Meet Kat Borlongan, The Filipina Tech Leader Who Just Got Knighted(!) In France

Women in tech? Yes, please. A Filipina leading the charge in Europe's innovation scene—and getting knighted for it? An even bigger yes, please.

Kat Borlongan has just been awarded the French National Order of Merit, one of France's highest distinctions given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the country. According to Philippine Ambassador to France and Monaco Eduardo de Vega, it's the second-highest honor in France—just below the Legion of Honor—and, as far as officials know, the first time a Filipina has received it.

The distinction places her in the same league as cultural and global figures like King Juan Carlos of Spain and French-Armenian singer-songwriter and actor Charles Aznavour. Not exactly your typical LinkedIn network.

At the ceremony held at France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kat described an emotional moment shared with those who had witnessed her journey up close. "I cried. A lot of people were crying… mostly because of the journey towards that," she shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Onstage, she made a deliberate choice to fully claim her Filipino identity, an act that carried as much meaning as the medal itself. The recognition also became a platform to speak about migration and community, reframing her achievement as something made possible through collective support rather than individual brilliance. 

"I was able to do it because people believed in me," she shared in the same interview, later adding that leadership, to her, is about bringing people together and moving in the same direction in a way that actually gets things done. "A Knight isn't someone who simply receives a medal. A Knight is someone who defends what they love."

Kat's path to this milestone began with a decision to leave the Philippines at 19, carrying both personal challenges and a determination to build a life in France on her own terms. France wasn't an obvious destination at first, but a chance encounter with French students during an internship at Ateneo de Manila University opened the door.

She arrived in Paris without speaking the language or a clear safety net. The early adjustment was tough. She recalled breaking down in school, saying, "I was just crying lang talaga sa cubicle. [But] going home was not an option… I have to make this work."

She went on to earn her Political Science degree from Sorbonne University and later completed a master's at McGill University. By 23, she was already leading Reporters Without Borders Canada, marking the start of a career defined by high-impact roles across tech, media, and public policy.

After co-founding an open data startup later acquired by Capgemini, Kat was tapped by the French government under President Emmanuel Macron to lead La French Tech, its flagship startup initiative. The appointment alone raised eyebrows—she wasn't even a French citizen at the time—but it quickly became clear why she was chosen.

Ofc, while she's out bossing the tech scene, Kat is making plenty of time for the people (and things) closest to her heart. She and her husband, Renaud Visage, had their dream wedding in Coron, Palawan, and are raising two kids together. They're also total plantitas, adopting two calamansi trees affectionately named Caloy and Manoy.

Fun fact: when she first met Barack Obama through the Obama Foundation Leaders Program, Kat honored her roots by wearing her mother's baro't saya and greeting him in French—a heartwarming nod to her Filipino heritage and her immigrant pride.

Over four years, Kat helped accelerate France's rise as a leading startup hub in Europe. She played a key role in expanding a global network of more than 120 tech communities, while advancing initiatives like the French Tech Visa and programs supporting underrepresented founders.

Today, Kat continues to operate at the intersection of tech and policy as an ambassador for the European Innovation Council, helping shape conversations around deep tech and long-term strategy. Her work extends to the Philippines, including open data initiatives during Typhoon Yolanda and ongoing engagement with the local startup community.

"We are at our strongest when we choose trust… in the belief that belonging can be earned, learned, and built," she says. "My hope is to help keep the French Dream alive for [my daughters], and for all those who follow."

Congratulations, Kat!