Innovation and Leadership: A Call to Action for All Women
Aram Mbow, founder of Innovamey, has been named one of the Inspiring Fifty Italy 2024, an award celebrating the most influential women in technology and innovation. This recognition not only honors her extraordinary journey but also highlights the importance of female role models in leadership. This article explores the impact of this achievement, the lessons learned from the event, and why this milestone marks a turning point for all of us. Discover how Aram’s story — and the insights shared by leaders at the event — can inspire us to dream boldly and act with purpose.
Celebrating Aram, Celebrating All of Us
Italy is changing, and we are part of that transformation. With immense pride, we celebrate Innovamey’s founder, Aram Mbow, named among the Inspiring Fifty Italy 2024, a recognition that shines a light on women who, like her, are redefining the future of innovation and technology. This award is not only a reflection of her talent but a confirmation that female leadership is finally finding its rightful place. We are all part of this revolution, and this is the moment to act with courage and vision.
What Is Inspiring Fifty: A Global Mission for Women’s Visibility
The Inspiring Fifty initiative was founded in the Netherlands in 2013 with the goal of giving visibility to women in technology and innovation, fields where female representation is still limited. Its guiding principle is simple yet powerful: “If she can see it, she can be it.” The initiative quickly expanded worldwide, reaching Italy, where each year 50 women are recognized for their leadership, talent, and ability to transform the tech sector. Inspiring Fifty is more than an award — it’s a platform that creates real role models, inspiring future generations to break barriers and build careers in innovation.
An Event That Inspires Change
The award ceremony was a true celebration of women’s strength. Alongside figures such as Maria Grazia Roncarolo, a pioneer in regenerative medicine, the event was filled with deeply moving moments. Hearing Roncarolo speak about her passion and her courage to embrace failure as a starting point for new discoveries gave us an unforgettable lesson: the road to success is rarely linear — and that’s perfectly fine. Her words reinforced a key truth — to move forward, we must build strong alliances among women and remain rooted in our authenticity.
Aram’s Strength and Her Impact
When Aram Mbow arrived in Italy at 18, there were no role models who looked like her — no Black women in leadership, no visible stories resembling her own. But that didn’t stop her. On the contrary, it fueled her determination to build something meaningful. After years of diverse experiences, she founded Innovamey just a year ago — a project created to advance innovation, sustainability, and inclusion, and to support women by breaking barriers and creating opportunities. Innovamey is more than a company; it’s a movement, a vision for a world where every woman has a seat at the table. Aram’s story reminds us that every challenge can become a launchpad for change — and that the future of innovation will be written by women who lead with courage, empathy, and conviction.
An Award for All Women
Being recognized among the Inspiring Fifty has been an achievement that moved us deeply. This award is not just about Aram; it is about every woman who dreams of a different future. But we cannot stop here. This recognition is a call to be visible, to normalize female leadership, and to create space for future generations. Each of us has the power to become a role model for those who will come after us. As Barbara Cominelli, one of the Inspiring Fifty leaders, said: “It is not just an honor, it is a responsibility.” And we are ready to embrace that responsibility.
The Lessons We Take Home
If there is one thing the event taught us, it is that we should not wait for the perfect moment. Maria Grazia Roncarolo left us with five lessons that we will always carry with us:
- Perfection does not exist: do not wait for everything to be perfect before taking action. Detours and challenges are part of the journey and can lead to the greatest opportunities.
- Follow your passion: it is the true engine of innovation. It is the spark that keeps you moving forward even when everything feels difficult. Never lose sight of it.
- Be authentic: we should never apologize for who we are or try to fit in. Our feminine qualities are a strength, not a limit. Our authenticity is the key to creating real impact.
- Stand up against injustice: having the courage to say no and to make our voices heard is essential to creating real change.
- Build networks with other women: no one succeeds alone. Alliances among women, and between men and women, are a powerful force. Let us support one another, and together we can achieve extraordinary change.
United for a Fair and Sustainable Future
This is only the beginning. With Innovamey, we will continue working to make innovation a fertile ground for female leadership, a world where women can not only dream big but make those dreams come true. Together, we can normalize our presence in positions of power and inspire future generations to believe that anything is possible.
To all the women reading these words: join us. Let’s make noise. This is our time.