Two days dedicated to leadership, technology, careers, entrepreneurship, and the issues that shape women’s professional and personal lives.
The technology sector needs talent. But if we want to talk about its future, we cannot ignore the fact that women currently make up only 15.5% of people working in ICT in Slovakia.
This is also why Košice IT Valley is the expert guarantor of Female Leaders 2026, a conference organised by EZÚS Via Carpatia.
We have long been working on talent development, education, innovation, and building a strong technology community. An important part of this work is creating an environment where women have the opportunity to enter the technology sector, build their careers, start businesses, lead teams, establish companies, and take part in decisions that shape the future of our region.
We therefore do not see Female Leaders as an event that stands apart from the technology world. Quite the opposite. Topics such as the representation of women in IT, career growth, innovation, entrepreneurship, finance, economic independence, personal branding, health, and work-life balance are closely interconnected.
Our ambition is not to create just another conference. We want to gradually build a community where women from different professions and stages of life can meet, exchange experiences, make new connections and partnerships, while also opening up topics that do not always receive enough attention in professional environments.
The conference is also built around the idea that leadership does not begin with a job title or position. A leader can be a technology expert, scientist, CEO, teacher, entrepreneur, student, or a woman who is currently changing careers or looking for a new direction.
One of the key discussions in the programme will be When Women Lead Innovation, exploring how women build global technology projects and startups and develop successful careers in IT.
But this will not be the only connection to technology. The programme brings together technology, entrepreneurship, careers, finance, and personal development – areas that also influence whether women stay in the technology sector, grow professionally, and reach positions where they can help shape its future.
Over the course of two days, we will discuss women in innovation and IT, brand building and entrepreneurship, financial independence, personal branding, careers, health and prevention, self-confidence and setting boundaries, as well as the power of professional and personal relationships between women. The conference programme spans leadership, entrepreneurship, careers, technology, finance, health, and personal development.
Alongside technology and career topics, the programme deliberately addresses health, relationships, and personal life. Because if we want to talk about bringing more women into technology and leadership, technical skills alone are not enough.
The project also includes the inaugural Female Leader of the Year 2026 awards, with Košice IT Valley serving as the expert guarantor. The awards aim to recognise and give greater visibility to women who contribute to the development of the Košice Region through their professional work, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, public engagement, or personal impact.
Awards will be presented in five categories: Science, Innovation and Technology; Culture; Entrepreneurship; Social Sector; and Education.
Through the awards, we also want to show that female leadership already exists in our region. What we need is to make it more visible, connect women with one another, and create the conditions for more women to follow in their footsteps.
Female Leaders is open to women regardless of age, profession, or current stage of life – from students and women working in IT, science, entrepreneurship, education, or the public sector to women who are currently looking for a new professional direction.
Participation in the conference is free of charge, but registration is required.
Please note that the conference will be held in Slovak.
Programme and registration – Female Leaders 2026
