everywoman Global Summit Agenda
Training and Focus Day
6 November: The Employee Resource Group Leaders’ Academy
For managing/leading affinity groups, employee resource groups, inclusion forums or diversity networks.
Global Summit
7 – 8 November: Leadership Development Summit
For women and male allies looking to advance their careers in either a people management or individual contributor role.
India Forum
8 – 9 November: Leadership development content focused on the Indian market
Tuesday 7 November: Day One – Leadership Development Summit
09:30 GMT/ 05:00 EST
EMEA breakfast workshop #IamRemarkable
Break free of imposter syndrome with this intensive practical workshop. Learn about the importance of self-promotion in your professional life and equip yourself the with tools to do it in an authentic and confident way.
Presenter:
- Sarah Chapman, Application Engineering Leader, 3M
11:30 GMT/ 06:30 EST
Welcome and opening remarks


11:40 GMT/ 06:40 EST
Keynote – How to change 2 billion minds: embracing an activist mindset
Anjali Gopalan has spent her life fighting to help others. She has founded a care home which provides sanctuary for over 60 children living with HIV. She spearheaded an 18 year legal battle to decriminalise homosexuality in India. She then went on to establish the All Creatures Great and Small animal sanctuary in Harayana.
Anjali will share how she chose the right team and partners and supported and empowered them to get behind each cause, creating an environment where people can contribute creatively, develop their skills and own their achievements.
Keynote speaker:
- Anjali Gopalan, Founder and Executive Director, Naz Foundation (India) Trust
12:00 GMT/ 07:00 EST
Keynote: The science of teams: how to get the best out of each other
We often talk about teams, teamwork, team cohesion, and team leaders. What we talk about less is what we mean by ‘a team’. It’s so dangerously intuitive and obvious that we rarely, if ever, examine our assumptions about teams (whatever each of us means by that). Prof Walsh will address this fundamental issue in the context of social cohesion, group sustainability, and the place of teams in defining the stability of networks within the workplace. He will explain the biological origins of team structure and illustrate the importance of defining teams through examples from art, film, music, the military, and social groups. The talk will give you a new perspective on how to form and manage groups of any kind. In the meantime Prof Walsh has asked that attendees think of their favourite pop group, sitcom/movie, or classical composer to provide some further examples on the day.
Keynote speaker:
- Vincent Walsh, Professor of Human Brain Research, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL
12:20 GMT/ 07:25 EST
Networking break
12:50 GMT/ 07:50 EST
Panel: Sustainability leadership – proactively creating positive change
- Making the shift from purely decarbonising your operations to proactively taking on initiatives that positively impact the world
- How are leaders embodying the ethical and social values of the organisation?
- What kinds of initiatives are sustainable leaders driving?
- New types of collaborations coming out of the sustainability agenda
Moderator:
- Emma Pinchbeck, CEO, Energy UK
13:30 GMT/ 08:30 EST
Specialist pathways – Session 1
Micro workshop: Developing your leadership presence
- What does a good leader look like and how can we emulate these qualities?
- How to make an impact in meetings and ensure you come across as a future leader
- Recognising the skills and qualities you already have that you can take with you into a management role
- Putting yourself forward for opportunities to step up in the organisation
Keynote: Getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations in the workplace
Keynote speaker:
- Estelle Hollingsworth, Chief People Officer, Virgin Atlantic
13:50 GMT/ 08:50 EST
Briefing: Creating a workplace where neurodivergent talent can thrive
Around 15 to 20% of the world’s population is estimated to be neurodivergent and this figure will be higher in some workplaces. What is the emerging best practice for supporting neurodivergent team members and building an environment where they can bring their whole selves to work?
You will gain practical guidance on:
- Creating psychological safety for neurodivergent colleagues in your team
- Approaching conversations about experiences and workplace adjustments with neurodivergent team members
- Adjustments that can create a more inclusive environment for dyslexic, ADHD and autistic people
- A leaders’ role in driving awareness of neurodiversity throughout the organisation
Speakers:
- Marcia Brissett-Bailey, Author of “Black, Brilliant & Dyslexic”
14:10 GMT/ 09:10 EST
Specialist pathways – Session 2
Power hour: How to be more adaptable in high-pressure situations
Learning to adopt an agile mindset can allow you to adapt and grow as your organisation moves through transformations, be it a restructure, new technology rollout or cultural change.
In this impactful power hour, you will discover new tools and will be asked to challenge yourself to:
- Accept change with an agility mindset
- Be the change agent you need to be
- Contribute to a team environment that is forward thinking and adaptable
14:30 GMT/ 09:30 EST
Briefing: LGBTQ+ inclusion: what does it look like in the most progressive companies?
- How to have sensitive conversations with LGBTQ+ colleagues to ensure they feel a sense of belonging in your team
- Calling out discriminatory behaviours while bringing the wider team on board with LGBTQ+ inclusion
- Which policies and initiatives have been successful in supporting gay, lesbian and bisexual colleagues in the workplace?
- Getting comfortable with pronouns – how and when to use them to drive equity and belonging
- What policies and initiatives do progressive organisations have in place to support transgender colleagues?
Speakers:
- Alice Rowe, Industrial Relations Manager and Co-Chair of Centrica ‘+’ LGBTQ+ Network, Centrica
15:10 GMT/10:10 EST
Build your network: the speed networking challenge
15:40 GMT/11:40 EST
Sticking your head above the parapet: how to be the leader you always wished you had
Keynote speaker:
- Debbie Chandler, CFO, RVU
16:00 GMT/ 12:00 EST
Panel: The mid-career woman’s survival guide: navigating ageism, the glass ceiling and the menopause
- What support should women expect from their employer during perimenopause and the menopause?
- Starting conversations on the menopause with your manager and colleagues and bringing men into these discussions
- How are women overcoming the double blow of ageism and sexism as they progress into senior roles?
- Personal stories: how have women reinvented themselves in mid-career?
Moderator:
- Emily Gabrielson, Head of Health and Wellbeing, Centrica
Panellists include:
- Christa D’Souza, Freelance Journalist and Author of “The Hot Topic, A Life Changing Approach to The Change of Life”
- Tina Dinger, SVP, Head of Enterprise Project Management Office and Co-Lead of LEAD for Women ERG, Northwest Bank
- Charlotte Clutterbuck, Digital Director, Thought Clothing
16:40 GMT/ 12:40 EST
Closing remarks


