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SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

Net4Tec

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net4tec
About Company
  • Company Type: Non – Profit Org.
  • Founded in 2018
  • Located at Munich, Bavaria
  • Employees: 11 – 50

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 5 - Gender Equality
Voting Portal

Female Leadership: Support women in STEM through mentoring, career coaching, and networking to advance into leadership roles​.

➜ Female Leadership: Support women in STEM through mentoring, career coaching, and networking to advance into leadership roles​.
➜ Driving Diversity: Foster collaboration between women, men, and companies to create equal career opportunities and a common understanding of leadership​.
➜ Visibility: Highlighting female role models and sharing success stories, empowers women in STEM, helping to break down barriers​.
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1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

net4tec | 4 WoMen Careers in Technology has made a tangible local impact in Germany by fostering an inclusive environment where women in technology can thrive. At net4tec we are on the mission to close the gender gap in technology. We empower women to sustainably advance their careers in tech in the DACH region + support companies in their journey of recruiting & retaining women over the different phases of life. As a tech network we leverage the power of technology & community to fulfil our mission. We have facilitated more than 250 structured events, including interactive learning sessions, networking lunches, mentoring circles, knowledge transfer and coaching sessions that connect over 2,500 female professionals and companies per year, helping women advance their careers. Through strategic partnerships with local businesses and organizations, we support women in bridging the gender gap, providing them access to growth opportunities, visibility, and mentorship. Concrete examples of how we have a local impact on female careers in the tech industries: 1. Knowledge Transfer Net4tec provides training sessions with global experts, career peers & senior executives: 60’ Grow to Lead Sessions deep dive workshops entre nous training. 2. Personal Growth Net4tec supports women to break through and overcome personal challenges, get inspired by our role models and career stories, and engage in the safe space of your net4tec community. We offer ambitious women a stage to significantly increase their visibility. We believe in shaping a new culture of leaders who understand DE&I as superpowers for innovation and growth and therefore started the campaign "The New Face of Leadership" in 2021, where we present role models + premium members sharing their own leadership style. We have beed awarded as one of the 3 finalists for the best diversity campaign in 2023 and 2024. 3. Strategic Networking At net4tec, we see strategic networking as one of the most important skills that women need to develop to build their careers. Our members are encouraged and enabled to connect to other like-minded women (& men) in STEM and enjoy any opportunity to rise by lifting each other. Concrete examples of how we have a local impact by supporting companies in the tech industries: Our B2B value proposition is centred around a holistic and flexible approach to fostering gender diversity and talent growth in a sustainable way up to C-Suite. Locally, we support our business partners in different cities by offering them a range of event formats such as panel discussions, fireside chats, morning sessions or day workshops , tailored for both internal employee events + external collaborations with the net4tec community and our partners. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOLwho96ydwiWDRE4AibyAHrIWZo5Tv46

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

net4tec’s global impact extends beyond Germany in the DACH region and beyond through its online community and digital initiatives, reaching over 1,500 members across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. Our programs, including the above mentioned “60’ Grow to Lead” Sessions, “Deep Dive” Workshops and “Entre Nous” holistic leadership training, have equipped more than 3000 women globally with the skills and support needed to advance in their careers. Our events are announced and held in English in order to appeal to as broad an international audience as possible. Our efforts have also attracted international partnerships with global organizations like the Web Summit Lisbon and Rio, herCAREER, FEMWORX, EUTECH and the European Women in Technology Network, aligning local actions with global strategies for gender equality. We keep on going and are eager to develop digital tools, such as the net4tec AI Career Coach, providing individualized career advice to women worldwide, enhancing accessibility and support for diverse tech talent. Moreover, our initiatives have been recognized as best practices in gender diversity by the Impact Of Diversity being one of the 3 selected finalist as the Best Diversity Campaign with “The New Face of Leadership” Movement, and also with the Leadership Award by the EU Business School in 2023 , highlighting our contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality on a global scale.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

Our innovation—leveraging the synergy of technology and community to drive gender equality in tech—is designed to be inherently scalable. We have developed a modular and technology-driven platform with offerings like the AI Career Coach and virtual mentorship programs that can be easily expanded to new regions. To scale, we plan to: Develop and expand our AI Career Coach functionalities to include multiple languages, making it accessible to non-German speaking regions. Establish strategic alliances with global tech companies and educational institutions to co-host scalable initiatives. Implement a franchise model for our community events and training programs in other European countries. Launch a digital knowledge platform offering virtual masterclasses and certifications on leadership, diversity, and technology skills, thereby creating a global digital community of women in STEM.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Our unique strategy uses AI-driven tools and digital platforms to achieve SDG 5: Gender Equality. The centerpiece is our AI Career Coach, providing personalized career advice, mentorship, and access to curated resources. Our LinkedIn digital community, with 3,500 followers and 1,500 active pioneers and members, amplifies our impact by connecting top executives, game changers, and high potentials who drive real change. We further extend our reach through virtual masterclasses, webinars, and our YouTube channel, making high-quality training and networking accessible without geographical boundaries. This multi-channel approach maximizes engagement and accelerates visibility for female tech talent globally, enabling a diverse and inclusive community that fuels career advancement and leadership growth.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

