Women often doubt themselves much more than men, despite the high quality of their work, says Zuzana Čaputová

What prevents women from entering the world of investing, and how can this imbalance be changed? Why do women more often prioritize values in investing, and how does this change the way we think about power, money, and responsibility? The Women & Wealth conference sought answers to these questions as well, examining how women are changing the world of investing. Several inspiring guests participated in the discussion panels, including former President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová.

The Women & Wealth by Crowdberry event, held at the Jurkovičova tepláreň industrial monument, brought together successful entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders who shared their views on topics such as financial independence, diversity, impact investing, and the future of capital in Central Europe.

"Today, there is a tectonic shift in global wealth, especially in the US and Europe. Women in these regions are increasingly gaining a decisive hand and voice in the management of their countries' wealth, as well as within their families. This trend is gradually leading to the natural involvement of women in decisions about property," said Daniel Gašpar, Managing Partner of Crowdberry, in his opening remarks.

What are women's strategies for solving problems?

Daniel Gašpar spoke with former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová about female leadership, courage, trust, and values.

"We really need women in public life because they bring a different life experience that should be represented in the public sphere. Research shows that many women choose different problem-solving strategies than men—they more often prefer negotiation, longer-term solutions, and bring more empathy to the table. Note that empathy is not a weakness, because it also requires courage and inner strength. In leadership, we replace dominance with cooperation. These are all qualities that respond very appropriately to the times we live in," said the former president.

Whether it's investing, politics, or life's trials, she believes it's important to rely on your inner foundation and values, such as authenticity, honesty with your emotions, and vulnerability, which give you resilience in difficult situations. The former president considers compassion and kindness towards oneself and one's weaknesses to be important, which are not incompatible with firm attitudes, courage, and determination.

She also pointed out that women's involvement in public life depends on the society in which they live. She pointed to growing misogynistic attitudes towards women in public functions. According to her, it is very discouraging for young women to see female leaders facing attacks simply because they are women, their abilities being delegitimized, or encountering sexism.

"Women also tend to question themselves much more than men. This is despite the fact that we can deliver really high-quality work and many of us have had to put in significantly more effort and preparation to get to the same positions. Our ability to doubt ourselves is so high that if it were a rare commodity, we could export it," she added.

How to effectively combine profit with values?

The Women & Wealth event also discussed financial independence and the reasons why women still own less property than men. The panel, which included guests Tatiana Ondrejková (Pelican.sk), Andrej Zaťko (365.bank), and Alexandra Kasperová (Soria Group), focused on obstacles and opportunities—what prevents women from entering the world of investing and how this imbalance can be gradually changed for the benefit of society as a whole.

"Women don't need any help from men; what they need is to change society's mindset. And that can be changed by changing the approach to education. We need to show them role models so that they gain the courage to go for it. Women also need to stop being afraid to ask for what they really deserve in their work,” said entrepreneur and investor Tatiana Ondrejková.

The conference also addressed the topic of impact investing, which, in addition to financial gain, also brings a positive social or environmental impact. A panel discussion with Lucia Pašková (Curaprox/AI Dental), Ján Podolský (BiteBerry), Silvia Kušnírová (SKPR, Collective, Divé maky), and Zuzana Zamborská (LUMUS Investment Collective) explored what such investing looks like in practice.

"Every company should think about its impact on society, especially at a time of an aging population and environmental, social, and political problems. That's why, at our company, we immediately assess what each startup brings back—whether it builds community, whether it's fair, and so on. Investors naturally expect a profit, but at the same time, we want every project to have a deeper meaning for society," said Zuzana Zamborská.

Silvia Kušnírová appealed to investors not to be afraid to be value-driven, socially responsible, and principled. As she pointed out, today these principles can be clearly reflected in measurable financial results, such as customer loyalty.

"Genuine customer trust and loyalty can be accurately measured and has real financial value, as do the savings that a responsible approach brings in the long term. Investing in CSR activities will pay off not only in the form of social or environmental benefits and the fact that you will feel good about yourself, but it will also start to pay off in the form of long-term financial profitability," added Kušnírová.

The conference also featured a fireside chat with Claudia Alner from Crowdberry and moderator Adela Vinczeová, who offered a different perspective on investing and discussed how personal decisions shape real wealth. A discussion between Anna Michalkova from Seesame and Zoltán Varga, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Central Media Group, provided answers to how media and capital shape women's path to financial independence.

The Women & Wealth by Crowdberry event showed that wealth today cannot be perceived solely through numbers or capital volume. Equally important are values, courage, and the ability to bring change. Discussions and personal stories from speakers confirmed that when women are given space and a voice, not only does the way they invest change, but so does the direction in which the entire investment and business environment develops.

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