WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

How does an American living in Europe, a senior woman leader who has dedicated her life to gender empowerment, and an OSCE senior economic officer experience the turn DEI has taken this year? What are the concrete steps we must take right away to increase our income security? How can we move beyond the temporary DEI backlash and focus on what matters – resilient lives, careers, and communities for women and for all of us? 

These are the topics we plan to discuss together in our October EXPERT TALK: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?  

Our distinguished guest for this EXPERT TALK is Vera Strobachova-Budway, Senior Economic Officer with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The OSCE is the world’s largest  regional security organization comprising of 57 participating States in Europe, North America, and Eursia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, combating transnational threats, economic and environmental security, the promotion of human rights, freedom of the media, and free and fair elections.

Join us to discuss career empowerment and professional resilience with a woman who has dedicated her life to helping other women to grow into their full power.

 

OUR SPEAKER:

Vera Strobachova-Budway is Senior Economic Officer and Head of the Economic Governance Unit at the OSCE. She joined the OSCE in 2019 as Senior Co-ordination Adviser for Gender Equality, a role she served in until 2023. She has over 25 years of international public and private sector experience in economic cooperation and development, diversity management, and program and project management.

Prior to joining the OSCE, Vera spent 12 years as Chief Diversity Officer at the Austrian Erste Group Bank AG where she established, developed and managed the company’s first comprehensive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program for 46,000 employees in 7 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 

Vera began her career in international affairs at the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe in Vienna and Brussels. She is US national and received her Master’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Georgetown University (Washington, DC).

Vera is an active Rotarian (Rotary Club Vienna Maria Theresia) and a founding member of the Austria Chapter of the International Women´s Forum (IWF).

 

WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS:

Some of the topics on our EXPERT TALK agenda include:

1. Vera’s take on the DEI backlash the world experienced this year.
2. Concrete and practical advice on how we can continue advancing the DEI agenda despite the current market circumstances.
3. The economic realities of women today and how we can use technology more effectively to eliminate the gender pay gap.
4. Trends in gender empowerment to follow in 2026 and beyond.
5. The importance of communities in driving systemic change in our organizations and our world.

 

AT THE END OF OUR EXPERT TALK, YOU WILL LEAVE WITH:

1. Inspiration on how to face the DEI backlash with critical distance and strategic intent.
2. Ideas on what to focus on to continue driving economic equality in our companies, communities, and societies.
3. Practical insider advice on how to use technology to reduce the digital skill gap and retain our relevance in an AI-first world.
4. And much more. 

 

WHO SHOULD JOIN OUR EXPERT TALK?

This event is open to members of THE CEO ELEVATION CIRCLE and our extended network. Any senior woman leader interested in trends in reducing gender economic and technological inequality is welcome to join us. 

 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT DURING OUR BOARD TALK?

Here is the plan for the event:

1. 17.45 – 18.00: Informal welcome and warm-up.  
2. 18.00 – 18.45: Guided interview and discussion on trends in DEI and how to reduce the economic and digital gender gaps around the world today.
3. 18.45 – 19.20: Q&A with the audience.
4. 19.20 – 19.30: Wrap-up and invitations to upcoming events. 

 

LOGISTICS

• Our EXPERT TALK takes place virtually, on Zoom.
• You’ll need the app installed on your computer. Using Zoom on a mobile device will significantly reduce your participation experience.
• The virtual doors open at 17:45 CET for informal chit-chat and warm-up.
• The session is recorded. Provided that you register for this event, you’ll have access to the video and audio recording afterward.
• Your full mental and emotional presence is required during the whole event. We invite you to have your camera on throughout to avoid interruptions or multitasking. This is an investment in yourself—respect your time.
• Photos of the virtual room will be taken during the event. By registering, you consent to photography being used later for marketing purposes.  

 

QUESTIONS?

We look forward to meeting you online on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 18.00 CEST!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cristina directly via WhatsApp at +420 776 574 925 or email her at cristina.muntean@vornica.com.

See you at our EXPERT TALK – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?