Wednesday 8 November: Day Two – Leadership Development Summit
12:30 GMT/ 07:30 EST
Welcome and opening remarks


12:40 GMT/ 07:40 EST
Keynote – My career as a serial rule breaker
13:00 GMT/ 08:00 EST
Panel – Making male allyship the norm throughout your organisation
- Reaching critical mass: how to convert men into allies throughout the business
- Having conversations around the problems and how can men help
- Bringing men into gender-related conversations in the workplace, creating psychological safety for them to share their stories and ask questions
- Activating male allies: involving them meaningfully in initiatives, employee networks and meetings
Panellists include:
- Declan O’Gorman, Head of Enterprise Engineering, NatWest
13:40 GMT/ 08:40 EST
Group Coaching
Our global mentors will cover the skills needed for effective leadership, personal growth and to help you to progress. Bring along a willingness to turn on your camera and get involved in the conversation.
- Leading and reinspiring your team through difficult times and setbacks
- Mayada Al-Ahmad, Business Unit Lead, Oncology Middle East & Africa, Bristol Myers Squibb
- Embracing self-promotion: own what you’ve done!
- Amelia Austin, BI Team Lead, The Phoenix Group
- Tackling internal unconscious bias
- How to achieve better work/life balance as you move into more senior roles
- The new hybrid workplace: what is working and what is not working?
- Sheetal Bhardwaj, Global Sanctions Governance and Oversight, Binance
- Instilling mentorship at all levels
14:20 GMT/ 09:20 EST
Fireside chat – Bringing your EQ to work: rethinking what leadership qualities look like
Speakers:
- Brenda Hoffman, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Market Platforms, Nasdaq
14:40 GMT/ 09:40 EST
Ten minute medication: Centre your mind
14:50 GMT/ 09:50 EST
Networking break
15:10 GMT/ 10:10 EST
Specialist pathways – Session 1
Having a voice in building an inclusive culture at all levels of your organisation
- What are the roles of employees and managers in driving the cultural shift towards everyday inclusivity?
- How to approach conversations about equity in the workplace
- Creative ways to bring colleagues on board with diversity and inclusion initiatives
Panellists include:
- Giorgia Vulcano, Global Digital Ethics Manager, AB InBev
- Robert Powell, Director, Pro Bono & Corporate Responsibility, London, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Panel: Attracting and inspiring the new generation of diverse female talent
- Gen Z recruitment strategies: thinking creatively about where you advertise and how you engage a diverse group of women
- Onboarding and training strategies: how long do they need, where are their skills gaps, how can we draw on their strengths?
- Secrets to a successful apprenticeship scheme
- Tapping into the interests and enthusiasm of the new generation to create a buzz in the team
Panellists include:
- Lisa McBride, Chair of Women in Nuclear Canada and Country Leader, Small Modular Reactors, GE Hitachi
- Funmi Dele-Giwa, General Counsel and Head, GRC, MFS Africa
- Betsabeh Solente, Non Executive Director, Toms Gruppen and Former CMO, Godiva
15:50 GMT/ 10:50 EST
Specialist pathways – Session 2
Micro workshops: Turning allyship into real action
A practical guide for supporting your colleagues within specific groups in the workplace, fostering a sense of belonging for all staff so they can thrive within their roles. You will hear top practical tips and real workplace stories to bring issues to life. You will also have the chance to ask questions so you can come away with a new level of confidence and clarity on your personal inclusion pathway.
Choose from one of the focused workshops below:
- LGBTQ+
- Pips Bunce, Director, Investment Banking Technology – Strategic Programs, Credit Suisse
2) Racial minorities
3) Disabilities
- Alex Moore, UK Product Team Lead and Disability Board Member, Computershare (subject to approval)
Panel: Building an environment of psychological safety and trust for the whole team
- Empowering people within a framework, creating psychological safety within guardrails
- The role of wellbeing champions and mental first aiders in building trust and safety within a team
