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6th edition winner

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CaixaBank and Microsoft have rewarded the 16 best scientific and technical degree students in Spain through the WONNOW Awards. These awards, which this year reached their sixth edition, recognise female excellence in STEM degrees - sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics -, in order to promote diversity and help to reduce the gender gap in these sectors that have historically been male dominated.

The registration record was broken in the 2023 edition, with a total of 1,006 entries from 77 Spanish universities, a figure almost four times the 2018 number, when there were 272 participants. 3,764 students have participated since the first edition of the WONNOW Awards, making them an established benchmark in the academic field. Currently, 18 of the young women who were winners in previous editions of the WONNOW Awards continue to work in the CaixaBank Group, with two of them at Microsoft.

The best female STEM degree students

The student with the best academic record, personal, professional and social achievements was Inés Álvarez de Toledo (Madrid), with a dual degree in Business Analytics and Computer Engineering from Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid, who received a cash award of 10,000 euros and access to a Microsoft mentoring programme. In addition to her academic record, the panel also recognised her curriculum and personal achievements.

The other successful students who received paid internships to work for six months at CaixaBank and access to a Microsoft mentoring programme are:

  • Raquel Sans Barragán (Barcelona), who is studying for a dual degree in Mathematical Engineering in Data Science and Computer Engineering at Pompeu Fabra University.
  • Miriam Sollars Castellanos (Madrid). A graduate in Applied Mathematics and Computing at Carlos III University in Madrid.
  • Cristina Guerrero Cano (Majorca), who is studying for a dual degree in Computer Engineering and Mathematical Engineering Applied to Data Analysis at European University.
  • Clàudia Platel Fanés (Barcelona). A dual degree graduate in Physics and Mathematics at Barcelona Autonomous University.
  • Elena Cobo Hidalgo (León), who is studying for a degree in Communication Electronics Engineering at the Complutense University of Madrid.
  • Anna Isabel Aracil Ferrer (Valencia). A graduate in Marine Science at the University of Vigo and with a master’s in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Valencia and University of Valencia.
  • Paula Heras Nieto (Valencia). A graduate in Computational Mathematics at Jaume I University of Castellón and studying for a degree in Computer Engineering at the same university.
  • Gracia Gimeno Almiñana (Valencia). A graduate in Data Science at the Technical University of Valencia.
  • Alma Tobía Castelló (Logroño). A graduate in Physics at the University of Valencia and who is also studying for a master’s in the Physics of Condensed Matter and of Biological Systems at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
  • Débora Cerdá Bernard (Valencia). A graduate in Biotechnology at Miguel Hernández University, a master’s in Technology and Agri-Food Quality at the same university, a master’s in Secondary Education Teaching, Vocational Training and Language Teaching at the University of Alicante, and studying a doctorate programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Food Resources and Technologies at Miguel Hernández University.
  • Ana Ruiz Galustian (Madrid), who is studying for a dual degree in Mathematics and Primary Education at King Juan Carlos University.
  • Mar Guarque Biarnes (Tarragona), who is studying for a degree in Industrial Technologies Engineering at Ramon Llull University.
  • Laura Sempere Agulló (Valencia). A graduate in Industrial and Automatic Electronic Engineering at the Technical University of Valencia.
  • María Jordá Muñoz (Murcia), who is studying for a dual degree in Economics, Mathematics and Statistics at the Complutense University of Madrid.
  • Pilar Gil Fernández (Zaragoza), who is studying for a dual degree in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Zaragoza.
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About CaixaBank

Diversity, meritocracy, equal opportunities and the recognition of talent are some of the cornerstones of CaixaBank’s corporate culture. Following these values we are committed to becoming an example for our employees, by promoting inclusion and participation and backing projects that promote equality, both within the company and in society as a whole. Currently, at CaixaBank 42.9% of our management positions are held by women and 40% of the board of directors are women.

CaixaBank has a diversity programme called Wengage, which is an inclusive project developed by people from all spheres of the company based on meritocracy and on the promotion of equal opportunities, and which works to promote and raise the visibility of diversity in all its dimensions: gender, functional, generational, LGBTI, cultural...and includes internal and external actions.

CaixaBank also has an Equality Plan to promote the principles of equal opportunities and diversity in work teams, to foster the presence of women in management positions and support work-life balance actions. This includes, for example, a focus on gender in management development programmes and in selection and training processes, supporting remote work and flexible hours. Thanks to this commitment, CaixaBank has become the third highest rated company in the world in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.

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About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) drives digital transformation for the era of the intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge. Microsoft is a diverse company in all meanings of the word. Beyond gender, this is something that is internalised in its culture. Its mission as a company is intrinsically inclusive: to empower each person and each organisation on the planet to achieve more. Internally, it promotes a culture that enables its employees to connect their energy and passion for technology with this mission. And to do that, diversity is key.