Leadership is not a fixed formula. It is shaped by personal vision, individual experience, and the distinct qualities that set each person apart. This idea - Lead Like Yourself - defined the spirit of the Forbes Women Conference 2026, held on March 7, where successful Georgian women from different industries came together to share their stories and perspectives.
The event has become a platform dedicated to women’s empowerment, recognizing professional achievements while encouraging open conversation about growth, challenges, and ambition. This year’s message was especially clear: leadership does not follow templates. It grows from authenticity, from the ability to understand one’s strengths and use them with confidence.
When a woman fully recognizes her inner power and potential, her path becomes difficult to limit. Women who reach that point often become a source of inspiration for others, encouraging both professional and personal development.
One of the most dynamic moments of this year’s conference was the PechaKucha Night Stage, created in collaboration with Startup Büro. The format, based on the Japanese storytelling method, challenges speakers to present their professional journey in just six minutes, using twenty slides shown for twenty seconds each. The result is a fast, focused narrative that reveals not only achievements, but also the decisions and turning points behind them.
On stage, speakers shared the experiences that shaped their careers, including Nanka Kikalia, founder of TheDiary; Gino Dolini, CEO of the Terminal workspace; Maka Makhatadze from IT Academy STEP; Tamta Japarashvili, publisher of Blue Ocean; Sopho Gvantseladze, internal communications specialist at Crocobet; Gogutsa Gelashvili from TBC; Irina Jandieri, creator of Club Tavsatekhi; and associate professor Natia Giorgadze.
The conference reached its culmination on the Forbes Women Stage, where the main panel discussion brought together leaders from different fields. The conversation focused on the defining moments of their careers and the experiences that shaped their leadership style. Speakers spoke openly about professional growth, the challenges they faced, and the decisions that changed their path.
Particular attention was given to the qualities that define leadership in a rapidly changing world: collaboration, empathy, adaptability, and above all, courage.
The evening concluded with networking and informal conversations, giving participants the opportunity to continue the dialogue in a more relaxed setting, build new connections, and once again confirm the central idea of the conference - that the strongest leadership begins when you lead like yourself.
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