On 1 December 2025, the Residence of France in Madrid hosted a high‑level event at which H.E. Kareen Rispal, Ambassador of France to Spain, formally became the marraine (godmother) of Women in Tech Spain, consolidating a strategic alliance between diplomacy and the technology sector in support of gender equality. The evening brought together senior representatives from corporations, institutions and the women‑in‑tech ecosystem to frame women’s leadership in technology as a driver of competitiveness, innovation and inclusive growth.
As Founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global and Founder-President of the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, Ayumi Moore Aoki played a central role in positioning the Madrid event within a broader international agenda linking tech diplomacy, public–private partnerships and concrete commitments to close the digital gender gap. In her intervention, she articulated how collaboration between embassies, multinationals, investors and ecosystem leaders can accelerate the adoption of global frameworks on gender equality in technology and translate them into national roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
The program, opened by Patricia Arboleda, Managing Director of Women in Tech Spain, underscored the chapter’s strategic focus on four pillars: education and employability, community and events, corporate alliances, and inclusive corporate cultures supported by effective employee resource groups. Against this backdrop, Ambassador Rispal’s acceptance of the role of *marraine* signalled a strong institutional endorsement of Women in Tech Spain’s work and reinforced the Embassy’s engagement in initiatives that align with economic transformation, digital policy and parity objectives.
A panel moderated by Patricia Arboleda, with contributions from leaders in social sustainability, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and women‑focused investment, examined equality as a core business strategy rather than a compliance exercise. The discussion highlighted how diverse leadership teams and inclusive workplace cultures enhance risk management, strengthen decision‑making in areas such as AI and cybersecurity, and open new avenues for innovation and market expansion.
Within this context, Ayumi Moore Aoki presented the Osaka Protocol as a unifying framework that operationalises these ambitions through clear commitments on STEM education, leadership representation, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion for women and girls. The symbolic signing ceremony in Madrid by three Spanish organisations, joined by Ambassador Rispal and Ayumi, demonstrated how this framework is being adopted at national level and how corporate actors can align their strategies with global targets while reinforcing their position as responsible and forward‑looking market players.
The event concluded with a networking session that enabled participants to identify collaboration opportunities, explore participation in future international delegations and discuss the next steps for implementing Osaka Protocol‑aligned initiatives in Spain.