Our main challenges were securing funding for gender-focused programs and overcoming biases in tech companies. We addressed these by launching our “New Face of Leadership” campaign, inspiring leaders to embrace diversity as a driver for innovation and growth. We established a coalition of male allies to support our mission and developed a scalable business model that includes paid memberships, events, and knowledge transfer formats to ensure sustainability. We also partnered with the International School of Management to conduct studies on female careers in STEM, revealing key differences and cultural nuances. This research allowed us to present data-driven insights on the economic impact of gender diversity, strengthening our business case and gaining stakeholder support for our initiatives.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

We engaged local communities through grassroots initiatives such as women’s STEM roundtables with our ecosystem of initiatives, networks, business schools and companies, mentorship circles with our premium members, women in technology surveys, and co-hosted events with companies, creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration. We also partnered with educational institutions like the EU Business School to promote STEM careers among young women and designed programs to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Feedback from stakeholders highlighted the value of our initiatives in creating career pathways and increasing visibility for women in tech. Surveys showed a 90% satisfaction rate among participants after engaging with net4tec. This positive response has encouraged us to expand our offerings and deepen partnerships.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

We prioritized virtual events and digital platforms to minimize our carbon footprint and reach a broader audience. We also implemented a resource-sharing model, using company spaces for physical events to reduce environmental impact. We leveraged our diverse team’s skills in project management, technology development, and community building to create scalable, inclusive solutions that align with the SDGs. Additionally, our mentoring and training programs incorporate principles of sustainability and responsible leadership, ensuring long-term social and environmental impact.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

Businesses must integrate the SDGs into their core strategies, aligning profitability with social impact. They should drive innovation, adopt inclusive practices, and promote diversity at all organizational levels. Governments should set supportive policies, enforce regulations, and provide incentives for SDG-focused initiatives. Civil society, including NGOs and networks like net4tec, plays a crucial role in advocacy, creating awareness, and driving grassroots actions. Effective collaboration requires transparent communication, shared goals, and cross-sector partnerships. Multi-stakeholder platforms can foster this, bringing diverse voices together to co-create solutions. For example, public-private partnerships can address gender inequality in STEM through joint initiatives that combine policy support, corporate resources, and community engagement.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

As an individual, you should focus on a clear, actionable mission and build a community around it. Start by addressing a specific need, but always keep scalability in mind. Measure your impact and be transparent about your successes and challenges—data builds trust and credibility. Foster partnerships across sectors to leverage diverse expertise and resources. Don’t underestimate the power of visibility and storytelling; share your journey, including the voices of those you aim to help. Most importantly, stay committed and resilient; systemic change takes time. Adopt a growth mindset, remain flexible, and be prepared to pivot based on feedback and evolving needs. As an organization, the future challenge and ambition is to perceive the different voices of the SDGs and to make them usable for the purpose and further development of the organization.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

Winning the SDG Award would amplify our reach and credibility, enabling us to attract more partners and resources. The recognition would boost our visibility, making it easier to engage stakeholders and recruit more women into our community. It would also provide the opportunity to develop and scale our AI Career Coach and leadership training programs globally, reaching more women in underserved regions. The award would validate our work, motivating our team and inspiring others to join the movement for gender equality in technology. With increased visibility, we can influence policy, drive systemic change, and make a stronger case for diversity in tech.

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Our future objectives include: Launching the “New Face of Leadership” Academy: A comprehensive journey offering certifications in leadership and diversity, accompanied by a 12-month support program combining mentoring and sponsoring to help women advance within their organizations and build strong career trajectories. Expanding our AI Career Coach: Providing multi-language support to offer personalized career guidance and mentorship for women worldwide, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. Establishing net4tec Chapters: Creating new local communities across Europe that are part of a globally connected network, enhancing regional engagement and impact. Developing an AI-Powered Gender Diversity Certification Tool: Certifying companies on gender diversity standards, focusing on their support for women in technology to promote accountability and transparency. Building Long-Term Partnerships with Tech Companies: Collaborating to create gender-inclusive policies and frameworks that drive systemic change. Publishing the Annual DACH Gender Diversity Index: Tracking and benchmarking gender diversity progress in the DACH region to provide data-driven insights and promote best practices.
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