The Women's Empowerment Convention 2025 - An inspiring day with keynotes, impulses, workshops, and a panel discussion

6 March 2025 | Münster

On March 6, 2025, the third Women's Empowerment Convention took place in the beautiful Castle of Münster. The event was organized by a collaborative team from the REACH - EUREGIO Start-up Center, the University of Münster, FH Münster, the TAFH GmbH, and members at our Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre (S2BMRC). The event gathered a diverse set of entrepreneurs, professionals, ecosystem stakeholders, and students to discuss equality in women's entrepreneurship and leadership. Building on the success from previous, this year's edition showed again the growing engagement for women's empowerment in Münsterland.

The Women's Empowerment Convention aims to strengthen the representation and visibility of women in entrepreneurship, and leadership positions. It serves as a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and inspiration, bringing together people from different backgrounds to discuss ways to create more inclusive opportunities for women. As such, it fosters change by driving education, visibility of role models, and networks for lasting change.

This year, the convention again featured a diverse program, starting with a research impulse on "Shaping Efforts for Women's Empowerment in Münsterland", presented by S2BMRC research associate Judith Helmer. After a keynote by Dr. Emilia Roig on "The Invisible Wall: Intersectionality and Implicit Bias as the Key to a Fairer Future", the day continued with interactive workshops, impulse speeches, and creative movies. Two of the deep-dive workshops were presented as part of the S2BMRC's project WE.Lead - Women Entrepreneurs Empowered to Lead, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. More specifically, research associate and PhD candidate Nelli Scharapow, specialising on Intrapreneurship and New Work, led a workshop on "Diversity in organisations and New Work". Furthermore, research associate and PhD candidate Elina Isakova, focussing on research in entrepreneurial ecosystems and women's entrepreneurship, featured a workshop on "Meritocracy in Entrepreneurship: Myth or Reality?". The event concluded with a panel discussion on "Hustle Culture" featuring experts from research and practice, from psychology and human resources, from founding and investment perspectives in entrepreneurship.

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The convention began with an insightful research impulse by Judith Helmer, researcher at the S2BMRC, specializing in system transformation and market shaping. Drawing from her research, Helmer highlighted the efforts of various actors in driving women's empowerment within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Münsterland. In her presentation, she also shed light on remaining potentials, outlining inspirations to be explored at the event and beyond.

The afternoon program featured two in-depth workshops from S2BMRC as part of the WE.Lead Academy, bridging research and practice to provide actionable insights for participants. The first workshop, "Diversity in organisations and New Work", led by Nelli Scharapow, explored why diversity initiatives in companies often fall short and how unconscious biases play a crucial role. As an expert in New Work and diversity, Nelli introduced participants to strategies to foster an inclusive workplace culture. The session also examined the current buzz around New Work, critically assessing its potential to open new avenues for strengthening diversity in organizations. Through interactive practical exercises, attendees were encouraged to reflect how they can make an impact with small steps.

Following this, Elina Isakova led the workshop "Meritocracy in Entrepreneurship: Myth or Reality?". This session challenged the common belief that entrepreneurial success is purely merit-based, critically analyzing the structural barriers women entrepreneurs face. Participants engaged in discussions and hands-on activities to unpack the myths surrounding meritocracy in entrepreneurship. Elina highlighted the systemic changes necessary to build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The workshop provided a space for reflection and dialogue, encouraging participants to rethink their roles in driving gender equality.

The convention concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion on "Hustle Culture: Between Self-Realization and Self-Exploitation" moderated by Julia Heitsch from REACH and Judith Helmer. In a world where relentless work is often glorified as the key to success, the panelists explored when passion for one's job turns into a toxic cycle. Experts from various fields-Ann-Christin Kortenbrede, Prof. Dr. Sandra Fisher, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Philipp Schäpers, and Sarah Theresa Schulte-discussed the societal structures that perpetuate hustle culture and its implications for entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial independence.

The discussion addressed critical questions: Why is constant work so idealized, and for whom is it a necessity rather than a choice? What strategies can individuals adopt to maintain a healthy work-life balance? And most importantly, how can we collectively shape a more sustainable and balanced work culture? The session left participants with valuable insights and practical considerations for redefining success beyond the constraints of hustle culture.

The Women's* Empowerment Convention 2025 was a resounding success thanks to the engagement and enthusiasm of everyone involved. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our speakers, workshop leaders, panelists, and organizers who made this event possible. A special thank you goes to all attendees for their active participation, thoughtful discussions, and commitment to driving change. Events like these remind us of the power of collective effort in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. We look forward to continuing this journey together and seeing you at next year's convention!