International Women's Day 2026 – Leadership, Women's Innovation, and Art

At the heart of the evening was a one-on-one conversation between Adi Ofek, CEO of the Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Center Israel and Global Head of Automotive Cybersecurity at Mercedes-Benz, an alumna of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University, and Omer Yardeni, journalist and radio and television broadcaster, host of HaOlam HaBoker ("The Morning World") on Reshet 13 and Shigrat Herum ("Emergency Routine") on Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), and an alumnus of the Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University.

The discussion explored women's leadership in senior positions across the cybersecurity and automotive industries, as well as innovation and management in an era of rapid change and artificial intelligence.

The evening opened with remarks by Prof. Inbal Yahav Shenberger, Dean of Innovation in Teaching and Learning at Tel Aviv University. A lecture by Sari Golan, Chief Curator of the Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art, and an alumna of the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Arts at Tel Aviv University followed this. Her lecture focused on the themes of art and female identity.

Participants also enjoyed a guided tour of exhibitions presenting unique female perspectives:

• "I Speak with a Painting" – an exhibition by the late Ita Gartner, whose work naturally engages with themes of womanhood, identity, faith, and self-reflection, echoing the spirit of International Women's Day.
• "Field Work" – an exhibition by Meital Katz Minerbo, which appropriates the traditionally male practice of botanical illustration to create an imagined feminine lexicon of plants, challenging cultural and gender boundaries.

Sigalit Ben Hayoun, Head of the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization, said:

"On International Women's Day, we chose to celebrate female empowerment through the combination of inspiring leadership and artistic expression. Our alumni community includes women who are leading Israel's economy and society, and the connection between the professional experience of pioneering business leaders and the world of art creates a meaningful opportunity for reflection, empowerment, and community."

The Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization extends its sincere thanks to the Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art for hosting the event and to Jerusalem Winery for sponsoring the wine served during the evening.

View the full photo album from the event on Facebook >

TAU Alumni community – A World Changing Community