PWN Global

Our Board

PWN Global functions with a small number of service providers and with the enormous support of a dedicated team of volunteers. Our Global and Local Boards are as diverse as our membership, featuring entrepreneurs and corporate professionals from across a wide range of industries. Being involved in a not-for-profit organisation can be one of the most challenging and rewarding activities that you will ever undertake. The sense of camaraderie that builds up between Board members ensures that solid lifelong relationships are forged, which supports professional and personal development on many different levels.

Monica has a long career featuring 25 years in Employee Benefits and Pensions and running businesses in Europe. More recently, Monica has been working in the Real Estate industry as both an investor and consultant. She was the founding President of PWN Lisbon.

Mihaela, former Tax & Law Leader at Ernst & Young and PwC, now heads Global Tax Advise. With an Economics degree and a PhD in Taxation, she's a YPO member, Harvard Business School alumni, and associate professor. A seasoned speaker and expert, she's frequently featured in Romanian media.

Senior Exec, Roberta, excels in strategy, marketing, and innovation. Head of CX and Innovation within Italy’s BNP Paribas Insurance, she sits on International Committees. With a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and certified in Sustainability from Cambridge University, she engages in volunteering in several domains, including caring for fragile people and art preservation.

I am a seasoned professional with 20 years of relevant work experience gained working in Corporate and Start-up settings, both in Europe and the US. I am an experienced Senior Business Developer acting in the Financial Services, FinTech and Technology industries.

Isabelle is a human-centred change manager helping companies with their digital transformation. Following her PhD in Neuroscience, she decided to change her career direction, and started to accompany people to adopt new ways of working. An energetic volunteer, passionate about people, Isabelle drives her activities with enthusiasm and dynamism.

An international business advisor and independent board director of 30+ years of experience leading global cross-functional strategies. Jeanne is currently serving as an NED in France and Denmark, Jeanne is committed to driving sustainable growth in dynamic, multicultural environments.

Ethics-driven and internationally-minded marketing leader specializing in industrial B2B, AI, and business internationalization, with a passion for lifelong learning. Leveraging multicultural experience and strategic insight, I blend cultural intelligence with a constructive approach to drive meaningful impact while balancing innovation and wisdom.

For 20 years, Hande has worked in international business organisations in communication, financial management, and event organisation. She has been involved in projects focused on philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and art. She is currently a board member of PWN Istanbul and the volunteer leader of the PWN Angle Circles project.

Our City Network Presidents

PWN Global functions with a small number of service providers and with the enormous support of a dedicated team of volunteers. Our Global and Local Boards are as diverse as our membership, featuring entrepreneurs and corporate professionals from across a wide range of industries. Being involved in a not-for-profit organisation can be one of the most challenging and rewarding activities that you will ever undertake. The sense of camaraderie that builds up between Board members ensures that solid lifelong relationships are forged, which supports professional and personal development on many different levels.

Alison, with dual degrees in Commerce and Law, started in Finance in Australia before embarking on a global journey. With a Masters in Finance, she navigated roles in Frankfurt's finance industry and became CFO in infrastructure investment banking. Transitioning after 17 years, she pursued executive coaching, becoming a Certified Professional Coach. Passionate about empowering female leaders, she guides them to embrace their potential.

With nearly four decades in HR and organizational development, she's navigated strategic roles in Italy's top firms. From driving privatization at Fintecna to fostering a new culture at Alitalia during a merger with KLM, she's championed talent development. At Trenitalia, she reshaped organizational culture, emphasizing diversity and meritocracy. As President of PWN Rome, she continues her mission to empower professionals, drawing on her wealth of experience.

Ana, President of PWN Netherlands, drives gender-balanced leadership. As a senior manager at Workday, she leads the Benelux customer success team. With experience spanning finance, trading, and fin-tech in multiple countries, Ana's passion lies in empowering women through financial coaching. Her global journey reflects her diverse expertise and commitment to women's financial empowerment.

Barbara Vercruysse, Global Kindness Advocate, Business Consultant, and Thought Leader. As Quality Officer for BMW dealers, she fosters operational excellence and well-being. Passionate about women empowerment, she survived stage four cancer and leads by example. Married for 25 years with three young adults, her passions include reading, painting, and serving humanity. A believer in powerful kindness, she advocates for positive impact and deep human connections.

Christine specializes in Talent Development and Leadership coaching. After 20 years with a Fortune 500 company as Head of Talent & Commercial Education EMEA, she returned to France in 2013. Active in women’s leadership, DEI initiatives, and mentoring since 2000, she joined PWN Lyon in 2014 and became President in 2021.

Uysal is a professional in the automotive industry with an expertise in project management. She is a mentor to professionals across various organisations. She focuses on empowering young women and providing support for their professional growth. Uysal is the proud parent of a 21-year-old daughter.

Claudia, an environmental economist, promotes sustainable development globally. With experience at Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, she's led regulatory teams and represented Italy in European forums. She's contributed to research on environmental taxation and gender issues, co-authoring publications. As President of Vienna Family Network, she supports integration of 2500 international families.

