Leadership is not about position or visibility, but about the ability to open paths for others as well, argues Cristina Chiriac, president of the National Confederation for Women's Entrepreneurship (CONAF).

Chiriac will deliver a speech at the first edition of the 'Women of Influence' Gala, an international event dedicated to women who influence and transform communities, scheduled for March 21 in Chicago.

'Leadership is not about position or visibility, but about the ability to open paths for others. This project is no longer just mine or the organization's, but belongs to a wider community, and the fact that the invitation comes from a Romanian community abroad confirms the international relevance of what we are building in Romania,' Cristina Chiriac said, as cited in a release on Wednesday.

The event marks the launch of an initiative dedicated to acknowledging and connecting women who actively contribute to community development, bringing together leaders from business, culture, healthcare, and civil society. The gala aims to become a platform for dialogue and visibility for models of female leadership, in a format that combines formal elements with practical discussions about impact and social responsibility.

'The invitation extended to Cristina Chiriac reflects her more than 15 years of work in supporting female entrepreneurship through national projects and educational initiatives. Among these are the 'Women in Economy Gala', a benchmark in recognizing female excellence, as well as the 'Entrepreneurship Education Marathon', a program that promotes entrepreneurial culture among young people and within the education system,' the release notes.

The gala is organized by the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce and will take place in a representative venue in Chicago, facilitating meetings between leaders and diverse communities in an international context.

The CONAF delegation, led by Cristina Chiriac, includes CONAF vice president Nicoleta Munteanu, Sigina Luca - president of CONAF Cluj branch, and Angie Mirea - president of CONAF Prahova branch, a leadership core that carries forward the organization's mission 'with responsibility and vision'.

Their participation is part of a broader dialogue on the role of education, collaboration, and responsibility in community development.

The 'Women of Influence' Gala is developed under the umbrella of a philanthropic initiative supporting educational projects for children from vulnerable backgrounds, reinforcing the idea that performance is closely linked to social responsibility.

Cristina Chiriac's presence at the event also reflects the active involvement of CONAF in promoting the role of women in the economy and society, including through efforts such as establishing the National Day of Female Entrepreneurship.

In a constantly changing global context, such initiatives contribute to strengthening dialogue between Romania and the diaspora and to promoting leadership models adapted to new realities.

The National Confederation for Women's Entrepreneurship advocates for more efficient dialogue with authorities, cooperation in developing public policies that lead to sustainable economic growth, and support for entrepreneurs. CONAF was created out of the need to build a modern, sustainable, and equitable entrepreneurial culture, not only for female entrepreneurship but for the entire business environment. CONAF includes 31 branches, 3 federations, 16 employers' associations, 55 organizations, and 15,000 companies, with over 245,000 employees. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mariana Nica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)