- Creative ways of encouraging team members to be open about their concerns, challenges and needs
Panellists include:
- Kim Daplyn, Senior Guest Relations & Compliance Manager, Scott Dunn
- Priya Trivedi, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer, G-III Apparel Group
- LaLisha Hurt, Industry Advisor, Public Sector Federal, Splunk
16:30 GMT/ 11:30 EST
Closing remarks


Wednesday 8 November: Day One – India Forum
12:00 IST
Welcome and opening remarks


12:10 IST
Keynote – How to change 2 billion minds: embracing an activist mindset
Anjali Gopalan has spent her life fighting to help others. She has founded a care home which provides sanctuary for over 60 children living with HIV. She spearheaded an 18 year legal battle to decriminalise homosexuality in India. She then went on to establish the All Creatures Great and Small animal sanctuary in Harayana.
Anjali will share how she chose the right team and partners and supported and empowered them to get behind each cause, creating an environment where people can contribute creatively, develop their skills and own their achievements.
Keynote speaker:
- Anjali Gopalan, Founder and Executive Director, Naz Foundation (India) Trust
12:30 IST
Panel – Stories from the C-suite: how we made it to senior leadership
- How have women leaders set up the support structures to allow them to take on a demanding senior role?
- Personal stories of overcoming biases and breaking stereotypes on the journey to the C-suite
- Top tips on being taken seriously as a woman in leadership and setting yourself up for career advancement
Panellists include:
- Pooja Chatrath, Chief Information Officer, Oncquest Laboratories
13:20 IST
Lunch and networking break
13:50 IST
Panel – Bringing your EQ to work: how to be the best version of yourself as a leader
Kalpana will draw on her 25+ years on the financial services industry, sharing her story and her advice on how to be a strong leader while at the same time using your emotional intelligence, inner strength and authenticity to bring the best out of your team.
Keynote speaker:
- Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head South Asia, Women’s World Banking
14:10 IST
Build your circle of influence: the speed networking challenge
14:30 IST
Panel: How do we build an environment where women stay and progress into senior leadership?
- Why don’t women stay in the workplace? What can we do to ensure they rise into the leadership ranks?
- Virtual and hybrid workplaces: what is their role in bringing about the flexibility needed for more women to progress into leadership?
- Supporting women in a successful return to the workplace after a sabbatical
- Recognising and overcoming gender bias in an organisation
- Success stories from strong succession planning strategies that have included both men and women
Panellists include:
- Garima Gupta, Head of IT Security, Ericsson
- Aparna Mendon S, Regional Head – Retail, ICICI Bank
- Padma Parthasarathy, Senior Vice President and Global Head Consulting and Digital Services, Tech Mahindra
15:00 IST
Networking break
15:20 IST
Panel: Tapping into sponsorship, mentoring and coaching to accelerate your career
- What are the different roles of sponsors, mentors and coaches and what benefits can each of them bring to your career?
- How to approach a sponsor, mentor or coach in the workplace
- What do mentors and sponsors look for in a potential mentee?
Panellists include:
- Mehak Khanna, Partner, Khaitan & Khaitan (K&K)
- Sanchita Mukherji, Co-Founder and Partner, BLUE EDGE
- Anjali Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Sify Technologies
16:00 IST
Five-minute meditation
16:10 IST
Panel – Inclusion: making real cultural change at the core of the organisation
- How to begin making people believe in diversity and inclusion?
- Arguing the economics of diversity: the business cases around staff retention, innovation and risk management
- What are organisations doing to shift the core culture so that gender diversity and inclusion are accepted as the norm?
Panellists include:
- Tejshree Madhu, Head of Program Management & Biz Excellence, Siemens India
- Poonam Singh, Deputy General Manager – Leadership Development, Larsen & Toubro
- Meenal Maheshwari, Group Legal Director, Lemmatree
16:30 IST
Closing remarks


