A few words about
The VoWoCo partnership
Our partnership
Stronger together for women in entrepreneurship.
The VoWoCo partnership unites committed universities and organisations from four countries to support and uplift women in entrepreneurship and leadership across Europe.
The VoWoCo team brings together a diverse group of professionals – researchers, professors, project managers, HR and marketing experts, adult education and e‑learning specialists, sociologists, economists, IT and data professionals – who share a strong commitment to women’s empowerment and lifelong learning. Combining academic depth with practical experience in entrepreneurship, mentoring, digital learning, gender equality and international cooperation, they work side by side to turn evidence, ideas and collaboration into real tools and opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
The BENT Association
BENT Balaton Women Entrepreneurs Association leads the VoWoCo project, drawing on its strong local network and long-standing experience in engaging, supporting and motivating women entrepreneurs.
In Türkiye
Dokuz Eylül University in Türkiye leads VoWoCo’s Research and Skill Matrix work package, overseeing a thorough, evidence‑based analysis of women entrepreneurs’ situations, skills and competence needs and setting methodological guidelines for all four partner countries. The DEU team organises focus groups and stakeholder consultations to build a unified Skill Matrix of key business, leadership and labour‑market skills, and defines the criteria for a mentor database from which mentors, mentees and online course testers are selected, ensuring that the research phase is implemented to a consistently high standard across the whole partnership.
In Italy
The University of Macerata (UNIMC) is co‑lead of VoWoCo’s research work package and leads the Mentoring & Co‑Creation strand, developing a shared mentoring methodology and handbook used to select and support mentors and mentees in all four project countries. UNIMC designs common mentoring and co‑creation approaches that help women entrepreneurs work together on innovative business plans, while ensuring strong quality assurance and a unified mindset in mentor training, and contributes policy recommendations so that VoWoCo’s results can foster long‑term, inclusive economic growth, flexible work and better access to adult learning for women entrepreneurs.
In Portugal
The University of the Azores (UAC) is joining an Erasmus+ partnership project for the first time, bringing unique island and regional perspectives to the VoWoCo consortium and actively contributing to every work package alongside its international partners. The UAC team is adapting innovative methods to the Azorean context by organising focus groups with women entrepreneurs, assessing local business and leadership skill needs, and supporting the on‑the‑ground delivery of the mentoring programme, helping to ensure that VoWoCo’s results have a tangible, practical impact for women entrepreneurs in smaller, peripheral regions.
In Hungary
The University of Pannonia joins as an associated partner, responsible for developing the training modules and the online learning platform, turning research results and entrepreneur feedback into practical, flexible and inclusive learning opportunities for current and future women entrepreneurs at regional, national and international level.
Meet The Team of BENT
The association responds to real local needs, as evidenced by the professional support it has provided since its inception to Mompreneurs, a grassroots women’s entrepreneurship group in Lake Balaton.
Their aim is to support local women entrepreneurs through knowledge sharing, mutual support and information transfer, and to build a value-creating community, with a particular focus on women becoming entrepreneurs/leaders and mentoring.
Eszter Nagyné Czuri
Project Manager
With nearly 20 years of HR experience, I am passionate about recognising people’s strengths and designing training and mentoring programmes that truly support female entrepreneurs and leaders. My perseverance and strong belief in our diverse team and shared vision help drive the creation of impactful development opportunities and greater visibility for women in business.
Edina Tóthné File
Project Coordinator
With 20 years of experience in safety projects, digital competence development and management roles in SMEs, NGOs and multinational companies, I focus on creating safe, open and inclusive environments that sustain learning, innovation and wellbeing. My curiosity and ability to connect ideas and people help the team collaborate effectively and design flexible, practice‑proven tools that support women entrepreneurs and leaders in realising their potential.
Magdi Maár-Kocsis
Tender Settlement & Finance Expert
An experienced tender writer with 20 years in the EU–Hungarian funding field, I bring thoroughness, reliability and strong administrative skills to the VoWoCo project. My “superpower” is navigating communication with authorities and paying agencies, helping the team ensure smooth cooperation, compliant implementation and successful reporting.
Gabriella Nagy
Marketing & Communication Specialist
With extensive experience in marketing and communications, I design and implement strategies that make complex project goals clear, engaging and visible across digital channels. My strength lies in translating ideas into concrete actions, connecting diverse stakeholders and helping to build a strong, supportive community that empowers more women to start and grow successful businesses.
