Katrien Herdewyn was born and raised in the region of Leuven and currently divides her time between Belgium and San Francisco. After a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and Material Sciences, she completed a Master’s in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology at KULeuven. Alongside her scientific pursuits as a researcher in Solid State Physics and Magnetism, she obtained an additional degree in Footwear Design at the Academy of Fine Arts SASK, rooted in a passion for footwear since childhood. Sensing the magnetic pull of both domains in her life, she founded fashion tech company Elegnano in 2014. Her work was quickly picked up by media like Vogue and TEDx and won Startup of the Year in Belgium in 2015. For the past decade as an entrepreneur, Katrien Herdewyn has bridged the gap between science and fashion, using technology to improve quality, efficiency, and the environmental impact of the fashion industry (specialisation in footwear), through her own venture Elegnano and in collaboration and partnership with international multinationals, SMEs and startups. She is also Honorary Professor in Engineering at Belgian university KULeuven, Board Member at the Prince Albert Fund, and Belwest - two prominent Belgian organisations promoting international business. She was listed among Belgium’s 40 under 40 and Inspiring Fifty Europe for women in STEM.