Marian Spier
Marian Spier is an author, director, and entrepreneur. Since the early 1990s, she has worked in the tech industry, where she was involved in various projects, from complex intranet systems to serious games. In 2020, she launched the platform FEM-START with the goal of bridging the funding gap for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, she co-founded Code-V, a platform for accelerating female entrepreneurship.
In 2021, Marian published her book, ‘Impact – Lessons in Personal and Business Leadership.’ In this book, she shares life lessons and business insights on various topics. These include asking for what you want, listening to your intuition, dealing with prejudices, and her vision on leadership, role models, developing ‘life strategies,’ and finding a balance between work and private life.
From 2005 to 2013, Marian was a manager and lecturer in Cross Media at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, in the Communication and Multimedia Design department. In 2013, she founded her own consultancy company, which now serves a wide range of clients across different sectors and industries. She has worked for organizations such as the United Nations (UNOCHA), UNESCO, TEDx in Europe and the Caribbean, TED.com, USAID, American University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the City of Amsterdam. She advises on strategy, culture curation, and leadership engagement.
Marian coaches and mentors young female entrepreneurs from the Netherlands, Poland, the United States, Algeria, the Caribbean, and Moldova. She founded the first female startup award program in the Netherlands and serves as an advisor, board member, and member of the supervisory board of various non-profit and semi-governmental organizations, including VO scholengemeenschap ZAAM, the Rutgers Foundation, WeMakeTheCity, Well Made Productions, and Stichting Het HEM.
Her projects have been featured in various media outlets, including Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, www.deondernemer.nl, Forbes.com, Volkskrant, NRC, and FD. Marian has won multiple awards, such as the Webby Award, Cannes Lions, and the EU Business Angel Award. In 2013, 2017, and 2019, she was named one of the most inspiring Fifty Women in Tech in the Netherlands.
Marian speaks on topics like the funding gap for women at both European and local levels. Other topics include:
Technology and Communication
“When we deny the story, it defines us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending.”
With so many voices communicating loudly online through social networks, it has become harder to find common ground. However, it remains possible, both online and offline.
Technology and Inclusion
“Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.”
With globalization and the growing need for diversity in personalized products, technology and inclusion are no longer optional but essential.
The 5 principles of Social Impact, TEDx Erasmus University, Rotterdam