Dr. Edit Kővári
Expert Leader
As an associate professor, tutor, researcher, blended learning expert, coach, trainer, mediator and entrepreneur, I bring a holistic view of adult learning, course design and problem‑solving to the VoWoCo project. My strength is connecting different fields and competences to create inspiring, high‑quality up‑ and reskilling materials that help women entrepreneurs grow and develop their co‑created business plans.
Réka Vámosi
Project Manager
As a project manager with broad experience across Erasmus+ projects, I bring strong skills in organisation, communication, stakeholder engagement and financial coordination to ensure VoWoCo runs smoothly and delivers real impact. My strength is bringing structure and clarity to complex, multi‑partner collaborations, connecting people and turning creative ideas into practical results while keeping the team motivated and on track.
Dr. Júlia Tobak
Researcher, Course Developer, Policy Recommender
As a research fellow in Innovation Management at the University of Pannonia, I bring expertise in business operations, family businesses, research design (focus groups, interviews, data analysis) and curriculum development, as well as experience strengthening collaboration between academia and practice. My strength is connecting insights and people by translating complex research findings into clear, actionable recommendations so that VoWoCo’s results are evidence‑based, practical and socially useful.
Dr. Bernadett Gál
Instructional Designer
With 27 years of teaching experience from children to adults and a recent focus on fully online e‑learning, I bring strong methodology and practice‑oriented instructional design skills to VoWoCo. My strength is turning complex information into clear, engaging learning experiences that support women in continuous professional growth and help them navigate their multiple roles with more confidence.
Gábor Kohlrusz
IT Developer
With around 20 years of experience supporting higher education IT and 15 years in project-related IT processes, I ensure the technical background of VoWoCo runs reliably and efficiently. My strength is a wide range of IT expertise, which helps the professional team focus on their core tasks while I make sure the digital tools and systems work smoothly in the background.
Péter Harta
Analyst
As a scientific researcher and project manager, I bring strong skills in data analysis, data manipulation and advanced quantitative methods to the VoWoCo project. My strength is combining expert programming with clear communication and collaboration, helping the team turn complex data into meaningful insights for a better future.
Meet The Team of University of Pannonia – Faculty of Business and Economics
The University of Pannonia is one of the leading higher education institutions in the Transdanubian region of Hungary, offering a wide range of programmes across humanities, economics, engineering, social and natural sciences. With five accredited doctoral schools and internationally recognized research projects, the University provides dynamic academic and research opportunities supported by strong local and European collaborations.
The Faculty of Business and Economics stands out as a vibrant intellectual centre, awarded both the Hungarian Higher Education Quality Award and the prestigious AACSB accreditation. Organised into three institutes and ten departments, the Faculty offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes in English, focusing on business administration, economics, and technology management. Through close cooperation with companies and international partners, the Faculty promotes practice-oriented learning and research, nurturing globally minded professionals ready to shape the economic and social development of the region and beyond.
Meet The Team of DEU
Founded in 1982, Dokuz Eylül University (DEU) is one of Türkiye’s leading research universities, located in İzmir at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. With more than 70,000 students and a strong focus on innovation and artificial intelligence research, DEU plays an important role in higher education and scientific development in the Aegean region.
The Faculty of Business, the first English-medium business school in the region, offers internationally oriented programmes in Business Administration, Economics, Tourism Management, International Relations, and International Business and Trade. Accredited by ACCA, CFA and NIBS, and an AACSB member, the Faculty provides students with global career opportunities and a strong academic foundation for success in the business world.
Banu Demirel
Researcher
As a Professor of Marketing, I bring expertise in sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and digital learning design, alongside strong research and mentoring experience to support VoWoCo’s evidence‑based approach. My strength is acting as a strategic integrator, aligning research, training content and policy recommendations to create empowering, coherent pathways for women to thrive as leaders, innovators and changemakers.
Özge Özgen
Researcher
As an academic and entrepreneur in marketing and international business, I bring expertise in qualitative research, cultural analysis, storytelling and creative communication, along with extensive experience in leading international collaborations and mentoring young women entrepreneurs. My strength is combining the human and strategic sides of every challenge, helping the team stay inspired, connected and purpose‑driven while we build entrepreneurship as a force for empowerment and social good.
