<<< The Web Summit Sabotage >>>

Everyone is so hyped about the Web Summit this year.

Maybe because it is the last year happening here in Lisbon. Because Carlos Moedas refused to pay the organization the millions they accorded to.

But still, that’s not my problem. I don’t care.

To start, I don’t even understand why the city of Lisbon was willing to pay several millions to the organization. But still… it is what it is.

Anyway, I was there last year and the year before.

Two years ago was my first time there. I absolutely loved it! I loved every single moment there. I knew so many people, so many people that I could relate with, having the same views, experiences, and thoughts alike. With the entrepreneur mindset. With the tech mindset. People that had a clear vision of the future. How bright and advanced it could be. It was so amazing. I knew people from all over the world.

But the biggest surprise to me was to see so many young people like me as CEO’s, chairpersons, directors of units. Really young people having so much to bring to the table.

Obviously, I also saw some old people. Most of them were Portuguese. Yes. The oldest Portuguese were male, in their 50’s as CEO’s, directors and managers. I didn’t see a single young Portuguese entrepreneur there.

Why? I don’t know. Maybe because we don’t have money to invest in national techs.

I really don’t care! I mean, I care. Because I want to have the same opportunities to do something like the foreigners do over there.

I want to do it, and I know I can’t do it in Portugal. And that is saddening.

For a female like me, I see my prospects reduced to nothing.

I think a lot about all the other female founders and entrepreneurs that I met there. How inspiring they were. How much effortless it was for some of them to be in that position that I aim to be, knowing that my country can’t support me.

In the end, I see myself having to choose between family or career, another saddening aspect of all of this.

Because we can’t have it all. And I keep wondering how my career could change and grow so much if I could work in some other country.

But then I consider that I can’t make a decision about it.

My dad died last year. My mom is getting old, and she doesn’t have much support from the family. I live far from her, and I know that someday she will need me close by. I can’t simply move abroad, re-do my life elsewhere, and leave her alone.

I want to do much more than I can imagine myself to do. Simply because this country can’t give me more. I can’t be selfish and choose between the two things I love about my life the most. My family and my career. Considering this on a daily basis gets to your head, and I can’t help but feel lost and sad sometimes.

But I also know that this struggle is what makes me have more strength to change this situation and fight for more female entrepreneurs, creatives, thinkers, and changers like me.

Because this country can’t stop in time.

People demand changes and no one wants to do it. And I know that I will refuse to rest until the status quo is changed or improved.