MARCH 7, 2024 | RIGA
NOVATORE
IMPACT
SUMMIT
FOR ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT BY WOMEN
“I wholeheartedly endorse the Novatore Impact Summit for its exceptional networking opportunities. This top-notch event brings together leaders, seasoned professionals, and aspiring young talents, creating a dynamic environment that fosters meaningful connections with the power to shape the future.”
– Daiga Auziņa-Melalksne, Member of the Supervisory Board at Citadele Banka
WHY ATTEND?
NETWORKING
Expand your network to unlock new business opportunities and personal growth. Connect with potential clients, partners, talented professionals and visionary investors, opening doors to innovation, collaboration, and success.
KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING
Advance your leadership journey with practical skills and a confidence boost – learn from industry experts through a diverse selection of enriching masterclasses. Gain the latest insights to drive your personal and business development.
INSPIRATION
Engage world-class speakers and thought leaders to energise and develop yourself and your team. Join the vibrant Novatore community and unlock the transformative power of shared inspiration.
POLICY & IMPACT
Support the movement for positive impact and sustainability, contributing to a more inclusive and responsible future. Gain valuable insights on diversity, inclusion, and practices that can propel your organisation's success.
What will you get?
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Inspiring world-class speakers
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Engaging masterclasses for your professional and personal development
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Networking with over 300 like-minded professionals from the Baltics and beyond
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Empowering yourself and your team to make a meaningful impact
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Organised by a dedicated community of volunteers and partners
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All sessions are conducted in English
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Have fun and enjoy the event!
Take your leadership and impact to the next level!
The Summit drives economic development by raising and discussing topics essential for women. Empowering women is crucial to the growth and development of the economy. Our motto is “by women for all”.
The event is full of learning and networking opportunities. It is an excellent moment to reflect and look at the bigger picture; how can you, your business and your country keep growing in the future?
“In times of continuous upheaval from war in Ukraine, paradigm shifts in the energy sector in terms of cost and access, and societies backsliding towards higher inequality, we seek to build women's and society's resilience for peace, security and prosperity.”
– Baiba Rubesa, Co-founder of Novatore
SPEAKERS
KEY THEMES & TOPICS
Conference & Masterclasses
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP & EMPOWERMENT
Empowering women's leadership and financial well-being to drive economic growth for us all
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Ensuring women's strong place at the table
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Reducing the gender pay gap
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Women's leadership empowerment and career development
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Entrepreneurship journey
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Managing stress, life-work balance, and well-being
BUILDING WEALTH & DRIVING PROFIT
Developing business models and a set of skills and behaviours enabling to cope with uncertainty
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Well-being economy – profit and purpose – accelerating opportunities
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The mindset of “sustainability by design”, building better businesses with sustainability and innovations
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Diversity management and long-term growth
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Financial literacy for personal, family, and business prosperity
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
Spotting the sustainability trends that can enhance personal and business resilience
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Future of work, food, and fashion
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Climate change and future consequences
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Responsible innovations and technologies
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Productivity hacks for effective leadership
AGENDA*
Conference | 8:30-15:30
8:30-9:30
Registration, Welcome breakfast & champagne
8:45-9:15
Business Networking powered by Visa
OFFICIAL OPENING 9:30-10:00
WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT – MONEY & POWER 10:00-11.00
10:00
The cost of sexism
Linda Scott, Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Oxford, author of 'The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Empowering Women'
10:25
Discussion: Women, power & money
Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia
Arminta Saladziene, Vice President at Nasdaq European Markets
Anders Larsson, Baltic Head of Sustainable Banking at SEB
Līga Meņģelsone, President of the Latvian Red Cross, former Minister of Health
11:30-12:00
Coffee break & Guided networking
NEXT BIG THING – SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE 12:00-13.00
12:00
Navigating the impact of climate change
Albena Markova, Advisory Partner and CEE Sustainability Platform Leader at PwC
12:20
Future of food
Nadia Sammut, Chef of the Michelin-starred gluten-free restaurant Auberge La Fenière
12:40
Can design be the driving force for circularity?
