Women in Telco
Women in Telco
Introduced at FutureNet World 2026, this brand-new feature celebrated the influential women who have built remarkable careers and risen to leadership positions in an industry still largely dominated by men. The initiative highlighted their achievements, amplified their voices, and aimed to inspire the next generation by demonstrating what is possible. Reflecting the growing momentum behind diversity and inclusion across the sector, the proportion of women attending the event increased from 18% in 2025 to 23% in 2026.
2026 Highlights
- Women in Telco: Brunch Roundtable – 80 Women in Telco attended this unique platform to meet and learn from exceptional women leaders. They heard from high-profile women leaders who shared insight into their journeys, career-defining moments, and lessons learned.
- Award: Women in Telco Trailblazer of the Year – Recognising the potential of tomorrow´s leaders and shines a spotlight on women who are pushing the boundaries and demonstrating technology leadership & innovation. The winners made making a tangible difference to their business in the application of automation and AI in the network. See the 2026 Winners & Shortlist
- Keynote Panel: Women in Telco – Why Diversity Matters. 4 pm on the 22nd April – Watch the Session
“I truly enjoyed the idea of having a closed door conversation just with women to learn from each other and share our career journeys. It was perfect just the way it was organized: very natural very spontaneous, and it had a fun safe environment”
Sana Tariq, Principal Architect – Cloud, Data and AI, TELUS
“I thought it was a really brilliant event – the panellists were all highly engaging, open and authentic and I thought the interactive session was a great opportunity to build further on the panel’s opening remarks. The momentum and energy in the room was great”
Yoon Chang, Director, Strategy & Policy, Ofcom
“As a first-year apprentice, the Women in Telco roundtable was one of the most valuable parts of FutureNet for me. Hearing women further along in their careers speak openly about the realities of the industry — not just the wins — made the path ahead feel a lot more tangible. It’s rare to be in a room where that kind of honesty is the default”
Rosa Lucena Saladie, Network Engineer Apprentice, VodafoneThree
Steering Committee & Award Judges
Andrea Folgueiras
Global CTIO, Telefonica
Gabriela Styf Sjoman
MD Network Strategy & Research, BT
Natali Delić
Chief Strategy & Digital Officer, Telekom Srbija
Amy Cameron
Managing Director, Research, STL Partners