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"Being surrounded by 450+ passionate women from the industry was on its own amazing! Hearing from leading women that have built their way up such as Linda Jackson and Barbara Frenkel was truly inspiring!"
Whether attending in person or logging in from home or the office, attendees, speakers, and sponsors came together with a shared purpose: to connect, inspire, and drive change in the automotive industry. The energy, both online and in the room, was truly infectious, and the conversations were packed with insights and inspiration.
Leaders like Linda Jackson, CEO, Peugeot and Barbara Frenkel, Member of the Executive Board Procurement, Porsche AG shared their personal career journeys and advice.
Key takeaways included:
“You need to be a team player not just by words, but with actions”
“You can’t climb a ladder with both hands in your pockets.”
“Be yourself, be resilient, always be open to learning”
Their words reminded us that commitment, visibility, and courage are key to breaking industry norms and driving career growth.
Andrea Seidel, Member of the Supervisory Board & Director IT Infrastructure, Daimler Truck, Fedra Ribero, EVP and Member of the Board Cross Domain Computing Solutions, Bosch, Louise Brook-Jakisch, Senior Manager, Deloitte with Tania Khasal, Chief Cyber Security Governance Engineer, CARIAD opened up about their personal journeys, sharing how they’re shaping a future that’s software-driven, sustainable, and inclusive.
"Independence means leaving your comfort zone, taking full accountability, overcoming challenges, and standing together in difficult times."
Whilst the Flex team challenged us to have the courage to question stereotypes and why using both facts and personal intuition could actually be beneficial to your business and your career. Did you know in the professional world, people tend to lean on rational fact-based decisions over listening to their gut feeling?
Their stories sparked conversations about resilience, growth, and innovation, reminding us that change starts with each of us.
Networking is a lot like nutrition and fitness: we know what to do, the hard part is making it a top priority. At the Women Automotive Network European Summit we made it easy for both online and in-person attendees during Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee Breaks and our 7 interactive Workshop Sessions.
According to Laurence Noel, Head of Automotive, Capgemini who was joined on-stge with Mara Schmidt of Bosch: “Sustainability is not only the major obligation for the automotive industry, but one of the biggest opportunities to rewrite the narrative of the industry.”
Some advice from the afternoon session speakers included:
"My desire is to make sure the next generation has it easier, no matter where they came from or their gender", Sara Aghaeian, Senior Project Manager, Volvo Cars.
“Start with great mentors, but look also for sponsors”, Stany Winkler, Head of EMEA SAP, Google Cloud
Diversity is more than a conversation about gender, it is about ensuring a more creative and inclusive industry that reflects today’s world. To drive change, we all need to be part of the conversation, and we hope this lasting comment by attendee and Panellist, - Simon McDermott, VP People and Innovation, Toyota Motor Europe, invites you to join WAS Europe 2025:
“Never have I ever felt so included, so welcomed and so engaged as I did before during and after WAS 24. Every speaker was energised, thought provoking and inspiring!”
Our mission is to provide a platform for accelerating diversity discussion and inspiring change. Whilst offering unparalleled networking opportunities and support to achieve your best! Join our 40,000+ Network and get involved in our events, leadership interview series, mentorship program, job opportunities and much more.
For all enquiries, get in touch here
Links:
Women Automotive Network Homepage: https://womenautomotivenetwork.com/
2025 Events Schedule
https://womenautomotivenetwork.com/pages/events
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