Reet Aus, Founding Partner of Aus Design and Upmade
13:00-14:00
Lunch & Guided networking
MISSION: EXECUTIVE – THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP & WORK STYLE 14:00-15.00
14:00
Fireside chat on leadership journey: A personal story
Milda Mitkutė, Co-founder of Vinted
14:25
Discussion: Women, leadership & work style
Agata Laight, Senior Director, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability at Visa
Dace Dovidena, CEO of Reitan Convenience Latvia (Narvesen and Caffeine)
Liene Briede, Vice-rector for Innovation at Riga Technical University
15:00-15:30
Coffee break & Guided networking
Masterclasses | 15:30-16:30 & 17:00-18:00
ON PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP GROWTH & IMPACT
15:30
Leadership impact & skillset mapping: How to build future-proof C-level profile
Inga Ezera, Principal at Pedersen & Partners
Attend this masterclass to discover powerful strategies for amplifying your leadership impact in the C-suite, ensuring your skillset evolves in tandem with the future's unpredictable demands. The leadership characteristics deemed most effective for addressing future business and organisational challenges, like inspiration, people development and empowerment, strategic thinking and execution, and role modelling, have been a biologically wired psychological dominion of women's leadership. The patriarchal system has encouraged women to 'lean in' and emulate men's leadership style – mostly competitively aggressive. However, stakeholders' capitalism, sustainability-focused, geopolitically impacted and globally changing business environments require a different approach to leadership going forward. The participants of the workshop will learn how to recognise, highlight and position future-proof authentic leadership skills in synergy with current and future geopolitical, business and organisational trends. You'll gain exclusive insights into crafting a dynamic leadership profile that not only aligns with the ever-changing business landscape but also sets a new standard for excellence in top-tier executive roles. Inga Ezera is a corporate and executive leadership development expert with a career spanning over 25 years. She has held local and multi-national level board positions, enhancing her impact and developing boards in complex matrix and multicultural settings spanning several continents. Additionally, she has built an expansive network of HR & C-level leaders encompassing Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. She is the founder of a Personal Brand, Leadership & Business Performance Development consultancy that integrates leadership and high-performance business culture to drive organizational change. Inga previously served in roles including Global Head of People and Performance with an international FinTech company, Global HR Director, Partner and Board Member with a regional EMEA & UK insurer, Regional Corporate HR Director covering Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Latvia with a software and tech development business, and Regional HR Leader for a Big Four management consultancy.
17:00
C-suite: How to get there & thrive, not just survive. 5 essential questions
Aušra Bijaminienė, Professional Breakthrough Mentor, Top 100 Global Women Mentor, Co-founder of Boutique Institute of Leadership
In her empowering masterclass, Aušra Bijaminienė will guide you through the pivotal 5 questions she wished she had answers to in her early career. Mastering them sooner can significantly enhance your chances for success in the executive world. Aušra will share practical insights, strategic wisdom, and actionable tips, drawing from her diverse background. These elements will help you navigate the executive landscape with confidence and purpose. This transformative session combines leadership insights with personal growth, guiding you to excel in your career and lead a fulfilling professional life. Aušra Bijaminienė is a seasoned Professional Breakthrough Mentor with over 25 years of experience in business and leadership. She has navigated transformative roles across various industries, steering cultural transformations in banking and pharmaceuticals. During her tenure as Chief People Officer in a transportation company with 20,000 employees, her journey reflects not just professional milestones but also a profound personal transformation. Certified as an Executive Coach and Career Coach in the United States, Aušra's commitment to supporting others is reflected in her recognition among the Top 100 Global Women Mentors. Fueling her purpose to help others shine, Aušra now runs her own business dedicated to guiding professionals toward fulfilment. Her story is a genuine narrative of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of a purpose-driven life. In sharing her experiences, Aušra opens a door for you to explore the sincere intersection of personal and professional growth. Her story is an invitation to embark on a transformative journey, embracing your true self.
