It’s a wrap on the fourth Novatore Impact Summit but the day will leave us with long-lasting impressions, wider networks, new ideas and inspiration. Here are ten takeaways from the action-packed event attended by 300 leaders from across the Baltics.
Sisterhood is about supporting each other
The day started with an insightful fireside chat with Latvia’s Minister for Culture Agnese Lāce and Minister for Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere. Both shared that as women they receive a lot more questions than their male colleagues on topics ranging from parenthood to choice of clothing. Unfortunately, some of the people asking these questions are women. The ministers’ advice? Stop perpetuating this behaviour! And join the Novatore Club!
What is life without fun?
Novatore Co-founder Dagnija Lejiņa suggested that it is not only ok but also encouraged to set fun as one of your goals for attending the summit. Fun contributes to better mental health, strengthening our leadership capabilities. Research says laughter is a strong medicine!
Peace is not a given
Speaker Linda Scott, DP World Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Oxford and author, reminded us that peace should never be taken for granted. Long periods of peace are largely due to international trade, the spread of democracy and gender equality, all of which require taking action on a daily basis to maintain. Linda also encourages reading “Gender Inequality Causes Poverty” by USAID to understand how gender inequality contributes to some of the worst issues we face in the world.
Don’t give up on your values!
CEO and Chairwoman of the Board at Citadele Bank Rūta Ežerskienė gave a pep talk to remember, urging women to stay by their choices if they truly believe in them and to be authentic, as authenticity is a prerequisite for true leadership. Her leadership story is truly inspiring!
Your health is in your hands
Teerje Peetso, Chief Medical Innovation Officer at the North Estonia Medical Centre, stressed that mental well-being is also sometimes giving up on your rules and enjoying the moment. Meanwhile, Sergey Jakimov, founding partner of LongeVC, emphasised that good healthcare should be preventative healthcare. Health is a personal responsibility, and we have many tools available today to support us, such as genetic testing. It’s up to us to start investing in it for our own benefit.
Care is a leadership tool
In the discussion “From burnout to brilliance”, Elīna Pētersone, Head of Employee Life Cycle at Lidl Baltics, advised that one shouldn’t forget the strength that lies in simply caring for others. While burnout is not necessarily the fault of an employer, organisations have the responsibility to ensure healthy working conditions and support for their staff.
Don't underestimate the power of your network
Throughout the day, we received numerous reminders to exchange at least eight business cards by the end of the event. You simply never know where that quick conversation in the coffee queue could take you! Remember that Novatore connects, supports, and empowers like-minded women all year round, so stay in touch with us and the community after the Summit!
Appreciate your team
Laura Blaževičiūtė, CEO of All Media Lithuania, argued for a return to working from the office to encourage socialising, exchanging ideas and fostering team spirit, which lead to better results and innovation. Medal-winning beach volleyball player Tīna Graudiņa also underscored the importance of teamwork. In her sport, the two players are supported by coaches, physiotherapists and many others without whom their achievements would not be possible.
Balance is key
This year saw the first ever “manel” at Novatore but it was so by design. The panelists referred to both data and experience to drive home the point that workplaces and economies benefit from women’s participation. “Without women we will all die,” stated Normunds Staņēvičs, CEO of Riga East Clinical University Hospital, succinctly, referring to the situation in healthcare as the vast majority of his employees are women.
You learn more from losing
Beach volleyball player Tīna Graudiņa spoke of the importance of losing to improving your game. While winning is a thrill and major accomplishment, it doesn't encourage you to change and enhance your approach. Losing pushes you to advance, and, with time, losing becomes easier to overcome and accept. In the Tvnet interview, Tīna also shared why medals are not her main priority.
While the 2025 Summit is over, the Novatore Club is open to new members throughout the year. The team will also soon start to work on the Novatore Impact Summit 2026! Save the date – March 5th, 2026 for a new leadership adventure!
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