French Femtech Investment Fund Hijacks Linkedin to Support Women in Tech

Women represent half the workforce in France, but only two out of 10 jobs in tech are filled by them. Yet female entrepreneurs, students, CDOs and developers need visibility the most to achieve their projects and inspire the next generation.

This male over-representation is more visible on LinkedIn, the favourite social network of the tech industry. So, for International Women’s Day 2023, SISTA and UN Women France decided to take advantage of the power of this social network to alert people to the lack of visibility that French tech women suffer. Based on an idea from then French advertising agency BETC Paris, 23 women working in tech were allowed to take control of 23 male business leaders’ LinkedIn accounts.

For 24 hours, their name and profile picture will be replaced by those of French tech women. In addition, each of them will post a message about the journey of a female entrepreneur and explaining the initiative and its goal: addressing the lack of visibility of women in tech. For a day, all of their followers will discover in their feed, new female profiles who require this stepping-stone.

Throughout this initiative, there are the 23 male business leaders. The men who are aware of the importance of having more women in the tech industry and who helped put their profiles into the spotlight.

• Chloé Hermary, founder and CEO of Ada Tech School, taking the place of Emmanuel Macron, French president
• Ninna Granucci, co-founder and CEO of Green Spot Technologies, taking the place of Steve Anavi, co-founder et president of Qonto
• Maud Vinet, co-founder and CEO of Sinquance, taking the place of Gilles Babinet, co-president - CNUM
• Yosra Jarraya, co-founder of Astran, taking the place of Jean-Noël Barrot, deputy minister in charge of digital transition and telecommunications
• Christelle Curcio, co-founder and vice-president of Alegria tech, taking the place of Philippe Corrot, co-founder and CEO of Mirakl
• Candice François, COO and co-founder of Igonogo, taking the place of David Dayan, co-founder and PDG of Showroomprivé
• Marion Malandin, founder and CEO of Optimiz Construction, taking the place of Olivier Gavalda, deputy CEO of Crédit Agricole
• Julia Néel Biz, co-founder of Teale, taking the place of Philippe Heim, chairman of the management board of la Banque Postale
• Aude Guéneau, CEO of Plume, taking the place of Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal
• Hela Atmani, co-founder and CEO of Palm, taking the place of David Lacombled, president of La Villa Numéris
• Camille Legal, Co-founder of fairly Made, taking the place of Guillaume Lacroix, CEO of Brut
• Claire Bretton, founder of Underdog, taking the place of Frédéric Mazzella, founding president of Bla Bla Car
• Elin Larsen, Co-founder and CTO of Fairdoor, taking the place of Sébastien Missoffe - Vice-President & Managing director France Google
• Yasmine Dahmane, co-founder of Bibak, taking the place of d’Adrien Nussembaum, co-founder of Mirakl
• Adela Barbulescu, CEO Emoface, taking the place of Thierry Petit, Impact Investor at Made For All
• Fatoumata Ly, co-founder of Ninti, taking the place of Eloïc Peyrache, dean and managing director of HEC Paris
• Camille Bouget, CEO and co-founder of Scienta Lab, taking the place of Alexandre Prot, managing director of Qonto
• Tara Heuzé-Sarmini, co-founder and CEO of Commune, taking the place of Laurent Solly, vice president Southern Europe of Meta
• Laurène Altmayer, co-founder of Tikino, taking the place of Benoît Torloting, managing director of Bouygues Télécom
• Ilhem Jaï, co-founder of CrushOn, taking the place of Jean-Marie Tritant, CEO of Unibail-Rodamco – Westfield
• Antonia Bova, co-founder and CEO of Paprwork, taking the place of Olivier Vigneaux, CEO of BETC FULLSIX
• Katrin Dimitrova, Co-founder and CEO of Vizzia, taking the place of Philippe Wahl, CEO of La Poste Group
• Marine Daul Mernier, Co-founder of OMAJ, taking the place of Philippe Zaouati, CEO of Mirova / Natexis

This project aims to bring essential visibility to women in the tech industry, boosted by the power of the professional social network, LinkedIn.

Tatiana Jana, co-founder of SISTA and SISATFUND said, “We need visible and noticeable role models to feminise the industry: personify and make women in tech more visible, it’s also very inspiring! We couldn’t miss March 8th to point out the lack of visibility they suffer. Ladies: take your seat!”

Céline Mas, president of UN Women France said, “At a time of great technological progress, one has to admit that women in tech are under-represented. Tomorrow’s world cannot evolve without their full participation. Having female role-models is key to valuing those that lead the way and inspire women into new job sectors.”

Mercedes Erra, founder and president of BETC Group, first French advertising agency said, “All the means are good for helping these tech women to have more visibility. It’s crucial to encourage more young women to get involved in an industry that so badly needs them.”