Shaping the Next Generation of Women CEOs: Orlie Gruper’s Mission to Close the Leadership Gap
Written by Liat Rhodes Gadot – Director of Business Development
She calls herself a “high-tech baby,” a description that hints at the trajectory her life and career have followed: one of curiosity, audacity, and impact in the fast-moving world of technology and innovation. Orlie Gruper, founder of Women in Mobility Israel, CEO of EcoMotion, and a longtime friend and partner to MIBA, has spent her career navigating spaces traditionally dominated by men — and reshaping them from the inside out.
Growing up in multiple countries, including formative years in Michigan, Gruper developed an early fascination with mobility and automotive innovation. After returning to Israel and completing her military service, she became the first woman to manage a private vehicle fleet, setting the tone for a career defined by breaking boundaries. Her later tenure as CEO of EcoMotion — a hub connecting startups, corporates, investors, and government agencies — placed her at the center of Israel’s innovation ecosystem, particularly in mobility, but the lessons she learned there would later expand far beyond the sector.
It was at a mobility industry conference that a seemingly mundane moment sparked a transformative idea. She noticed the men’s restroom line stretched endlessly while the women’s restroom stood empty. That observation crystallized a systemic truth: women were present in the ecosystem, but their leadership opportunities lagged far behind.
Motivated to create change, Gruper started a forum for women in mobility. She invited 30 women she knew personally and asked them to invite others. The network grew rapidly, organically, eventually becoming Women in Mobility Israel, a thriving community connecting women across technology, mobility, and innovation sectors. That first large gathering confirmed what she had long suspected: there were plenty of women ready to lead — they simply lacked connection and support.
The initiative evolved into the CEO Academy, a six-month program designed to transform experienced women from various industries into CEOs and entrepreneurs. Meeting once every two weeks for full-day sessions, participants learn practical leadership skills, investor engagement, and startup management frameworks. Beyond theory, the program opens doors — facilitating job interviews, introductions to investors, and access to networks that were previously out of reach.
The results are striking: in the last cohort, 50% of the women went on to become CEOs, a tangible demonstration that the program doesn’t just teach skills — it creates pathways to leadership. Gruper’s approach is designed to instill confidence, entrepreneurial bravery, and the tools necessary to succeed in competitive startup environments.
Her vision is deeply personal. “When I look around at leadership programs,” she says, “many are designed for women in weaker positions. I want to target ambitious women — to give them the skills, tools, and courage to step into startups and lead.” Her insight is grounded in real-world data: while at EcoMotion, she advertised two positions in different sectors — only 8% of applicants were women. The gap is stark, and she is determined to address it.
Her commitment is global. After the disruptions of October 7th, when international delegations were unable to visit Israel, Gruper partnered with MIBA to organize a Women in Mobility delegation to Michigan, leveraging her personal connection to the state. The delegation forged numerous professional and business connections, and while she didn’t track outcomes formally, she is confident that it yielded tangible benefits. Looking ahead, she envisions opening CEO Academy cohorts in Europe and the United States, with Michigan remaining a particular focus.
Meeting Gruper, it’s immediately clear that she is a go-getter. She sees a problem, crafts a solution, and mobilizes others to believe in it. Her approach is pragmatic yet visionary: systemic change requires both structure and personal initiative. The result is a program that not only addresses leadership disparities but also cultivates a new generation of women capable of shaping Israel’s — and the world’s — startup ecosystem.
“I want women to be brave, to lead, to build startups,” she says. “We have the talent. We just need the platform to show it.”
Through vision, tenacity, and measurable results, Orlie Gruper is doing exactly that — one cohort, one network, and one CEO at a time.
