Austrian Federal Minister Raab Visits San Francisco and Silicon Valley

Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Integration, Media and Youth, Susanne Raab, traveled to California on 8 March 2023, after having participated in the High-Level Panel of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women in New York. The delegation’s trip to the tech hub of San Francisco and Silicon Valley centered around the theme of "Women in Tech," in commemoration of International Women's Day 2023. Throughout the visit, the delegation engaged in a series of meetings with renowned tech giants, including Meta, Apple, and Google. The discussions revolved around policies and practices aimed at protecting women online, with particular emphasis on the prevention of bullying and harassment. The role of digital technology in education and training was also a primary focus. 

Minister Raab's visit to Silicon Valley, highlighting Austria's commitment to women's empowerment and gender equality, both at home and abroad, March 8, 2023. © KA San Francisco

The delegation also visited Stanford University, where the Austrian dignitaries had the privilege of meeting with distinguished professors Gregory La Blanc and Myra Strober and were able to discuss responsible data use and ways to combat bias and prejudice when hiring in the tech sector.

The visit culminated in a brunch-meeting, hosted by Minister Sasanne Raab and Austrian Tech Envoy, Isabella Tomás, which brought together female founders, entrepreneurs and investors from Austria and Silicon Valley (among them Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsky, founder and CEO of Formally, Sara Riedl, tech start-up consultant at TechPartners, Marianna Bonechi, managing partner of Slava Ventures, Samira Curtis, managing director of EIT Digital USA, Alexandra Johnson, co-founder and CEO of HEED Capital, Eileen Wu, managing director and founder at Raise Partners and Natascha Chatlein, project manager startups, technologie & innovation at Advantage Austria USA).

The participants engaged in a dialogue on a wide range of topics, from the challenges women face in their professional and educational development to the unique cultural and professional environments in Europe and the United States. They also discussed the intricacies of achieving a healthy work-life balance, a subject that resonates deeply with women worldwide.

Woman in Tech Brunch with Minister Susanne Raab and Austrian Tech Envoy Isabella Tomas, March 9, 2023.
© KA San Francisco