Leading with Impact: Women Driving Innovation in Tech
March 27, 2025
Insights from Alacrité France and PrivaMap
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we once again sat down with inspiring female leaders and champions of women in tech within the Wesley Clover International ecosystem. This year, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on Estelle Valeri, CEO at PrivaMap, and Gill Vidal, Investment Manager at Alacrité France.
Here are some of the powerful insights from our conversation with these dynamic leaders.
To begin, can you share a brief overview of PrivaMap and its connection to Alacrité France?
“Most certainly,” explained Gill. “PrivaMap was launched and developed within the Alacrité France program through which PrivaMap benefited from strategic mentorship, funding, and access to a robust network of industry leaders.”
Estelle added: “Having Alacrité support our journey from early-stage development to market success helped accelerate the growth of our innovative geolocation solutions. Today, PrivaMap provides advanced indoor and outdoor geolocation solutions designed to enhance navigation, security, and operational efficiency across various industries. Our platform integrates real-time positioning technologies with customizable mapping tools, allowing businesses to track assets, optimize workflows, and improve user experiences within complex environments like campuses, industrial sites, and smart cities.”
Estelle, as a female founder/CEO in tech, where and how do you see you – and more importantly – your gender and experience, contributing to improving innovation and overall success?
“As a woman in the field of technology, I believe that my approach and pragmatism, with a touch of humour, enable me to really listen to my customers and partners.” Estelle added: “Diversity is always a driver for innovation. This diversity of thought allows us to explore angles that are often underestimated and to anticipate challenges that others might not have been able to identify. On the other hand, my background as a woman in a predominantly male sector has given me a strong capacity for resilience and adaptability. This determination is reflected in the way I run my business: by building teams where collaboration, listening and complementary talents are essential. This creates a more dynamic environment, conducive to innovation and collective performance.”
What strategies or initiatives do you believe are most effective in promoting gender diversity and inclusion within the tech sector? How does gender diversity help better R&D and/or product/service development? Do you personally play a role in advocating for these changes?
“I think we need to work on gender bias from a very early age. Studies have shown that from the very first years of life, boys are asked to solve simple problems and develop their mathematical minds, whereas girls are asked to develop their feelings. Young girls need to be put on a school career path that shows them all their abilities in a world of technology,” commented Estelle.
Thank you, Estelle. To add to this, do you personally play a role in advocating for these changes?
Estelle responded: “As a mother and mother-in-law of 4 girls, I try to be an example to them so that they don’t question their ability as women to succeed in a technological career.”
How do you see your experiences/leadership contributing to the broader narrative of empowering women in tech? What advice would you offer to aspiring female professionals looking to enter or advance in this field?
“At my level, I try to promote the incredible adrenalin we get from working in tech and the richness of our career paths to all the women I meet,” Estelle explained. “My only advice is NOT to think about being a woman, but rather to think about how the world of tech can bring them the professional fulfillment they’re looking for!”
Gill, is there anything you’d like to add from your perspective?
“As Investment Manager at Alacrité France, I notice a growing number of French startups embracing more women in tech,” responded Gill. “This is indeed a positive development, and creating awards to honor their achievements can further amplify these efforts. By recognizing and honoring the contributions of women in the tech industry, startups and organizations can foster greater diversity and inclusivity.”
What role does Alacrité France play in championing founders/CEOs in tech?
“Alacrité France is leading the way in supporting founders and CEOs in the tech industry by offering the necessary investment, resources, and support for their success with a strong emphasis on diversity, mentorship, and innovation,” Gill explained. “Alacrité France is playing a key role in building a more inclusive and dynamic tech ecosystem. Currently, three out of ten CEOs are women, along with myself as an Investment Manager. Additionally, each of our female CEOs has chosen a female co-founder, meaning that three of our startups are led by female duos!”
Gill added: “By backing talented leaders, particularly women, Alacrité France is not only driving the growth of individual companies but also contributing to shaping the future of the tech industry. When selecting a CEO, female or otherwise, focusing on the competencies and skills essential for the role ensures that the most qualified candidates are chosen.”
Any final takeaways or recommendations, Gill?
“Sure, just one last thing to add,” Gill responded. “By incorporating these recommendations, other companies can follow Alacrité’s example—fostering a more inclusive, diverse, and high-performing tech ecosystem that benefits both individual organizations and the industry as a whole.”
To learn more about Alacrité France, visit alacrite.fr.
Wesley Clover invests in a range of technology companies, and they bring impressive innovation to markets and clients around the globe. I/O is our way of sharing some of the best insights. I trust you will enjoy them.
Terry Matthews, Chairman