This leader is redefining what it means to give women a stage through Monaco Women Forum

“My mother created this platform to help women shine. Not the famous ones, but those whose work genuinely shapes society and improves lives,” says Valentina. “The Monaco Women Forum is not a feminist statement; it’s a corrective one. It’s a way to give more space and voice to women who are already doing the work.”

One example is Finzi, the first Italian woman to graduate with a degree in aeronautical engineering. A pioneer in a male‑dominated field, she has taught at a university level for more than 50 years and has advised space agencies worldwide. Valentina describes her on‑stage interview with her at the 2025 conference, where Finzi received a standing ovation for the first time in the Forum’s history, as “truly unforgettable”. 

Under Valentina’s leadership, the Forum continues to evolve, deepening its impact year‑round with the Monaco Women Network. Launched in late 2024, it highlights female leaders’ achievements at a local level and keeps the community engaged through regular professional gatherings. She believes there is much to learn from Monaco’s female leaders. “Monaco may be small, but it’s international,” she says. “Women lead through credibility, collaboration and long‑term vision. Influence comes from precision, consistency and the ability to bring different worlds together.”

The principal gathering remains the Monaco Women Forum, where the focus each year reflects the economic, societal and cultural shifts of the times. The defining factor of the conference, though, remains that the conversations it drives are led by women at the forefront of science, finance, health and policy. And while women are front and centre at the event, the agenda is shaped beyond women’s issues—it is about the issues shaping humanity as a whole. “What matters most is not gendered topics, but ensuring that women are fully present where the future is being decided,” says Valentina, whose stance is reflected in her decision to ensure a majority of female speakers—“the opposite,” she adds, “of what we still see at most major international conferences”.

For the 2026 edition on March 20, top‑of‑the‑agenda areas include health and longevity, the shift in global financial systems and economic power, and technology and space, which in turn shape sovereignty, security and innovation. “Our role is to anticipate how these conversations will evolve over time and to create the conditions for them to happen with depth and clarity,” says Valentina, who has bigger ambitions yet for the platform. 

Beyond broadening the disciplines represented and attracting an audience who will travel to Monaco annually for the event, Valentina is keen to introduce an initiative to support women‑led businesses, likely through a pitch competition for female founders. “Ultimately, the goal,” she says, “is for the Forum to be where women don’t just speak about the future, but where they actively shape it.”

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