Hello Women: Orange empowers women in a diverse digital future
April 24, 2026
Shaping the future is anyone's business. Yet, women are still underrepresented in technological and scientific professions that shape this future. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will enable us to invent and shape the world of tomorrow. From digital revolutions to energy transitions, the major transformations of our time cannot be achieved without women.
Through the Hello Women programme, Orange is committed to turning the tide by supporting women at every stage of their journey. From discovering the jobs of the future to landing them. From career changes to long-term growth. All the way through to championing female entrepreneurship in the digital sector.
By creating the right conditions, we enable women to build meaningful careers in tech and grow into leaders who will shape tomorrow’s digital world. But diversity isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s a business issue and a leadership issue that concerns women, men, and non-binary people alike. Because ultimately, diverse minds build better technology—for everyone.
That’s why Orange Belgium kicked-off the local Hello Women program by bringing ambitious and forward-thinking people together during two energizing events: an open-circle debate with female leaders and a speed networking with tech students.
A masterclass in collective knowledge
On March 20, Orange Belgium welcomed a group of female CEOs, founders and leaders from a wide range of industries. Together with 20 of our own female and male colleagues, they engaged in an open and honest debate about two key questions: how can we create an inclusive future, and how can organizations better support women in their tech and digital careers?
The conversation surfaced some powerful themes. AI isn't a threat, it’s an opportunity for women to influence its development. But seizing opportunities requires the right conditions: managers who broaden their perspective when hiring, colleagues – men and women – who step up as sponsors and mentors, and female leaders who become the role models they once lacked.
Women should also not hold back from making their career expectations known, claiming their space, and moving forward with confidence. And we can’t ignore the power of women supporting women. As Cécile Toint, Head of the E2E Design Domain at Orange Belgium, puts it:
"Real growth begins when we stop waiting for proof of our competence and start owning it. By connecting, sharing ideas, and lifting each other up, we create a space where more women belong in tech."
Inviting voices from outside our organization, each with different experiences and perspectives, enriched the conversation and reinforced the purpose of Hello Women. Inspiring young girls and empowering more women into science, technology, and digital fields is essential for the future we all want to build. Change doesn't happen without women.
When ambition meets its role models
As a proud sponsor of WomInTech – a student initiative at the École Polytechnique de Bruxelles that promotes gender diversity in technology and engineering – Orange attended the third Speed Networking event on April 2nd. The event focused on connecting young tech talent with experts in the field. The format was simple and effective: one engineer per table with students rotating every few minutes. No keynotes, just direct, honest conversations between people aspiring careers and the ones already building them.
Representing Orange Belgium that evening were Laurence Leclercq, Strategic HR Business Partner, Nada Droussi, Machine Learning Engineer, and Rokhaya Gaye, Senior Solutions Engineer Cloud & Integration Services.
“At Orange, we empower diverse tech talent to grow and thrive,” says Laurence Leclercq. “We offer exciting career opportunities to help build and advance our mobile and fixed networks, all while embracing our values and ambitions.”
Rokhaya Gaye emphasises the importance of such moments:
"True innovation happens when multiple perspectives come together. Diversity isn't optional; it's essential. It's not just about building better products or delivering better services; it's also about building stronger teams. And because you can’t become what you can’t see, role models make all the difference for the next generation.”
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