"Our responsibility is to open the door to talented women who deserve the next step"
Michal Kissos Hertzog, CEO of Poalim Tech, was speaking at the "Looking Forward" gala event by Calcalist and Poalim Tech, which was attended by leading businesswomen and executives in the fields of venture capital and high-tech, against the backdrop of the continuing underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions.
“This is the second year we’ve held this event, and yes, men have approached me asking why there is FOMO around an event for women. But on both a moral and a business level, we have created something extraordinary.”
With these words, Calcalist CEO Noa Tamir opened the second Looking Forward gala event, held jointly by Calcalist and Poalim Tech at the George Hotel in Tel Aviv. The evening brought together leading businesswomen and senior executives from venture capital and the high-tech sector.
Tamir addressed the recurring criticism head-on. “I recently spoke with two investors who asked why a women-only event is necessary. My answer was simple: if this were an event for men and women, not all of you would be here,” she said. “You have to acknowledge the reality of the ‘boys’ club.’ There are still very few female CEOs in public companies, an ongoing and deeply disappointing situation that we see across sectors, including banking.”
She added that the event was intended not only as a statement, but as a platform. “I’m proud to say we have created one of the most equal women’s clubs around. After an extremely difficult year, each of us can look forward and move ahead together. The Economist recently ranked Israel third among the world’s economies, largely thanks to its investment and startup ecosystem, and women are a significant part of that success. I hope this event becomes a tradition, one that helps us support one another through real business connections, collaboration, and mutual backing.”
Michal Kissos Hertzog, CEO of Poalim Tech, reflected on why the question of a women-focused event persists. “For years, people have asked why such an evening is still needed. The answer became clear to me through a story told by Angie Warner, one of the world’s leading music tour managers,” she said. “Warner once said: ‘As long as I worked, I wasn’t a woman. I became a woman the moment I wanted to advance.’”
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From right: Aya Peterburg - S Capital, Noa Tamir- Calcalist, Dana Goldman Greensoil PropTech Ventures
(Yariv Katz)
According to Kissos Hertzog, the quote captures a familiar experience. “The work is done well, targets are met, systems are managed, but when it comes time for power, influence, or promotion, the dynamic changes. Nobody says no outright. They hesitate. The data in Israel confirms this, with women still underrepresented in decision-making roles.” Warner, she noted, also observed that every significant promotion she received came from another woman. “That gives us a responsibility, those of us in positions of influence, to open doors when the ecosystem hesitates.”
In a studio interview during the event, Genya Krupnik, director of Poalim Tech’s business center, highlighted the resilience of Israel’s tech ecosystem. “Over the past two years, the ecosystem has proven its strength. Despite the challenges, 2025 will ultimately be remembered as one of the strongest years in Israeli high-tech,” she said. Looking ahead to 2026, Krupnik expects cyber and AI to remain dominant, with growth extending into adjacent fields. Her advice to women: “We simply need to dare more. I want to see many more female entrepreneurs and CEOs at the top.”
Liat Hazout, CEO of Poalim Equity, echoed the cautiously optimistic tone. “2025 was a year full of challenges, but also of optimism. The Israeli economy proved itself, and we are emerging stronger,” she said. Hazout expects cyber and AI to remain leading sectors, while noting that Israeli defensetech demonstrated its strategic importance during the war, drawing foreign investment and laying the groundwork for long-term growth. Her message to women was direct: “Sit at the table where decisions are made. That’s where strategy is built.”
The gala was hosted by Dalia Guttman and Shahar Segal, co-hosts of the podcasts Right on Time and the show Exchanging Words. Segal described how the podcast was born in the aftermath of October 7. “What started as conversations between friends became a form of therapy, space to vent, escape a little, and share music and stories. It turned out that many people needed exactly that.”
Guttman reflected on her own career path. “I spent years in environments where women were promoted and encouraged, yet I still internalized the idea that men were the ‘brilliant ones.’ Only later did I realize how much I was capable of doing, and hadn’t yet tried.” Today, she said, her work with Segal is proof that “you often discover abilities no one ever told you that you had.”
In another interview, Iren Reznikov, partner at Vintage Investment Partners, observed that Israel has yet to fully transition from a startup nation to a scale-up nation. While celebrating major cyber exits, she pointed to ongoing funding gaps and valuation pressures. “The future lies in maintaining cyber leadership while embedding AI as a horizontal infrastructure across industries.”
Moran Leshem Bar, managing partner at Flag Capital, struck a similar note. “We are ending the year at the beginning of a recovery. Investors are starting to return.” Looking to 2026, she added a blunt assessment: “If you’re not AI-native, if AI isn’t built into what you do, you’re out of the game.”
