Inspiration| BBVA Switzerland

In honor of International Women's Day, two BBVA managers in Switzerland, Janet Pitan and Eva Blaya, share their female role models from the worlds of business, investment, and finance. These stories highlight contemporary women who make a difference: pioneers, innovators, and leaders.

Almost 17% of women intend to become entrepreneurs. Despite having fewer opportunities to close business and secure venture capital, female entrepreneurship continues to grow, especially in emerging economies. In fact, one out of every three people with high growth, who have the greatest impact and are climbing the career ladder, are women.

The foreign exchange market has a daily volume of 5 trillion dollars, making it the largest market in the world, but not everyone knows how it works. It is used to facilitate international trade and set the price of one currency against another. The Swiss franc remains one of the most important safe-haven assets.

Art investments appreciated 8% in 2023 and 105% in the last 10 years. They can be used as collateral for obtaining credit, and tokenization has democratized their access.

Pedestrianizing or 'pacifying' streets increases local revenues for municipalities and businesses, reduces pollution, protects health and improves children's autonomy. Municipalities around the world are committed to more human cities.

The most successful investors, fund managers and economic gurus of our time spend hours reading, and not only about the economy. These are some of the books the likes of Buffet, Soros, Lynch, Gross and Mobius have fully digested.

There are more and more investment funds dedicated to the business of healthy nutrition, veganism and other plant-based trends. The change in eating habits in a context of climate change is encouraging a sector that in 2030 will generate more than 150 billion euros.

Over the years, the food industry has focused mainly on commercial success. However, innovation in the sector has proliferated and has been geared towards a new type of food, where sustainability and improving our health are central to everything.

Switzerland is the country with the most registered patents and industrial designs per capita in the world. What does this mean for companies based there?

The growth of the world population combined with changing consumption habits are forcing an increase in food production levels, which is confronting other major challenges such as environmental changes or geopolitical crises.

Intuition is no longer enough; the future of many emerging companies now depends on metrics and evidence. Reliable information, transparency, speed of spending, use analysis and monetization capacity are key to analyzing their potential for success.

When selecting companies to be included in portfolios, fund managers look for at least five attractive characteristics that guarantee their long-term continuity and, therefore, offer potential profitability.

Investing in a country that is a leader in innovation, which has a tremendously secure financial background, and which is the global capital of private banking is only possible if you look to Switzerland.

Demand for this precious metal has been increasing due to its applications in the photovoltaic and semiconductor industries, which are growing sectors.

Gold, wheat, oil, copper, corn... Commodities can be a profitable investment. Commodities retain their value better at times of inflation, and retail investors also have their momentum.

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Panorama

Discover the highlights from the world of finance, innovation and sustainability.

Leading figures in the world of finance: the women we admire

Women's entrepreneurship, hand in hand with the challenge of investment

Why the foreign exchange market is so interesting

Investing in art: a secure luxury asset

Investing in pedestrian areas multiplies local income

What investment gurus read

Nurture your portfolio by investing in veganism and other food trends

Innovation and sustainability in the food industry

Switzerland, number one in patents

Food industry is ready for the disruption

Metrics to decide whether to invest in a startup or get it out of your head

How to identify companies in which to invest

Why invest abroad, why invest in Switzerland

Silver: a new refuge asset?

Commodities: investment opportunities beyond stocks