We’ve seen a big shift in how the world talks about diversity in the last 12 months. Coming out of the United States, the fact that more diversity means more profits has been called into question.

If the Forbes Women’s Summit 2025 in the Park Hyatt Zurich underlined one thing, it was this: diversity remains a defining topic for business leaders. On October 2, the Park Hyatt in Zurich once again opened its doors to host the annual Women’s Summit. More than 200 business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and founders attended and discussed a broad spectrum of themes. Diversity, inclusion and profits cut across the agenda, with speakers addressing them through the lens of law, business, medicine and new technologies, foremost artificial intelligence. In breakout sessions, participants engaged directly with experts. The day closed with a performance by singer Naomi Lareine, setting the stage for the Apéro.

Forbes journalists Klaus Fiala and Ines Erker opened the Summit with a call to see equality as an ongoing process. Their point was reinforced in the first panel discussion. Samantha Anderson (Depoly), Sabrina Badir (Pregnolia) and Daniela Marino (Cutiss) spoke about their path as founders in health tech and chemicals, and about the constant need to translate complex business models into terms investors can understand. “One thing I really had to learn was to pitch my idea on a stage. So I practiced in front of a mirror countless times to get better,” said Marino. To date she has raised CHF 123 million for Cutiss.

Chiara Gorelli, Head of Product Strategy at Lamborghini, spoke on the evolution of the carmaker’s portfolio in a market moving toward electrification. Long associated with loud, powerful models often framed as objects of desire for men, Lamborghini, she insisted, cannot be viewed through stereotypes. “I don’t think about ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ cars. Those are stereotypes. And if we want to break them, we can’t think about our products that way.”

Christine Hohl, partner at the law firm Wenger Plattner, explained the legal dimension of equality in the US. Government instructions to companies to end diversity programs have had ripple effects in Europe, she said. Yet some companies are choosing to push back.

After the coffee break, Jessica Peppel-Schulz, CEO of the Tamedia Group, addressed the role of AI in strengthening quality journalism at Switzerland’s second-largest publishing company. “The margin is not the main goal, but a means to an end for our DNA, independent quality journalism,” she said.

Lawyer and banker Diana Markaki-Bartholdi presented her initiative to prepare women for board mandates. Through her company The Boardroom, she has built a private club that equips executives for the next step in their careers. “The best day to start preparing is today,” she said. On the retreat from DEI programs in the US, she added: “I’ve never been known to shy away from a tough fight. That’s why we’re starting in the US right now. When everyone else is saying, ‘Let’s stay under the radar. Let’s not say too much (about DEI; comm.).’ Right now is when women in the US need us.”

Claire Dieudonné, Country Coordinator Switzerland at L’Oréal, opened her panel by confirming the company’s commitment to diversity, particularly at a moment when programs are under scrutiny. “Diversity is a core value for us, so we will not change our strategy,” she said. At L’Oréal, 57 percent of top positions are already held by women.

Lunch was followed by five breakout sessions. AI experts from EY outlined how the right AI prompt can guide a job interview. Nadia Kohler, Head of Tamedia’s AI Lab, demonstrated how to increase efficiency with AI. Bekim Laski, Chief Innovation Officer at smzh ag, addressed the gaps in financial products for women and how to invest with confidence. Merz Aesthetics explained how minimally invasive therapies can impact appearance and confidence. Amin Benhamza and Julie Charton from L’Oréal discussed the issue of street harassment, which affects more than 80 percent of women, and how bystanders can intervene.

After the breakout sessions results, cardiologist Florim Cuculi spoke on the striking gender differences in cardiology. “When I was studying in Basel, the differences between men and women – not only in cardiology, but in other fields as well – were not discussed at all. It was not a topic in medical school. Now it is a topic,” said Cuculi.

Patricia Delarive, founder of the Matignon Group, described her path from medicine into entrepreneurship. “In medicine, we work in a risk situation, but we try to take the risks as low as possible, and failure is a drama. In business, it’s very different. You can take some risk, and failure is an opportunity, is a learning experience,” she said.

The final thematic block, AI, was introduced by Yana Töngi, EY partner and innovation expert. “I see many teams trying to jump on every trend, use every new technology, and not taking the time to step back and think: What do we actually want to achieve?” she said. Success requires clarity of goals, followed by precise implementation.

The concluding panel on diversity and AI featured Cindy Candrian (Delta Labs), Dalith Steiger-Gablinger (Swiss Cognitive) and Jill Asemota (Parallel Pictures). They debated data bias, the impact of AI on work and the need to communicate technology in accessible terms. Steiger-Gablinger said: “Just because we are able to do more work in the same unit of time, doesn’t mean that we have to. We have to work towards a humane future economy.”

The day was concluded by a performance of Under 30 listmaker and singer Naomi Lareine.

The Forbes team thanks all participants of the Forbes Women’s Summit 2025. Diversity in business remains a central issue, even in the face of headwinds. The Summit was made possible by our partners: L’Oréal, Lamborghini, Merz Aesthetics, smzh ag, EY, The Boardroom, Wenger Plattner, Tamedia and the Park Hyatt Zurich.

We look forward to the Forbes Women’s Summit 2026.

Fotos: Samotion GmbH, Zürich