Fiona, with over 20 years in sales and marketing, excels in team development and creating environments for success. Her coaching approach focuses on emotional connection, leveraging emotional intelligence and cognitive neuroscience. She integrates systems thinking for tangible behavior and business change. Accredited in Emotional Intelligence coaching, she utilizes various techniques like Transactional Analysis and NLP for personal and professional growth.

Ileana, a pioneer in the Romanian capital market for over 28 years, excels in corporate roles at the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Specializing in finance, she's a legal adviser and certified trainer. Actively engaged in academia, she advises at the University of Economic Studies and pursues a doctorate in corporate governance. As Interim President of PWN Romania, Vice President of various associations, and mentor, she's dedicated to empowering women in finance and governance.

Jane Hallauer is a native Hongkonger living in Switzerland, since 1993. She started her professional career at KPMG in HK, and concluded as a partner of KPMG Switzerland. She is a qualified accountant who specialises in mergers & acquisitions. After 25+ years with KPMG Jane has 'retired' and is now an active volunteer - including being a Mentor in PWN’s mentoring programme. Jane is a curious person and loves to learn anything new in both technical and social contexts.

Passionate about empowering women, I thrive on my journey with PWN, connecting with inspiring individuals and making meaningful contributions. As an entrepreneur and executive coach, I unlock global leaders' potential. With a diverse background spanning stockbroking, HR, entrepreneurship, and angel investing, Serving on various boards enhances my governance and strategic acumen.

Speaker, Professor at FIA Business School, Insper and Mackenzie. Doctor and Master of Science, and Bachelor in Business Administration at the University of São Paulo (USP). Innovation Director at Angrad and Vice President at Sempre FEA. Researcher and consultant in HRM, Careers, Sports, Diversity, Organizational Climate, and Learning.

With extensive experience in legal affairs, she founded her own law office in 2013, specializing in supporting startups and technology companies. Alongside her legal career, Marijana has been deeply involved with mentoring roles in Croatia's startup ecosystem. Cotrugli Business School Alumni, she's also an advocate for gender-balanced leadership, president of PWMN Croatia and contributor to MBA Croatia. Marijana's dedication to data science and AI, make her an active participant, lecturer, and advocate for ethical AI practices.

Indian by birth and culture, Nandini has worked in several countries, and led multi-cultural teams, making her a perfect President for PWN Paris' base of internationally profiled members. Nandini says, "Leadership with purpose is my compass, international is my horizon, innovation is my path, growing organizations and teams is my passion. I am convinced that a successful people and organization journey has a high impact in overall performance and in society, and as a leader I act for sustainable growth."

Patrick is Co-President of PWN Paris. He brings over 25 years of experience in global organisations in operational and functional Senior roles. He is now an independent consultant in strategy and technology. Patrick is also deeply involved as Business Angel and mentor for startups and works with French Corporates to accelerate digital transformation.

With 15 years in communications, including a prestigious Master's in Communication Sciences from the Portuguese Catholic University, she excels in institutional, reputational, and product communication, media relations, and marketing intelligence. She's managed various projects and teams in a key company for the country's economy. As the founder of Entre | Vistas, a communication and culture website, and a board member of PWN Lisbon since 2016, she leads communication and events, fostering dialogue and reflection on leadership and talent through initiatives like "Conversas do Avesso".

Sevda Solak, Founder and Agency Director, is a seasoned Senior Communications Consultant and Public Relations Strategist at #TimePR Agency in Istanbul. With a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Publicity from Istanbul University, she pursued further studies at Oakland College and completed an MBA at Istanbul Bilgi University. Currently undertaking a post-graduate program in Strategic Marketing and Brand Management at IAU, Solak brings over 20 years of experience in providing communications consultancy and PR services to local and international institutions.

Skaidre, President of PWN Copenhagen, brings passion and innovation to her leadership role. With 20+ years of experience spanning Sales, Marketing, and IT Consulting across multiple countries, she fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment. Fluent in English, Russian, and Lithuanian, she embraces diverse cultures. Beyond work, she finds joy in travel, literature, opera, and family time.

17 years of experience, including 14 in C-level positions, in auditing, tax consulting, financial services, shipping, and telecomms. A consummate academic with a Bachelor's degree, two MBAs, two Master’s degrees, three Postgraduate Diplomas in various managerial disciplines. She is a university lecturer and founder of Imcuba – Auditing and Tax Consulting.

Stéphanie Tumba joined our board in early 2022 and has played a crucial role in reinvigorating PWN London after the COVID lockdown restrictions. She has been associated with PWN for almost 20 years, actively participating in the Paris chapter since 2010! In her day job, she is an entrepreneur specializing in investments, acquisitions, and building marketing systems and processes, including CRP, for startups. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, meditation, writing, painting, and traveling.

Passionate about fostering intercultural connections for societal development, I'm dedicated to empowering women through PWN Nice. With experience in education, entrepreneurship, and corporate hospitality, I bring a purpose-driven leadership approach. Committed to enabling capabilities and driving growth in a dynamic, inclusive network, I believe in creating valuable, sustainable social change.

