On February 18, 2026, nearly 150 CEOs, founders, investors, senior executives and general counsel filled Dubnov Gallery in Tel Aviv for the second annual Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP event, a gathering that has quickly become a cornerstone on Israel’s innovation calendar.
The initiative, a joint collaboration between Finnegan, What’s Next in Israel Tech, Women in Tech Israel, GCs for GCs, WOMEM CEO Academy and ynet Global, reached full capacity and closed registration a week in advance. Held just ahead of International Women’s Month, the timing underscored both urgency and momentum.
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A banner reading 'The Future is Yours. No Permission Required.' is displayed at the Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP event in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
What unfolded was not a symbolic celebration, but sharp, grounded conversations about leadership, power and responsibility at the intersection of business, technology and intellectual property.
A morning of direct, podium-free leadership
The event opened with breakfast and networking before shifting into concise welcome remarks delivered without a podium, setting a tone that was informal, honest and deliberate.
Gerson Panitch, Managing Partner at Finnegan and founder of What’s Next in Israel Tech, opened by emphasizing women’s leadership as a stabilizing and growth-driving force during global uncertainty. He thanked Amanda Murphy from Finnegan’s UK office and Elizabeth Ferrill from the firm’s U.S. office for traveling to Israel, as well as the broader Finnegan Forward initiative.
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Finnegan managing partner and What’s Next in Israel founder Tech Gerson Panitch
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
He was joined by representatives from the partner organizations: Jenyfer Gerby (Women in Tech Israel), Yael Cohen (GCs for GCs), Orlie Gruper (WOMEM CEO Academy), and Sharon Shalmon-Esman, CEO of ynet Global.
Shalmon-Esman framed the moment not as an exception, but as a reality already unfolding. She described the platform’s mission: connecting global audiences to Israel’s ideas, innovation and people in real time, even in war and complex periods.
“At ynet Global, both the CEO and the editor-in-chief are women,” she noted. “Not by design, but by belief, that talent, perspective and responsibility create stronger journalism.”
Her message was clear: leadership today is not about control, but about courage, clarity and trust. “We don’t wait for perfect conditions,” she said. “We move forward and shape them. This event is proof that women are not preparing for the future — we are already shaping it.”
Orlie Gruper, CEO of WOMEM, the academy training female CEOs in high-tech, spoke candidly about a gap she identified after transitioning from ecosystem advocate to investor. “It is not enough to simply encourage women to join the industry,” she said. “There is a real need to ensure their integration into decision-making forums.”
That realization led her to establish the CEO Training Academy, now running its second cohort following strong placement rates among its first graduates.The emphasis throughout the morning was consistent: participation is not the goal. Influence is.
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Panelists speak at the Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP conference in Tel Aviv, hosted by Finnegan and What’s Next in Israel Tech
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
The central panel, moderated by Nili Philipp, Patent Attorney and Partner at Finnegan, brought together five women leaders representing distinct nodes of influence across the ecosystem.
Tal Kollender, CEO of Remedio, spoke from the cybersecurity and security space — not from fear, but from responsibility. A hacker before the age of 18 who went on to make her first million, Kollender has since raised $65 million, with actress Gal Gadot among her investors. At Remedio, she focuses on protecting identity, data and trust in a world where boundaries between personal and technological life are increasingly blurred. Her leadership style blends technological depth with clear judgment in high-risk environments.
Renana Ashkenazi, Managing Partner at Grove Ventures, addressed the venture capital perspective, redefining what makes a company investable in 2026. She emphasized vision, technological depth and leadership quality — alongside accountability in closing funding gaps for women founders.
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Participants network during the Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP conference in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
When asked whether AI might soon independently decide where to invest millions of dollars, Ashkenazi was blunt: “We are far from the day when people and companies will invest millions based solely on AI. I hope so. I love my job.”
Karina Odinaev, CEO of Cortica, operates at the forefront of autonomous AI. With more than 200 patents and recognition as one of Israel’s 20 leading entrepreneurs by Forbes — and one of the 40 most influential women under 40 — Odinaev brought scientific rigor and ethical sensitivity to the discussion, particularly around gender bias and accountability in autonomous systems.
Rachel Efrat, General Counsel at Riverside.fm, illustrated how the GC role has evolved from reactive risk management to strategic partnership, helping companies move fast without losing legal clarity.
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Attendees listen during a panel discussion at the Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP event in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
Elizabeth Ferrill, Partner at Finnegan, shared lessons from her journey from communications officer in the U.S. Air Force to leading the firm’s electrical and technology practice. Her guiding principle resonated across sectors: “A good plan today is better than an excellent plan tomorrow.”
One word for 2026
The panel concluded with a single question: What is one decision that would most advance women in business, technology and IP in 2026?
The answers came in short responses: Trust, proactive, assumptions, access, change of mindset.
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Attendees network during the Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP event in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Bar Cohen)
Following the discussion, attendees moved into coffee, desserts and continued networking — but the energy in the room reflected something deeper than standard post-panel mingling. It reflected alignment.
With its second edition, Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP is no longer an emerging initiative. It is establishing itself as a defining platform in Israel’s business and technology ecosystem — one that does not merely speak about inclusion, innovation and leadership, but actively embeds them into the professional fabric of the industry.
As Shalmon-Esman put it: women are not preparing for the future. They are already shaping it.
Finnegan FORWARD is Finnegan’s global initiative advancing women in intellectual property and law through leadership development, sponsorship and strong professional networks. Led by firm partners and open to all attorneys, it delivers practical tools and international platforms that connect leaders across law, technology and business.