ON FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
15:30
Tips & tricks about investing in collectibles
Anna Ļogkaja, General Manager at Noble Wine
Ineta Done, Senior Vice President of Signet Bank
Discover the exciting world of alternative investments beyond the traditional market. This session offers insights into unique investment avenues such as art, wine, and more. Through a self-assessment, you'll estimate your readiness to venture on a collectibles journey, exploring how your hobbies can transition into valuable investments. Key Topics Covered: From Hobby to Investment: Navigating the transition from enjoying collectibles to strategically investing in them. Understand where the hobby ends, and the investment begins. Collecting vs Investing: Unravel the crucial differences between collecting assets for personal enjoyment and investing in collectible assets for financial gain. Debunking Myths: Addressing common misconceptions about investing in collectibles and setting the record straight. Business vs. Investment Mindset: Comparing short-term business approaches to the long-term investment strategies in the collectible market. Starting Your Collectibles Journey: Practical advice on beginning your adventure in collectibles, from initial interest to making your first acquisition. Financial Considerations: An in-depth look at the financial aspects of investing in collectibles, including potential returns, risks, and how to make informed decisions.
17:00
Investing the smart way: How to validate? (in Latvian language)
Ingus Grasis, Investment Strategist at SEB Private Banking
It’s time to dispel the myths – find the answer to how to start investing and how to make your money work for you. You will get practical advice on what it means to be an investor and explore how to find more appropriate instruments for growing your capital, even devise an action plan to start your investing journey. Ingus Grasis has more than 12 years of experience in providing investment advice and analysing financial markets to create better investment strategies for Private Banking customers. NB! This masterclass will be held in Latvian language.
ON DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
15:30
Diversity: Can it be managed? How?
PhD Agnese Cimdiņa, Head of Diversity and Inclusion practice at PwC Latvia
Strategic diversity management is important to every organisation that cares about its people, environment, value creation, growth, and social sustainability. Organisations tend to view diversity as a competitive advantage when it comes to innovating, approaching new markets, working smarter, improving organisational culture, and as a necessity for productivity, growth, brand reputation, recruitment etc. Yet the key to success in achieving these results is not diversity as such, but rather insightful, strategic, and systemic diversity management. As a result, you will have acquired an understanding of why and how to develop a diversity management strategy with clear goals that are aligned with the organisation’s objectives, based on best practice guidelines. The main focus: how strategic diversity management can create value for your organisation and improve its competitiveness with measurable results. The main outcome: acquired understanding of why and how to develop a diversity management strategy with clear goals that are aligned with the organisation’s objectives, based on best practice guidelines. Agnese Cimdiņa is a PhD in social anthropology and a certified diversity management expert with a deep interest in business and market anthropology, Nordic institutions, diversity management and sustainability in cross-cultural contexts. She holds a Master's and PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Bergen, Norway. She has worked for many years as a lecturer, researcher, consultant and advisor in the academic, private and diplomatic sectors.
17:00
Identifying & neutralising bias: Practical tools for everyday use
Megan Riley, President of American Chamber of Commerce Estonia
We all deal with bias every day: some conscious, most of it unconscious, much of it even built into our business systems and processes. Come learn about common types of bias, how to identify it, how to neutralize it, and why it matters. You’ll go away with a broader knowledge of the kinds of bias that you encounter every day in the workplace and in life, as well as tools and tips to neutralize these biases. Megan Riley is an Executive Coach and Advisor who spent the first 20 years of her career as a tech leader, managing engineering organisations on multiple continents. She’s passionate about the future of work, creating high-functioning cultures, driving innovation, growing talent, and especially about blowing up systems that keep women and other underrepresented groups out of the Boardroom and C-suite. She currently serves as the President of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Estonia.
ON SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
15:30
Silver economy: Is age just a number?
