A room full of women leaders: the first WE Lead Food alumnae event
Brussels, 17 October 2025. For the very first time, alumnae from every edition of WE Lead Food were invited to gather under one roof. CONNECT, the annual alumni event of the wider EIT Community, was also taking place at Maison de la Poste, adding an extra buzz to the atmosphere.
The energy of ambitious women coming together with purpose
Brussels, 17 October 2025. For the very first time, alumnae from every edition of WE Lead Food were invited to gather under one roof. If you wanted to experience the energy of ambitious women coming together with purpose, this was the place to be. CONNECT, the annual alumni event of the wider EIT Community, was also taking place at Maison de la Poste, adding an extra buzz to the atmosphere.
Online vs. IRL
Only WE Lead Food’s first edition in 2019 was organised face-to-face, in Cambridge and Madrid. After that, COVID pushed the entire leadership programme onto Zoom. The online format stuck and turned out to be a blessing in disguise: women from every time zone could join without worrying about flights, hotels, or juggling families and work. But we couldn’t pass up the chance to connect in real life.
Photo Credits : District 360
An inspiring exchange of stories about leadership
Breaking the ice
Some alumnae recognised one another immediately; others met for the first time. The tables were dotted with small “quote cards”, the kind that look innocent enough until someone picks one up and, before you know it, the conversation shifts to courage, confidence, values, and ambition. In true WE Lead Food fashion, Shima Barakat set the tone with a gentle nudge that encouraged the whole room to start weaving its own connections and to present our findings in front of the group.
Round tables
Once the initial conversations settled, the round tables began. Each table carried a single question, pulling us into deeper territory. Groups formed, dissolved, and re-formed. Voices rose, notes were scribbled, and ideas went back and forth. The discussions moved from food environments to consumer trust to the stories we tell about leadership. We all realised how inspiring it is to exchange thoughts without a screen in front of us.
Photo Credits : District 360
Allies who lift you up rather than slow you down
Raise your voice
By mid-afternoon we moved downstairs to join the session HER Voice Across EIT: Showcasing Women’s Initiatives and Future Impact. The panel brought together an unlikely mix: a Romanian student and activist, an Estonian entrepreneur, a Moldovan doctor with a love for digital health, and, of course, Shima Barakat - academic, serial entrepreneur, and WE Lead Food champion.
The panel spoke openly about uncertainty, ambition, and the courage to drive change. Shima shared memories of her journey from Egypt to the UK and the moment she realised how few women were sitting at the boardroom tables where decisions are made. The message running through the discussion: change isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you push into the world, preferably with allies who lift you up rather than slow you down.
Photo Credits : Klaar De Groote
WE Lead Food Tasting
By the time we returned upstairs, the atmosphere had shifted into something lighter. Diane was standing at a table offering her Cool Beans, each variety full of flavour. We also had the chance to taste Tina Chen’s bright green Humanitea Matcha. People tasted, laughed, enjoyed the vibe, and swapped stories about their projects.
Ultimately, yet another idea was launched: perhaps it was time for a dedicated alumnae association that would hold the community together long after each year’s programme ends. Judging by the excited reactions, this won’t be the last time we hear about it.
Photo Credits : Klaar De Groote
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““I founded Nutricomms, a nutrition consultancy firm, in 2017. At a certain point I was reevaluating my business and shifting my focus to Europe. That meant renegotiating contracts and deciding which clients to keep. The WE Lead Food programme helped me with those conversations, as it strengthened my negotiation skills. I also realised I had been undervaluing my skills, my work, and my worth. It helped me set boundaries and build confidence as an entrepreneur.”” -
““I am a food scientist and I followed the WE Lead Programme during the COVID pandemic, when I needed to rethink my business approach. It helped widen my perspective and build my brand. It was encouraging to see a community of women working on the same issues, such as sustainability. For me, it was truly transformative and helped me believe in myself and recognise my strengths. Today, I’m an independent scientific advisor.”” -
““WE Lead Food was amazing and transformative for me. The programme helped me understand my value in the workplace. I am now working at EIT Food, so I continue spreading the word.”” -
““WE Lead Food helped me go from intent to action and create my own start-up. I already had the concept of my stewed beans in mind, but the programme gave me the confidence to actually do it. The community was very supportive and still is. Today, my products are sold in Belgium and the Netherlands, and we’re launching in France.”” -
““WE Lead Food was very inspiring, and I met so many people from different backgrounds. I participated because I wanted leadership tools and hoped to expand my network, and both aspirations came true. I’m still in touch with the other alumnae from my cohort. The network even led me to a job, which became a great milestone in my career.”” -
““I was working in the food sector and looking for a programme to develop my leadership skills and my impact on people. The course helped me resolve a conflict at work that occurred during the months of the WE Lead Food programme. I felt more courageous and assertive in handling the situation. Interestingly, I also shared this experience with my cohort, so we all learned from it. The richness of the programme was impressive, and the learnings continue to support me today.””
See you next time
As the reunion wound down, we promised to stay in touch and wondered what “next time” might look like. And for those who couldn’t join us this year: you were missed. Truly. The door will be wide open when we do this again.