Thursday 9 November: Day Two – India Forum
12:55 IST
Welcome and opening remarks


13:00 IST
Keynote – My career as a serial rule breaker
13:30 IST
Panel – Striking a balance between authenticity and adaptability as a leader
- Finding your authentic voice as a leader
- Being authentic while also adjusting your leadership style based on each individual in your team
- Being agile enough to pivot when faced with a major change to your organisation, industry or market
Panellists include:
- Gayathri Krishna, Vice President – Full Stride Cloud Services (India, SEA and ME, Wipro
- Aruna Vaz, Deputy Head- Enterprise Risk Management, Aster DM Healthcare
- Snigdha Ghosh Ray, Managing Director, India Product Development Center & VP, Payment Product, Diebold Nixdorf
- Reshma G, Director- Projects & Strategy , Habitat for All
14:15 IST
Panel – Making male allyship the norm throughout your organisation
- Reaching critical mass: how to convert men into allies throughout the business
- Having conversations around the problems and how can men help
- Bringing men into gender-related conversations in the workplace, creating psychological safety for them to share their stories and ask questions
- Activating male allies: involving them meaningfully in initiatives, employee networks and meetings
Moderator:
- Richard Sofer, Tui
Panellists include:
- Declan O’Gorman, Head of Enterprise Engineering, NatWest
- Alan Fairlane, Centrica
15:00 IST
Networking break
15:30 IST
Panel – Building an environment of psychological safety and trust for the whole team
- Empowering people within a framework, creating psychological safety within guardrails
- The role of wellbeing champions and mental first aiders in building trust and safety within a team
- Creative ways of encouraging team members to be open about their concerns, challenges and needs
Panellist include:
- Kim Daplyn, Senior Guest Relations & Compliance Manager, Scott Dunn
- Priya Trivedi, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer, G-III Apparel Group
- LaLisha Hurt, Industry Advisor, Public Sector Federal, Splunk
16:15 IST
Keynote – The science of teams: how to get the best out of each other
We often talk about teams, teamwork, team cohesion, and team leaders. What we talk about less is what we mean by ‘a team’. It’s so dangerously intuitive and obvious that we rarely, if ever, examine our assumptions about teams (whatever each of us means by that). Prof Walsh will address this fundamental issue in the context of social cohesion, group sustainability, and the place of teams in defining the stability of networks within the workplace. He will explain the biological origins of team structure and illustrate the importance of defining teams through examples from art, film, music, the military, and social groups. The talk will give you a new perspective on how to form and manage groups of any kind. In the meantime Prof Walsh has asked that attendees think of their favourite pop group, sitcom/movie, or classical composer to provide some further examples on the day.
Keynote speaker:
- Vincent Walsh, Professor of Human Brain Research, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL
17:00 IST
Closing remarks


