When did you start your business?
Dr. Cara Antoine is a seasoned executive and bestselling author with experience in guiding the digital transformation and cultural evolution of global corporates from Polaroid to Compaq, HP, Shell, Microsoft, and IG&H. In her current role, Cara is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Capgemini Europe. Cara serves as President & Non-Exec Board Member at Women in Tech Netherlands and Digital Literacy Country Chair at the G100. As a Patient Leader, Cara is a catalyst for digitalising visual health and this led her to join the Board and as Awards Chairwoman at the Cornea Patient Association, to serve on the Advisory Board of Easee, and at the Digital Health Committee of the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Cara and her husband Niels have 2 grown children, Jesse (29) and Syll (25), and they live in North Holland, The Netherlands.

What is the focus of your work?
In my current role, I am Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Capgemini Europe. I would like to see companies in this region and the rest of the world, take great strides in achieving the digital transformation of their companies and ecosystems. I am convinced that the future can be engineered in a way that individuals and organisations can "get the future they want". Therefore, I am focused on three main areas: 1) helping clients to safeguard their future through growth; 2) empowering my own employees' ability to grow their own careers and future; and 3) enabling society to "get the future they want". I am on a mission to educate, upskill & empower the next gen of female leaders to choose a career or course of study in technology, science, engineering and math.

What was the inspiration behind your work?
As a young girl, I fell in love with tech and science. My early inspiration came from reading the stories and accomplishments of great pioneers like Grace Hopper, Jane Goodall, and Amelia Earhart. When I was 14, I signed up for Electrical Engineering and was the only girl in that class. Luckily, I had a teacher who believed in every student in his class, including me. It was in that class that my teacher became my role model as he taught me how to build a radio. I quickly learned how to creatively bind and solder different coloured wires, secure them to a circuit board, attach a speaker, and create a sound. And I was hooked! This teacher told me the four most empowering words: “I believe in you.” These simple words gave me the feeling that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Since that time, I have sought ways to pay it forward to tell more women that I believe in them. To achieve equality in the tech workforce by the year 2030, it requires another 5 million girls and women to choose a course of study and career in technology and close the gap.

What are you most excited about in your work?
As an empowering global leader, bestselling author & keynote speaker, I aspire to selflessly enable people and serve organisations to achieve more in the digital era. My 30-year career is fuelled by a purpose-led mission to positively impact society and the economy for the betterment of people and a more sustainable planet at the intersection of technology & humanity. I am immensely motivated by a personal mission to transform, improve, and save people's lives and the planet. Outside of work, I am excited to change the game by empowering women in science, tech and engineering through volunteering as an inspirational mentor where I love to exchange experiences that activate and empower others to achieve all they want in work and life. I strive to leverage my experiences to inspire the next generation and I care deeply about the well-being and success of others.

What has been the most challenging thing about your work?
Innovation thrives in diverse landscapes, enriching individuals and organisations. As we navigate a world dictated by conformity, the importance of being "the first" represents a beacon of courage, innovation and transformative change. I have wanted to dare to be a pioneer, making a major impact on society, the planet and the greater collective good. I believe this is important because being the first encapsulates the excitement of driving innovation, breaking down longstanding barriers, and assuming a leadership role. It involves a sense of responsibility – representing and advocating for the underrepresented while influencing positive change and serving as an inspiration for future generations. It's not merely about seeing something that needs to be done differently; it's about feeling a responsibility to make things better for everyone involved. It's about breaking the mould, introducing a fresh perspective, paving the way for a more innovative and inclusive future, and choosing to be the torchbearer of change. This matters, because I have found that it reshapes the narrative, injecting diversity and inclusion into the DNA of industries, shattering preconceived notions, challenging stereotypes, and carving a path for future generations. Breaking barriers by being the first is both a personal journey and a commitment to fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute, laying the foundation for a future where barriers are dismantled and success knows no gender.

What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting work?
Transformative change is within your grasp, and you can contribute to a world where women shape a better future for themselves and the collective good. Your actions can represent a ripple effect that goes beyond individual success to become part of a collective force for change. You can be a change-maker, influencing the world around you positively, and I want you to be the first.

Why did you enter the Women Changing the World Awards?
As an experienced leader, I believe in the importance of more diverse representation in tech and take active, assertive, long-term steps that are needed to make a difference. My own mission is led by purpose and driven by action: to transform, improve, and save people’s lives and the planet. I strive to create an impact each day by stepping forward to “be the first”, and act and lead with empathy. To pave the way to empower women in tech, I start out by saying, “I believe in you” and cast a light on others' successes and ambitions. And I have learned to keep the door open, especially when I am on the inside, and to reach back and lend a hand to enable more women to rise up. For when women rise, we all rise.

What advice would you give to other women thinking about entering the awards?
The script is yours; step into the limelight and be part of this journey toward a brighter, more inclusive future. Ensure that the path is not isolated and empower others to maximise their success. As Viola Davis put it, "To move through life with any level of grace and break generational curses, you have to be a hero." Embrace your heroism, define where your life goes, and be brave in shaping a destiny that transcends generations.

How can we connect with you?
LinkedIn: Dr. Cara Antoine | LinkedIn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carainholland/
Twitter/X: Dr. Cara Antoine (@carainholland)