Resilience Needs Diversity: Keynote at the 2026 equalitA Awards

On 2 June 2026, I had the pleasure of delivering a keynote at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) on the topic:

“Resilience Needs Diversity: Why the Advancement of Women Is a Geopolitical Competitive Factor.”

The keynote formed part of this year’s equalitA Awards ceremony, attended by approximately 85 guests and award recipients.

The equalitA Quality Seal recognizes companies that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to advancing women and promoting equal opportunities within the workplace. This year, 45 companies received the quality seal in recognition of the concrete measures they have implemented to strengthen gender equality in professional life.

In addition to the quality seals, six equalitA Awards were presented by BMWET Secretary-General Severin Gruber. The awards highlight innovative, effective, and sustainable corporate initiatives that support the advancement of women and make successful approaches more visible.

In my keynote, I emphasized that the advancement of women is no longer solely a matter of equality or corporate responsibility. In an era of geopolitical disruption, economic uncertainty, demographic pressure, and technological transformation, diversity has become a strategic factor in organizational resilience and international competitiveness.

Resilient companies and societies require a broader range of perspectives, experiences, and leadership capabilities. Supporting women’s participation and advancement is therefore not simply a social objective—it is an economic and geopolitical imperative.

Further information about the equalitA initiative and awards is available at www.equalita.at.

Pictures (c) BMWIT