Monday 6 November: The Employee Resource Group Leaders’ Academy
12:30 GMT/ 07:30 EST
Welcome and opening remarks


12:40 GMT/ 07:40 EST
Keynote – A view from an ERG executive sponsor: moving an ERG from purpose to action
13:00 GMT/ 08:00 EST
Case study – How to inspire support across the organisation for your ERG and its initiatives
- Produce a clear strategy, align with the corporate strategy, and communicate it widely
- Build a strong coalition and influencer network
- Constantly communicate with the business: celebrating wins, highlighting important topics and holding leadership to account
- Develop a psychological safe space
- Form strong connections with all the ERGs and embrace intersectionality
Speaker:
- Lucy Ring, Business Development Manager, Chair of the Global Gender Diversity Employee Resource Group, Janus Henderson Investors
13:20 GMT/ 08:20 EST
Case study – Thinking outside the business: embarking on a meaningful partnership with a charity that shares your values
- The strategy behind partnering with a charity group – what are we looking to achieve?
- The process of identifying and choosing the right charity for the partnership
- How we approached the charity and started small in our relationship with them
- Embarking on meaningful initiatives that have an impact on the wider community and inspire employee network members
Speaker:
- Caragh Knight, Associate Publishing Manager and SN Women UK employee network Chair, Springer Nature Group
13:40 GMT/ 08:40 EST
Build your network – speed networking with other affinity group leaders
Time to meet your peers in this session which will see you paired randomly with other attendees in three minute sessions. A wonderful way to create your own network that you can connect with long after the event is over.
14:00 GMT/ 09:00 EST
Panel – How to win the support of senior leadership for ERG programmes
- Finding an executive sponsor who will actively support your group and engaging them in the ERG’s mission
- Putting across the benefits to the organisation from a commercial perspective, backed up by data
- Where to find the right data and what to do with it to support your argument
- Showcasing successful ERG initiatives to senior leaders
Panellists include:
- Rachel Cormack, UK & Ireland Marketing – Enterprise and Commercial Marketing Lead and Women of Cisco Co-lead, CISCO
- Anita Caras, Former Global Co-Chair for Yahoo’s Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN)
- Ewuraesi Thompson, Senior Strategic Operations Manager and Chair, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Shopify
14:40 GMT/ 09:40 EST
Panel – ERG structures: what’s working, what’s not and why?
- Local groups versus global networks: what are the pros and cons and is there an emerging best practice?
- How to get things done in a larger, geographically dispersed group?
- Coordination and collaboration between ERGs within a geographic area: how to make this work effectively to drive positive change?
- How to organise specific focus groups within an ERG within an ERG while also brining them into the bigger picture
Panellists include:
- Danielle R LaMancuso, Assistant Vice President and Co-Lead of LEAD for Women ERG, Nortwest Bank
- Elizabeth Orenstein, Store Manager, Co-Chair of the Women’s Employee Resource Group, JD Sports
15:20 GMT/ 10:20 EST
External impact – making meaningful change in the world through your ERG
- What is driving the move towards looking outwards to external partnerships with charities, community groups and the wider industry?
- ERG leaders’ experiences of partnering with charities and community groups: top tips for working together in a meaningful way
- How can we engage with customers, partners and suppliers who have shared values to strengthen the relationship and together create better outcomes?
Moderator:
- Krista Griggs, Head of Financial Services & Insurance,
Co-Chair Women’s Business Network, Fujitsu
Panellists include:
- Erica M. Snyder, Collateral & Special Projects Manager – Resilience Environment and Deputy Chair, Global Gender Affinity Group, Communications Chair, Global Access & Neurodiversity Group, Arcadis
- Angela Andrews, Performance and Insights Manager and Co-Lead Autism Pillar, Alliance for Diverse Abilities, Johnson & Johnson
- Mohammed Farshori, Director – Global Community and Environmental Engagement, AT&T
16:00 GMT/ 11:00 EST
Case study
16:45 GMT/ 11:45 EST
Closing remarks and polls
End of Day