The Santander WomenNOW international summit, organized by Vocento, will once again make Madrid the European capital of women on June 16 and 17. Outstanding national and international figures in the defense of human rights, science, economics, sports or activism will participate in the fourth edition of the international congress on female leadership, in which this time 'Leadership in times uncertain'.

The first of the three sessions in which the meeting will be divided will be entitled 'The leaders we need' and will be held on Thursday the 16th in the morning. It will be opened by Mariana Mazzucato, one of the most prestigious economists in the world and professor of Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London, who will address what economic leadership is necessary in this crisis marked by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

About the loss of rights that Afghan women have suffered, almost a year after the fall of their government, Fawzia Koofi, former vice president of the National Assembly of Afghanistan and member of the negotiating team with the Taliban, will speak. Precisely one of them, the artist and activist Rada Akbar, will relate her experience to leave the country. Former basketball player Pau Gasol will reflect on his career and present the work carried out by the Gasol Foundation to reduce and improve the healthy lifestyles of thousands of children and their families. Also taking part will be, among others, Adriana Cerezo, taekwondo Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo; the sprinter and paralympic jumper Sara Andrés; and Beatriz Corredor, president of Red Eléctrica de España.

The second session, entitled 'The power of the story', will open that same afternoon with the intervention of Victoria Alonso, president of Post-production, Visual Effects and Animation and executive producer at Marvel Studios, one of the most powerful women in Hollywood. Following her will speak Cynthia Germanotta, president of the Born this way Foundation and mother of Lady Gaga, whose foundation aims to create a "braver and kinder world" for young people. Russian activist and opposition figure Liubov Sobol; Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of The Mediapro Studio; the model and promoter of the movement

On Friday there will be a debate on 'The power of the future', with the intervention, among others, of Alexandra Cousteau, filmmaker and environmental activist; Ángeles Santamaría, CEO of Iberdrola Spain; Kristina Spohr, Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Sigrid McCawley, attorney for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein; and Luis Rojas Marcos, psychiatrist and professor at New York University. «For two days we will gather in Madrid very important names from the economy, culture, sustainability, sports, business or art. From Mariana Mazzucato to Pau Gasol or Alexandra Cousteau. We can say with great pride that not only is Santander WomenNOW the most important international congress on women's leadership in Europe, but it also continues to grow with each edition," says Samary Fernández Feito, general director of the Luxury, Lifestyle and Magazines Area. Vocent.

“We know that getting answers now is very difficult, but we want to ask more than relevant figures to help us illuminate these uncertain times we are experiencing. This summit has to do with equality, but also with new social trends, the economy or power”, adds Lourdes Garzón, director of WomenNOW and Mujerhoy.

WomenNOW has the support of Banco Santander as a Global Partner and the sponsorship of Iberia and Iberdrola. The congress can be followed in person, at the El Beatriz auditorium in Madrid, after registering on the website Congreso.womennow.es. In addition, womennow.es, mujerhoy.com and the abc.es website can be followed live.