On March 8, 2025, Paloma Sanchez, The Art of Jewelry hosted a special International Women’s Day forum at the brand's studio The Penthouse, themed "Strategies: Building a Successful Career as a Woman in a Chosen Field". The forum has brought together an inspiring group of professionals from diverse fields, including art, diplomacy, science, and technology. Through insightful discussions and shared experiences, our distinguished panelists explored strategies to increase the participation of women in leadership across different sectors.

The forum was hosted by Ms. Paloma Sanchez, founder and CEO of Paloma Sanchez, The Art of Jewelry. The four distinguished guests were Marjut Hannonen, Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade in the EU Delegation in Beijing; Alessandra Guidi, Science and Technology Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office, Embassy of Italy in China and Full Professor at the University of Pisa (Italy) in Food Science; Tracy Zhang, Partner of Beijing Sky Technology Co., Ltd.; and Gulistan, artist and professor at Capital Normal University.

Ms. Marjut Hannonen shared her observations from years in the workplace. While her industry and work environment do not exhibit severe gender discrimination, she has noticed that women often need to excel even more to achieve the same position as men. When discussing how to support young women's career development, she emphasized the importance of making outstanding female role models more visible, allowing their stories to inspire others.

Ms. Marjut Hannonen

Minister Counsellor, Head of trade in the EU Delegation in Beijing

Professor Alessandra Guidi shared her experiences in science and education. Although she is now a distinguished figure in this field, she faced unwarranted doubts about her professional abilities early in her career simply because of her gender. She pointed out that gender imbalance still exists in the tech industry, with women remaining underrepresented. To address this, she emphasized the need to showcase more outstanding female figures through books, films, and other media, inspiring more women to pursue their career aspirations with confidence.

Prof. Alessandra Guidi

Science and Technology Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office, Embassy of Italy in China, Full Professor at University of Pisa (Italy) in Food Science

Ms. Tracy Zhang, drawing from her extensive experience in human resource management, discussed her views on women's capabilities in the workplace. In her opinion, women generally demonstrate stronger overall competencies than men. She believes that before addressing the balance between family and work, a woman should first prioritize herself. When she can maintain happiness and fulfillment, she will not only take better care of her family but also achieve greater success in her career.

Ms. Tracy Zhang

Partner of Beijing Sky Technology Co., Ltd.

Ms. Gulistan shared her insights from the perspective of art and collecting. She observed that most collectors are men, and the works that get collected are often created by male artists. However, she believes that many outstanding female artists also deserve recognition and appreciation. Due to her deep passion for art, she has devoted almost all of her time and energy to her artistic career. In her view, as long as one pursues what they truly love, there are no regrets. To her, both her students and her artworks are her “children.”

Ms. Gulistan

Artist, Professor at Capital Normal University

The story between jewelry and women is a vivid testimony to the evolution of female empowerment. Historically, due to limited economic rights, women were unable to own property independently. As a result, they regarded jewelry as "portable wealth," a form of guarantee in hard times. Today, more and more women purchase jewelry for themselves as a way to express their individuality and independence. Jewelry is no longer just an ornament—it has become a symbol of women's transition from dependence to independence, from passive acceptance to active choice.

With one-of-a-kind creations of Paloma Sanchez, The Art of Jewelry, we encourage every woman to be proud of her individuality and personality. This commitment to respecting and empowering women is reflected not only in our jewelry designs but also in the brand’s actions. In line with our social goals is woman empowerment, the brand established a fully women-operated gemstone cutting factory in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. This factory provides local female miners with a stable source of income while equipping them with skills through systematic training in gemstone knowledge and equipment operation. Here, women not only can take better care of themselves and their families, but also have equal access to education and career development opportunities—achieving true economic independence and personal growth.

The team of Paloma Sanchez, The Art of Jewelry is mainly composed of female members, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and open workplace where every voice is heard. By advocating open dialogue and mutual respect, the brand has cultivated a culture of trust and creativity, encouraging team members to actively express themselves, embrace innovation, and collectively drive the brand forward.

The forum’s dynamic exchange was enriched by the active engagement of our guests, all professionals in various fields, creating a truly multidisciplinary dialogue. Let us honor the power of women together and look forward to our next gathering!

International Women’s Day Special Forum - March 2025