On February 18, 2026, nearly 150 CEOs, founders, investors, senior executives and general counsel filled Dubnov Gallery in Tel Aviv for the second annual Women Shaping the Future of Business, Tech & IP event, a gathering that has quickly become a cornerstone on Israel’s innovation calendar.
The event included grounded conversations about leadership, power and responsibility at the intersection of business, technology and intellectual property.
Shalmon-Esman framed the moment not as an exception, but as a reality already unfolding. She described the platform’s mission: connecting global audiences to Israel’s ideas, innovation and people in real time, even in war and complex periods.
“At ynet Global, both the CEO and the editor-in-chief are women,” she noted. “Not by design, but by belief, that talent, perspective and responsibility create stronger journalism.”
Her message was clear: leadership today is not about control, but about courage, clarity and trust. “We don’t wait for perfect conditions,” she said. “We move forward and shape them. This event is proof that women are not preparing for the future — we are already shaping it.”
The central panel, moderated by Nili Philipp, Patent Attorney at Finnegan, brought together five women leaders representing distinct nodes of influence across the ecosystem.
Renana Ashkenazi, Managing Partner at Grove Ventures, addressed the venture capital perspective, redefining what makes a company investable in 2026. She emphasized vision, technological depth and leadership quality — alongside accountability in closing funding gaps for women founders.
When asked whether AI might soon independently decide where to invest millions of dollars, Ashkenazi was blunt: “We are far from the day when people and companies will invest millions based solely on AI. I hope so. I love my job.”
Karina Odinaev, CEO of Cortica, operates at the forefront of autonomous AI. With more than 200 patents and recognition as one of Israel’s 20 leading entrepreneurs by Forbes — and one of the 40 most influential women under 40 — Odinaev brought scientific rigor and ethical sensitivity to the discussion, particularly around gender bias and accountability in autonomous systems.
Rachel Efrat, General Counsel at Riverside.fm, illustrated how the GC role has evolved from reactive risk management to strategic partnership, helping companies move fast without losing legal clarity.
The answers came in short responses: Trust, proactive, assumptions, access, change of mindset.
Finnegan FORWARD is Finnegan’s global initiative advancing women in intellectual property and law through leadership development, sponsorship and strong professional networks. Led by firm partners and open to all attorneys, it delivers practical tools and international platforms that connect leaders across law, technology and business.
