Vânia currently leads an international distributed research team at Cloudflare which focuses on post-quantum cryptography, application privacy, and Internet measurement research. With over 20 years of international experience in executing projects in technology, security, digital transformation, innovation and R&D across different industries, such as telecoms, media and healthcare, Vânia is a driven and agile leader who aims to leverage technology, research and innovation to create positive social impact. She graduated in Informatics and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto, pursued an MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge (with a Cambridge Trust scholarship) and a dual PhD degree from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Porto. Over the years, the combination of living and working in different countries, having several academic and industry roles, and advising startups on R&D, taught her to question and see challenges from different perspectives and bring fresh ideas to the table. This experience shaped how she approaches things with flexibility, curiosity, and empathy, allowing her to be a better listener and leader. What motivates her most as a leader is helping and supporting individuals and teams reach their potential, providing tactical and strategic guidance while driving improvements with best-in-class solutions. Vânia is also passionate about women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion and dedicates her career to reducing gender inequality, promoting diversity in the tech industry and supporting women to step up. In 2010 she founded the first Portuguese community for women in tech, Geek Girls Portugal, a community dedicated to inspiring, mentoring and empowering women to excel in technology careers. She truly believes in sharing knowledge, experiences, and encouraging self-reflection among women to help them grow and succeed in their careers. In 2024, she has been recognized by The Female Factor as a Voice of a New Era of Leaders, an initiative to showcase the women trailblazers who are redefining leadership and creating a more inclusive business world.