Valentina grew up in Italy, she holds a Bachelor's in aerospace engineering and a Master's in aeronautical engineering from Politecnico di Milano. Her career spans Norway, Singapore, and Denmark, focusing on the energy sector. Passionate about bridging the gender gap in STEM, Valentina joined PWN in 2019, volunteering as Project Manager for the Mentoring Program in Norway and leading the Global Storytelling Group. She values cultural diversity and believes differences drive significant impact.

With 17+ years in finance, including CFO roles and consultancy, I bring expertise from international audit and boutique firms. As PWN Milan Treasurer (2020-2023), I champion equal opportunities, leveraging experience from mentoring programs and professional commissions. Outside finance, I enjoy art, travel, and outdoor pursuits.

With 25 years in banking, including senior roles at Interbank, Akbank, Abn Amro, and Royal Bank of Scotland, Yıldız Bozkurt brings extensive experience. Currently Deputy General Manager at Med Marine Group, she holds two master’s degrees and is active in the Professional Women’s Network Association Istanbul as Co-President and Vice President.

Yolanda, a Partner at Eversheds Sutherland and co-President of PWN Madrid, brings over 25 years of expertise in Business, Organizational, and HR Consulting. With a Mathematics degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, her areas of focus include HR Strategy, Talent Management, and Change Management across diverse sectors. She has a rich background in prestigious firms like Accenture, PWC, and Mercer.

Our Past PWN Global Presidents

Fullfilling the volunteer role of PWN Global President is no small undertaking. Each President is able to take our network further, in advancing gender-balanced leadership, by standing on the shoulders of the giants that have gone before. We'd like to take a moment to salute and thank all of our former PWN Global Presidents for their unerring determination to make the world a better place.

Director of Communication Innovation and start-up for Orange in France. 20 years of experience in communication, after a career in marketing and sales. Nadine likes to highlight people, ideas, projects, strategies ... and promote the place of women for a better balance between men and women in the management of companies.

Virginia Oțel, a senior executive with 20+ years in Romania's financial sector, excels in general management, business development, and communication. Deputy GM at Garanti Leasing, she's also Communication Leader at Garanti Group Romania. A graduate of the Executive MBA program and a Fellow of Aspen Institute Romania, she's President of PWN Romania and Co-Leader of the "Mentoria" project at Romanian Business Leaders Foundation.

Carina, an Executive Coach and Leadership Development Consultant, champions diversity, inclusion, and female leadership globally. As Managing Director of Talking Talent in Ireland, she drives gender diversity initiatives, fosters inclusive cultures, and enhances business performance. Passionate about influencing thought leadership, she expands networks and collaborates for impactful change. Residing in County Kilkenny, Ireland, she enjoys family life with her husband and three children.

Sheila, an entrepreneur, technical engineer, and leadership educator, leverages 15+ years' experience to coach professionals in digital leadership. Committed to diversity, she empowers executives to harness its power for organizational growth. Founder of The Cycling Academy, she merges science and sport, fostering thought leadership in the Netherlands athletic sphere.

Sonya is partner with Spark for Growth, a consulting firm in strategic, organizational and leadership development. As a McKinsey alum she facilitates and advises clients across industries and within professional services. She also lectures within academic institutions and is a speaker on leadership.

Rob Baker leads Diversity & Inclusion Consulting at Mercer, London. Spearheading growth, he shapes D&I thought leadership. As Co-President of PWN Global, he champions gender balance. Renowned for engaging men in equality. Awarded for gender balance advocacy by The Institute for Women’s Leadership. Follow him on Twitter @robertbkr.

Marijo Bos, with 20 years' Talent Management experience, leads Bos Advisors, strengthening leadership capabilities globally. Formerly with Oliver Wyman and Russell Reynolds, she designs cross-cultural programs for clients like Novartis, Nike, and Santander. An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Marijo is passionate about eco-living and outdoor activities. As PWN Global's longest-serving President, she expanded the network to 24 global locations.

Mirella Visser, a Dutch professional with a law degree and management training from CEDEP, Fontainebleau. Former ING board member in Asia, she founded Mirella Visser International Management & Consultancy in 2004. She's renowned for inclusive leadership, serving on the boards of Royal Swets & Zeitlinger and the European Leadership Platform. Recognized by European Voice for her advocacy in women's professional progress.

Margaret Milan, an engineer turned entrepreneur, founded Eveil & Jeux, France’s top toy business. Dedicated to promoting women’s careers, she led EuropeanPWN and Fnac éveil & jeux. Co-authored "Mixité: quand les hommes s’engagent". Awarded ‘Legion d ‘Honneur’ for advancing women’s progress and entrepreneurship. Active board member and mother of two.

Avivah is CEO of 20-first, a leading gender balance consultancy, and founder of EuropeanPWN. She advises global companies on 21st-century leadership, customer connections, and talent management. Author of impactful books and a TEDx speaker, she's recognized for her advocacy by ELLE Magazine.

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