Piret Potisepp, Head of Services at Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Liina Helstein, Head of Tartu Office at Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Within the masterclass, participants will have a safe space to discuss the current challenges around age. To share personal stories and to brainstorm the possible solutions that leaders across industries and organisations can and could use to tackle the topic. Also, during the workshop Piret and Liina from the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will share findings & data, based on the benchmarking and ongoing pilot projects in companies within the Silver Strategies project. The project is funded by Interreg Central Baltic and it aims to prepare a toolkit for companies to tackle the issue and share experiences across Estonia, Latvia and Finland. Find out more about the project from here: https://www.koda.ee/en/about-chamber/silver-strategies Piret Potisepp is the Head of Services of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Creating successful and long-lasting partnerships has been a core activity in all the roles she has held. Piret has had a non-linear career path, consisting of several leadership roles in different organizations across continents. This makes her a passionate advocate of leadership, female empowerment, and new ways to tackle the challenges which have existed for a long time. Piret feels passion towards new services creation and upscaling the current ones. Liina Helstein is the Head of Tartu office of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her passion is to be a connection between entrepreneurs and create relationships and new solutions through cooperation. Having previously worked in various fields of business, she has a good overview of the specificities of the fields. Due to her good communication skills and solution-oriented attitude, she has been successful in creating an entrepreneurial centre in Tartu, gathering entrepreneurs in a single network. Liina has a special passion for supporting women entrepreneurs and leaders in their careers.
17:00
How to feel confident & powerful so you can conquer the world
Mariliis Pikkar, Founder and Creative Director of Marimo Fashion
Kadi-Ann Simmermann, Sales Manager at Marimo Fashion
This workshop is essential for professional women who want to look and feel good, without spending their precious time on it every morning. It will help to understand the vital role of a smart style guide that allows you to get the maximum out of each piece. Mariliis Pikkar has 15 years of experience as a designer and fashion entrepreneur. She has successfully taken her women’s luxury label Marimo to the international market – the brand has loyal clients from 20+ countries worldwide. She has a degree in textile and garment technology, which has allowed her to develop high-end collections and provide expert advice to all her clients worldwide with different body shapes and unique needs. Marimo specializes in made-to-measure, which they have also successfully taken online. Mariliis is coaching younger entrepreneurs and focusing on building a strong Marimo community of like-minded and driven women around the world. Kadi-Ann Simmermann has international experience in fashion, marketing and sales. She runs the sales and developments in Marimo. The latest project was a new product – the Marimo cashmere range, which received a development grant from the Estonian government. While building strong relationships with international and local clients and other stakeholders, together with Mariliis she consults women daily about conscious wardrobe and style choices, they host workshops and have developed products and services to support the needs of their global clientele.
18:00-18:15
Convene for the Closing Session
CLOSING SESSION 18:15-20.30
18:15
The Olympic Athlete’s mindset: A story of hard work & triumph
Rūta Meilutytė, Lithuanian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and world record holder
Khadijatou Sagnia, Swedish long jumper and Team Visa Athlete
18:45
Closing remarks
Baiba Rubesa, Co-founder of Novatore, C-suite executive, board member at several companies
Dagnija Lejiņa, Co-founder of Novatore, CEO of Lejiņa & Partners, impact entrepreneur
19:00-20:30
Closing Reception & Networking
*Novatore reserves the right to make changes to the agenda at any time.
“Women need to support each other in leadership, impact, shared knowledge and empowerment.
“Yes, we can” attitude is the one we need to celebrate.”
– Dagnija Lejiņa, Co-founder of Novatore
VENUE – RTU "DOMUS AUDITORIALIS"
This year the Novatore Impact Summit will be held at a new location – Riga Technical University auditorium center "Domus Auditorialis".
The exact address of the venue: Zunda krastmala 8, Ķīpsala, Rīga, LV-1048, Latvia. See the Google Map below for directions. The additional pin on the map indicates the parking lot with assured space.