First 'BOLD Conversation' in Vienna: When extraordinary women talk about courage

Under the motto COURAGE, the internationally successful female empowerment format "BOLD Conversations" of the champagne brand Veuve Clicquot gathered outstanding women for the first time. In the salon ambiences of journalist, author and host Nicole Adler, people continued to network long after the panel talk.

Be bold! A saying that radiates courage and confidence. Dare to do something. That is the message Veuve Clicquot wants to convey with its events for women.

But the Champagne-based Maison is no latecomer. On the contrary. Veuve Clicquot's BOLD initiative is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Events are held all over the world with the aim of giving female entrepreneurs a voice and encouraging future generations. At the beginning of the year, great women in Germany and France were honoured for their entrepreneurial daring and successful pursuit of ethical business approaches at the 'BOLD Woman Awards'.

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Hosted by journalist, editor and host Nicole Adler, this week for the first time women from a wide variety of fields, also in Austria, came together with one thing in common: the courage to take a new path.

During the panel talk four extraordinary women exchanged views on the topic of courage, the driving factor for change.

Business coach and author Vera Steinhäuser was joined on the podium by Helena Milchrahm, co-founder of the internationally successful jewellery brand BRUNA The Label, as well as Mireille Ngosso, Member of the Vienna City Council and Parliament (SPÖ), and Theresa Imre, co-founder of the Viennese food platform markta.

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"Courage for me has to do with empathy and a sense of justice that comes from that." - Theresa Imre, Founder of markta.at

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"Where do you get your courage from?", Nicole Adler introduced the discussion and directed the floor to Vera Steinhäuser, who just published the book "die Macht Zentrale". "I wrote the book because I believe that the world will change if power, i.e. power centres, are distributed differently," said Steinhäuser, who coaches Female Leadership. "Fear and courage are part of growth. When we understand that these can coexist, we suddenly become quite powerful. Courage is part of that," she adds.

Courage as the basis for female empowerment

With these keywords, Nicole Adler addressed the question of "fear and courage" to Theresa Imre, co-founder of the successful food platform "markta" and "Woman of the Year 2022" (awarded by "Die Presse").

She sees her platform's task also in the empowerment of independent food-producing businesses, which are often run by women. "Courage for me has to do with a high understanding of empathy and a resulting sense of justice", which has accompanied her since childhood.

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Mireille Ngosso also sees the cornerstone of her actions in her own history, which gave her the courage to become an activist against hatred and racism and to bring about changes in the social climate and pave the way for equal opportunities for people with a migration background. She is also involved in associations such as Connected Minds.

Her years as a student in London were formative for her. She took the mindset of the cosmopolitan metropolis with her to Vienna "to make it easier for the next generation in terms of opportunities, to be a role model and to open doors", says Ngosso.

BRUNA The Label: A lovebrand without a business plan

Helena Milchrahm succeeded in starting a lovebrand without a business plan. In 2019, after a stay in Asia, she launched BRUNA The Label, which soon rose to become one of the top jewellery brands in Austria, worn even by Hollywood stars. It is the philosophy behind it that Milchrahm focuses on. She is particularly concerned with dealing with nature, to which she wants to give something back through her jewellery and to do things "differently step by step. There is so much passion and courage behind it - and that is probably the authentic appeal of BRUNA The Label that attracts customers.

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Madame Clicquot: She changed the History of Champagne

The Maison's commitment to bringing exceptional women of the business world into the spotlight is already rooted in the roots of the Champagne House. It owes its meteoric rise to the former "CEO", Madame Clicquot alias Veuve Clicquot (Widow Clicquot, from the French).

She took over in 1805 at the age of 27 at a time when women had no place in business.

But Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin, as she was known, was able to secure her place with assertiveness and innovation. She had a decisive influence on champagne production by introducing new techniques at the time, which are still used in Champagne today.

Madame Clicquot launched the first rosé champagne assemblage in 1818, invented the shaker and secured the best Grand Cru sites in the region for her Maison.