A visionary, trailblazer and entrepreneur take center stage

Oberkochen/Munich, Germany | 17 October 2024 | ZEISS Group

The ZEISS Women Award was given a special premiere this year: outstanding female students and graduates from the Digital and IT sectors were recognized for the fourteenth time – and for the first time in the three categories of Digital Research, Digital Entrepreneurship and Digital Social Impact. Every year, ZEISS inspires and encourages women to take up a career in the Digital and IT sectors through its Women Award. This year's prizewinners Fuzhan Rahmanian, Yasmin Al-Douri and Lina Sophie Pfeiffer were honored at a ceremony on Prater Island in Munich.

For the first time, the patron of this year's ZEISS Women Award was astrophysicist, author and trainee astronaut Dr. Suzanna Randall. In her opening speech, she emphasized the importance of female role models, especially in STEM, and the need to motivate young women to take up science and research: "We need to show girls and women that there are no limits to what they can do in science and research. They can achieve great things – whether on Earth or in space."

As keynote speaker, author Dr. Michelle King also gave an account of her own personal experiences with the challenges on her career path and the great importance of equality, "Equality in the world of work is not a bonus but a prerequisite for real progress. When everyone, regardless of gender, has the same opportunities as each other we will be able to realize the full potential of our society and our economy." Dr. Suzanna Randall also emphasized the need to question traditional gender roles and break down barriers in the world of work.

Outstanding scientific achievements, projects and initiatives were commended in the newly introduced categories of Digital Research, Digital Entrepreneurship and Digital Social Impact. It will provide even better comparability of contributions and will take account of developments in the industry. Georg von Erffa, Head of Corporate Human Resources at ZEISS, praised the prize winners for their courage, vision and foresight.

The winners of the ZEISS Women Award 2024:

• In the Digital Research category, Fuzhan Rahmanian was recognized for her pioneering research in the field of data science and digitalization.
• The prize in the Digital Entrepreneurship category went to Yasmin Al-Douri for founding a non-profit organization that brings together young people and experts from technology companies to develop responsible technologies.
• Lina Sophie Pfeiffer won in the Digital Social Impact category for the platform she developed herself. This platform draws attention to the consequences of climate change and offers innovative solutions.

“At ZEISS, we are actively committed to promoting women in STEM professions and giving everyone the space to fully develop their innovative strength. We do not just invest in technology, but also in equal opportunities because we are convinced that diversity is the key to a successful and sustainable future,” said Georg von Erffa at the award ceremony.

Bavarian Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Dr. Fabian Mehring, underlined: “I am deliberately putting my weight behind getting more female talent and women into management positions so we can successfully shape our digital transition and safeguard our competitive edge.”

With the ZEISS Women Award, the technology company offers a platform to allow visionary women in the IT and digital industries to be more visible and give them the recognition they deserve. The ZEISS Women Award is open to entries throughout Germany and presented annually. All visionary women from the Digital and IT sectors can apply, regardless of whether they are working on their bachelor's, master's, Diplom or doctoral thesis.