboration between institutions, businesses, and civil society to amplify the "FIDEM effect." Since their inception almost thirty years ago, the FIDEM Awards have recognized more than 180 women in different categories and have become a showcase of role models who inspire new generations of female entrepreneurs and executives.