Engin Bağış Öztürk
Local Coordinator, Researcher
As a researcher specialising in supervisor–subordinate relationships, HR management and cross‑cultural management, I contribute expertise in talent management, competency mapping and mentor–protégé skill matching. My strength is solution‑oriented thinking and bridging theory and practice, using scientific insight to help design meaningful support that empowers women and benefits society.
Isabella Crespi
Reference Person
As a sociologist with extensive experience in gender equality, work–family balance and European research networks, I bring deep thematic expertise and a strong understanding of how social and workplace inequalities affect women and men. My strength lies in organisation and relationship‑building, creating a positive, collaborative atmosphere that connects partners, links gender issues to wider social questions and supports concrete progress through dialogue between policymakers, unions, companies and universities.
Katia Giusepponi
Team Member
As a business economist and lecturer in entrepreneurship, business planning and tourism management, I bring expertise in corporate strategy, business analytics and sustainability reporting, with a special focus on inclusive organisations and women’s start‑ups. My strength is enthusiastically motivating teams, reading contexts in a deep, unconventional way and challenging stereotypes, helping the project design pathways that truly value gender diversity in business and professional life.
Gigliola Paviotti
Team Member
As a researcher in Education specialising in adult learning, transitions between education and work, employability and entrepreneurship programme design, I bring both theoretical and practical expertise, alongside long‑standing experience in managing transnational research teams. My strength is listening and working well with diverse people, helping the project co‑create sustainable, positive solutions that support women’s empowerment locally while staying connected to the wider European context.
Marta Scocco
Research Team Member
As a research fellow and lecturer in Sociology with an interdisciplinary background in gender studies, migration, education and family sociology, I bring deep insight into intergenerational relations, care practices and the work–family challenges women face, supported by strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. My strength is translating interdisciplinary research into practical, inclusive strategies that help the team design evidence‑based solutions to improve work–life balance, empower women and inform more effective policies.
Sara Zuzolo
Admin Staff
As head of the Office “Research Services and Knowledge Valorization” with over 13 years of experience in European project management and financial reporting, I bring solid funding, administration and problem‑solving skills to support VoWoCo’s implementation. My strength is a constructive, optimistic approach to difficult issues, treating them as challenges rather than problems and helping the team move forward smoothly even in complex situations.
Loredana Nardi
Admin Staff
With a background in Oriental Languages and Literatures and experience in managing social support projects and providing administrative support for local, national and European initiatives, I contribute solid project management and coordination skills to VoWoCo. My strength is strong team spirit and willingness to cooperate, bringing a helpful, open‑minded attitude to working with partners from different countries and institutions to ensure smooth implementation and shared learning.
Meet The Team of UNIMC
Founded in 1290, the University of Macerata (UNIMC) is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the only Italian institution dedicated exclusively to the social sciences and humanities. With over 10,000 students and strong international partnerships across Europe and beyond, UNIMC offers a wide range of degree programmes in Italian and English, from undergraduate to PhD levels.
UNIMC promotes interdisciplinary research and engagement with society through its “Third Mission” strategy, fostering social inclusion and innovation. Holder of the European Commission’s Excellence in Research award and a member of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), UNIMC combines tradition, academic excellence, and a strong commitment to diversity and accessibility in higher education.
Meet The Team of UAC
Founded in 1976, the University of the Azores (UAc) is a public higher education institution with full scientific and administrative autonomy. With campuses in Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo, and Horta, UAc serves both the Autonomous Region of the Azores and the international community through education, research, and community engagement aimed at sustainable development and innovation.
Hosting around 3,000 students and 300 faculty members, the university is home to prominent research centers such as the Institute of Volcanology and Risk Assessment (IVAR), the Marine Sciences Institute (OKEANOS), and the Azores Biotechnology Center (CBA), each advancing knowledge in environmental, oceanic, and biotechnological fields central to the region’s identity and global scientific cooperation.
Gualter Câmara
Project Manager
As an Assistant Professor of Economics and Research Fellow at CEEAplA, I bring strong skills in research, data analysis and socio‑economic studies, along with a collaborative spirit and sense of responsibility. My strength is empowering collaboration —connecting people, ideas and goals so that analysis turns into real tools and opportunities for women within this multicultural partnership.
Fransisco Silva
Professional Leader
As an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics of the University of the Azores and a Research Fellow at CEEAplA, I bring expertise in management, tourism economics and quantitative methods, with a special focus on data analysis. My strength is turning numbers into clear, meaningful insights that support interdisciplinary collaboration and help generate results with real impact on sustainable regional and economic development.
