Women in Luxembourg business: inspiring success stories and lessons learned

Is Luxembourg as equal as they say

A boardroom in Luxembourg's financial district, where a woman's voice commands attention, making decisions with precision is indeed becoming a norm, but the path to gender equality in Luxembourg is still burdened with complexities for many. 

The country is often praised as a European leader in this area. Luxembourg's 22nd spot in the world for wage equality pays the way, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report of 2024. Women here had 33.3% of the parliamentary seats during 2023 and 25% of the board positions, but there were no women leading listed companies as CEOs.

Famous women in business and government in Luxembourg

Women in Luxembourg's government are making big changes, and they've been part of the conversation for a long time. Policy roles give women the chance to make big changes, but to keep going they need to be put into action, and there need to be cultural changes.

Yuriko Backes

The Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity has championed policies like the 40% quota for women on public and private boards, implemented in 2016. Her work, alongside initiatives like the Positive Actions program, has boosted female board representation to 25% by 2016, though progress has slowed. Backes, a former diplomat, emphasizes, “Equality isn’t just fairness; it’s economic sense.” Her leadership reflects Luxembourg’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with 88.9% of legal frameworks promoting gender equality in place.

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Stéphanie Obertin

Minister for Research and Higher Education, who signed a 2024 partnership with Research Luxembourg to promote women in science. Her efforts align with the Women & Girls in Science campaign, launched annually to inspire young women. Obertin’s story, from academia to policy, underscores the power of cross-sector influence.

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Luxembourg’s financial and tech sectors, cornerstones of its economy, are seeing women rise as executives, though CEO roles remain elusive. Female founders are also fueling Luxembourg’s startup ecosystem, that is in male-dominated fields.

Anne-Catherine Ries

Anne-Catherine Ries, a senior executive at Pictet Wealth Management, navigates high-stakes portfolios. Ries, who started as an analyst, credits mentorship: “Find sponsors who amplify your work.” Her rise highlights the need for networks to counter the 30% promotion gap, where only 30% of women sought promotions in 2024, compared to 39% of men.

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Sabrina Sagramola

Sabrina Sagramola, co-founder of Seedbox, a sustainability-focused fintech, launched her platform to fund green SMEs. With €5 million raised in 2024, she told Silicon Luxembourg, “Startups thrive on purpose, not just profit.” Her pivot from corporate law to entrepreneurship shows risk-taking pays off.

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More successful women of Luxembourg

Passion-driven businesses thrive when paired with market savvy and community engagement. In hospitality, women like Anne Faber, chef and owner of Anne’s Kitchen, blend culinary art with business acumen. Her farm-to-table ethos earned a 2024 Gault&Millau nod. Faber, a former TV chef, says, “Cooking is storytelling — make it personal.” Her success reflects Luxembourg’s vibrant food scene, with women owning 15% of restaurants in 2024.

In the arts, Lisa Junius, a gallerist at Galerie Schortgen, curates contemporary exhibitions, boosting Luxembourg’s cultural profile. Her 2024 show, Women in Art, spotlighted female artists, drawing 5,000 visitors. Junius notes, “Art is a business of trust.” Her story underscores the creative sector’s economic weight.

Events for business women in Luxembourg for 2025

The PwC Women in Work 2025 Report ranks Luxembourg third among OECD countries, driven by a low gender pay gap and high female board representation. The EU Pay Transparency Directive, set for 2026 implementation, will mandate pay gap reporting for firms with 100+ employees, pushing accountability.

The main events for women collaboration

In 2024, women’s labour participation rose to 66.3%, but part-time work skews earnings data, with women spending 14.4% of their time on unpaid care versus men’s 7.1%. Events like the Luxembourg Women in Business Summit and Women in Tech foster networking, with 1,200 attendees at the latter. Do not forget that there are many business conferences held in Luxembourg, where you can find a spotlight.

Then, there is the Women & Girls in Science campaign, which was launched back in February 2025, that has featured six female scientists, aiming to inspire students. The Luxembourg Female Founders Forum connects 300 entrepreneurs with VCs, with last year’s event securing €8 million in deals. What a great opportunity to network.

Women in business in Luxembourg are redefining success. Their stories of grit, innovation, and advocacy reveal people striving for parity, even as gaps persist. Luxembourg women are setting the pace for a more equitable future, proving that ambition, paired with opportunity, yields transformative results.