The stories we highlight shape who feels entitled to lead. In our latest edition of the Women Leading the Way series, Drofa Comms spoke with Valery Nyukhalova, Event Director behind the dAGI Summit held in San Francisco in October 2025. We discussed leadership, visibility, and how to build environments where women contribute as equals.
At first glance, Valery’s work happens behind the scenes. Yet, that’s where real impact is created. As an Event Director, she designs spaces where ideas move freely, and collaboration feels natural. Her approach centers on human dynamics. It includes how people interact, how safe they feel to speak, and how trust forms in real time. For Valery, a strong event does more than run on schedule. It creates the conditions for meaningful dialogue and supports long-term professional connections.
In the interview, Valery reflects on the responsibility that comes with shaping public platforms. This is especially true in fields where women remain underrepresented. She describes visibility as infrastructure that changes access and outcomes, not just perception. As she puts it: “Support is about infrastructure, so it has to go beyond inspiration alone.” So, that belief informs her work across speaker curation, team building, and program design.
Besides, Valery shares insights from leading projects across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the U.S. She speaks about differences in leadership expectations across cultures. Just as candidly, she addresses the resistance women can face and the resilience needed to stay consistent without losing authenticity. Leadership styles vary by region, yet clarity, empathy, and accountability remain the common baseline.
Looking forward, Valery’s focus is on practical empowerment. She sees how often talent outpaces confidence, and why many strong voices never reach the stage. As she emphasizes, “When women take the stage to lead discussions or share their research, they activate their communities.”
👉 To explore Valery’s perspective in full, follow the link and read the complete interview in Women Leading the Way by Drofa Comms: https://womenlead.co.uk/ideas/valery-nyukhalova
