Women at the Top 2026 | The Courage to Influence

WOMEN AT THE TOP is the annual conference of the Estonian Association of Business and Professional Women (EENA). It brings together entrepreneurial women, leaders, decision-makers and future-makers to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, impact and courage through real stories and experiences. We will talk about the courage to take responsibility, make bigger decisions, think beyond Estonia and influence the world around us. The focus is both on personal leadership courage and on the broader impact of entrepreneurship: how to combine growth, profit, responsibility and meaning.

The theme running through the 2026 conference, “The Courage to Influence,” asks: how great is our impact—and how much do we dare to increase it? The world is changing fast. Markets, technology, ways of leading and society’s expectations are changing. At the same time, more and more women are taking the helm of companies, organisations and communities. WOMEN AT THE TOP brings women with different experiences and journeys to the stage to talk about choices, risks, change, international ambition, impact and responsibility.

The top is not a position. The top is the courage to influence.

“THE COURAGE TO INFLUENCE” PROGRAMME

11:30 ARRIVAL & WELCOME DRINK

12:00 OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
Moderator: IINGRID PÄRLOJA
EENA President GRETE PASTAK

12:10 LIINA VAHTRAS – WHAT KIND OF COURAGE DOES ESTONIA’S ECONOMY NEED?
LIINA VAHTRAS – Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, video greeting

12:20 KATRI RAIK – ON THE FRONT LINE OF CHANGE
On the courage to change and to be changed.
KATRI RAIK – former Minister of the Interior, longtime Mayor of Narva, EENA Woman of the Year 2013

12:55 KAIDI RUUSALEPP – THE COURAGE TO CHOOSE A NEW PEAK
On risk, thinking big and the courage to create real impact.
KAIDI RUUSALEPP – entrepreneur and investor, founder of Funderbeam and Metsa Collection

13:30 HEDI MARDISOO – HOW BIG ARE YOU WILLING TO PLAY?
On growth, risk, impact and making your own rules.
HEDI MARDISOO – co-founder and CEO of Cachet, Vice President of Startup Europe

14:05–14:25 REFRESHMENT / COFFEE BREAK
Meet, exchange ideas and find a new focus.

14:25 LIIS OJASAAR – THE IMPACT OF MOVEMENT
A few minutes on health

14:30 PANEL DISCUSSION – IS IMPACT A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE?
Is a company’s success measured only by profit, or by the change it creates in the world?
Moderator: KÄTLYN REMMELG – board member of KELLa, founder and organiser of Impact Day; organiser and initiator of major events
Panel members:
KAIE KAAS-OJAVERE – co-founder of KIUD Technologies
PIRKKO VALGE – CEO of Heateo Sihtasutus
KADRI BRITT PÕLDRE – founder and board member of Aarete Laegas MTÜ

The panel takes place as part of the international project ESIA (European Social Innovation Alliance). The project is co-funded by the European Union through the ESF+ initiative “Social Innovation+”.

15:10 TO BE CONFIRMED!

15:50–16:00 CLOSING – THE COURAGE TO INFLUENCE
We will bring together the ideas heard throughout the day. What is one bolder step I will take tomorrow?

TIME: 14 November 2026, 11:30–16:00
VENUE: Narva College
ORGANISER: Estonian Association of Business and Professional Women, in cooperation with the EENA Narva Club

The conference will be followed by the WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2026 GALA ✨
Woman of the Year & Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 gala ticket – €50
Come and celebrate with us—it’s an evening where recognition turns into celebration!

ACCOMMODATION:
Hotel INGER
Narva Hotel

The Estonian Association of Business and Professional Women (EENA) is a nationwide organisation founded in 1992. It brings together entrepreneurial and professional women and supports women’s development, leadership, entrepreneurship and social impact. EENA belongs to the international Business and Professional Women (BPW International) network, connecting women in Estonia with a professional women’s network around the world.

Also follow EENA’s activities:
FB: BPWEstonia
bpw-estonia.ee