Return to blog

The Connectors: The Founders Bringing International Women Together in Vienna

October 19, 2026

What does it take to build a community from scratch? Meet the two women helping internationals find connection and opportunity in Vienna.

When Rebecca Spanos and Estefanía Piñon met at their first job in Austria, they discovered that despite growing up in different countries and following different career paths, they shared many experiences of building a life abroad. Those shared challenges eventually inspired them to create the Network of International Women in Austria (NIWA), a community that has since connected more than 5,000 women through networking events, educational workshops and shared experiences, including gatherings at Zoku Vienna. We caught up with the co-founders to talk about building a community from the ground up and rethinking traditional networking.

First things first, can you tell us a little about yourselves and what brought you to Vienna?

Rebecca: I was born in London and raised in Italy by my Croatian mother and Greek father. Growing up between different cultures, I often struggled with where I belonged. When I moved to Vienna in 2020, I realized I could decide that for myself. So I started calling myself Mediterranean, which captured the cultures I’d grown up with.

Professionally, I’m a private chef, but I think of my work more broadly as bringing people together around tables and stages. Whether that’s teaching someone to cook or helping them find the confidence to speak up through NIWA, it’s about creating opportunities for people.

Estefanía: I’m originally from Mexico City, but I’ve also lived in Argentina, Spain and Germany before moving to Austria. I work full-time as Associate Vice President of Global Operations Strategy and Development at Venture Employment Solutions. I’m also a certified employment expert in Austria, a career mentor and a public speaker. I even gave a TEDx talk about the power of crying!

Something that surprises people is that NIWA isn’t our full-time job. It’s a passion project we run alongside our professional careers.

 

Photo credit: Anna Patritsiya

How did you meet, and what inspired you to start NIWA together?

Rebecca: We met at our first job in Austria and connected over our shared feminist perspectives and a book called Invisible Women. The rest is history.

We’d both experienced situations where we felt we had to figure everything out on our own, and realized there were so many other women going through the same thing.

We started meeting every weekend over the summer of 2021 to figure out what we wanted the community to offer. Initially, we focused on making practical information more accessible, expanding on resources Estefanía had compiled for the Mexican community in Austria.

We wanted to make moving here easier, but also create a space where women could share their experiences and help one another.

 

Photo credit: Anna Patritsiya

How did your own experiences shape the community you wanted to create?

Estefanía: Our experiences were different, but we faced many of the same challenges. We both arrived in Austria without knowing many people beyond our partners, and knew how difficult it could be to establish ourselves personally and professionally.

Moving to another country is already an uphill battle, without all the challenges that come afterward. Finding a job, learning the language and building friendships can be overwhelming without a support system.

We’d also experienced situations where we didn’t feel fairly compensated or comfortable speaking up for ourselves. We wanted to share what we’d learned about becoming more independent and help other women find that same confidence.

That’s why NIWA focuses on professional development, job market integration, financial literacy and, of course, connection.

Today, we’ve helped more than 5,000 women make meaningful connections, whether that’s finding a job, a flatmate, a friend or simply getting a recommendation for a good doctor or hairdresser in Vienna.

 

"Networking doesn't have to be boring or intimidating. You don't need to wear a suit, make uncomfortable small talk or try to impress everyone with your professional vocabulary. You can just show up as yourself."

How did your own experiences as international women shape the community you wanted to create?

Estefanía: Our experiences were different, but we faced many of the same challenges. We both arrived in Austria without knowing many people beyond our partners, and we knew how difficult it could be to establish ourselves personally and professionally.

Moving to another country is already an uphill battle, without all the challenges that come afterward. Finding a job, learning the language, building friendships and understanding how things work can be overwhelming when you don’t have a support system.

We wanted to share what we’d learned about becoming more independent and help other women find that same confidence. That’s why NIWA focuses on professional development, job market integration, financial literacy and, of course, connection.

Today, we’ve helped more than 5,000 women make meaningful connections, whether that’s finding a job, a new flatmate, a friend or simply getting a recommendation for a good doctor or hairdresser in Vienna.

Photo credit: Anna Patritsiya

What do you think makes NIWA different from more traditional professional networks?

Rebecca: When we started, we realized that women weren’t just looking for career advice or new friendships. They needed both. So we decided to create events that combine practical skill-building with opportunities for genuine social connection.

For example, we’ve hosted financial literacy workshops at Zoku Vienna where women can learn about investing, stocks and taking control of their finances. We’ll spend an hour or so on the workshop and then leave plenty of time for networking afterward.

But we also want to show that networking doesn’t have to be boring or intimidating. You don’t need to wear a suit, make uncomfortable small talk or try to impress everyone with your professional vocabulary. You can just show up as yourself.

Sometimes we’ll organize networking bingo, where participants have to find someone who’s worked in more than two countries, speaks three languages or recently moved to Austria. It’s a simple way to break the ice.

Estefanía: Connecting with other people is a skill in itself, and it’s one that can make a real difference when you’re trying to establish yourself in a new country.

But we kept hearing the same concerns from women in our community: “I’m an introvert. How am I supposed to network?” Or “I don’t speak German.”

That’s why we try to create an environment where connection happens naturally. Authenticity is one of the most important parts of NIWA.

 

NIWA organizes everything from smaller workshops and gatherings to larger events like Sprechen Sie Success. Can you tell us a little about the different experiences you create?

Rebecca: Our events are designed to give women a combination of inspiration, practical knowledge and opportunities to connect.

Sprechen Sie Success is our larger annual event, which we’ve now organized three times. What started as a one-day event has grown into a two-day experience bringing together speakers, entrepreneurs and women from different industries and backgrounds.

The first day focuses on inspiration, with keynote speeches, performances and opportunities to discover female-owned businesses. The second day is dedicated to hands-on workshops where participants can develop skills they can actually apply to their own lives and careers.

We want women to leave our events not only feeling inspired, but also having learned something useful and met people they can stay connected with.

 

Photo credit: Anna Patritsiya

What do you hope women take away from being part of NIWA?

Estefanía: Ultimately, we want our events to give women the tools, confidence and connections to become more independent and create the lives they want for themselves.

Whether someone’s looking for a job, hoping to start their own business, working toward a promotion or simply trying to build a social circle in a new country, we want them to know they don’t have to figure everything out alone.

Because the goal isn’t just to help women survive in a new country. It’s to help them thrive.

About NIWA

The Network of International Women (NIWA) is an NGO established to equip migrant women with the necessary resources to lead fulfilling lives in Austria and foster a sense of belonging through workshops and events focusing on job market integration, professional development, and financial independence.

Learn more about NIWA

Related articles