The Swiss Economic Forum presented the SEF.Women Awards on March 24. These business awards for women were handed out for the third time in 2023. They serve to recognize women with exceptional track records in the world of business and aim to increase their visibility and create role models.

Catarina Dahlin was named as the winner of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. The Swede is the co-founder and co-CEO of the Zurich-based firm Dagsmejan Ventures AG, which develops smart sleepwear. According to a press release from the organizers of the awards, Dahlin embodies “successful female entrepreneurship both in herself and her company”. The jury was impressed by Dahlin’s confidence in her own entrepreneurial vision. The press release states that people in more than 100 countries around the world today sleep in Dagsmejan products, with 85 percent of sales generated directly through the company’s own web shops. In recognition of its global success, Dagsmejan Ventures AG had been nominated for the SEF Award 2020.

Marie-France Tschudin, President of Innovative Medicines International at Novartis, where she also serves as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), claimed victory in the Entrepreneur/CEO of the Year category. According to the jury, she has made the advancement of women a “major priority”, while Tschudin herself is an “inspiring role model for many women in business, both within Switzerland and around the world”. According to the press release, 50 percent of the employees in her area of responsibility are female.

The honorary award went to Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter. This prize recognizes an exceptional businessperson who has dedicated their time to advocating Switzerland as a strong business location. Hunziker-Ebneter is the founding partner and CEO of Forma Futura Invest AG in Zurich and President of the Board of Directors of the Cantonal Bank of Bern (BEKB). Between 1995 and 2001, she was the first female CEO of the SIX Swiss Exchange. According to the rationale of the jury, Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter is “actively committed to sustainable corporate management and increasing the proportion of women employed in executive positions”.