My Top Picks at the Women in Work Summit

I found the swirl of allegations around Russell Brand this week shocking, of course, but not that surprising. I took it as a stark reminder that for all genders, workplaces are not always as harmonious as we would like. Increasingly it’s something I feel a responsibility to be part of: to be part of the generation that can evoke eal change. We need to be comfortable enough to bring our whole selves to work, and once we are there, to be given the support to do our very best work.

Next week’s not-to-be-missed WiW Summit is not just another women’s business event. It brings new focus to the conversation; shining a light not only on women’s career paths in 2023, but also on improving health outcomes for women at all life stages. Ultimately, it makes the link between business performance and growth AND advancing women unignorable.

There are live sessions throughout the day covering the key themes that support this, including the value of role models, how to gain a better understanding of our own health needs, the importance of male allies, and how to embed the right culture from the top down. 

Tuesday morning kicks off with the powerhouse that is Mariella Frostrup - the driving force behind this entire movement, asking what we think a ’successful’ career path looks like in 2023. Mine certainly doesn’t look like the original plan, there have been plenty of curve balls along the way, and much to learn. Mariella has been instrumental in shining a light on how our health challenges affect our working lives through her advocacy on gender and social issues. Her groundbreaking BBC1 documentary - The Truth About Menopause - really kicked off the conversation, and her campaign calling on the government to act, to educate and to improve access to medication for all women, The Menopause Mandate is really gathering pace in 2023. 

In the second session of the day Mariella will then take a wide spectrum of views from MP’s across the house, in her discussion with Carolyn Harris, Anneliese Dodds, and Caroline Nokes. In her own way, she will press them on what they are doing to make things happen, the policies they are pushing forward, and their hopes for the future. Not to be missed!

I anticipate the mid-morning sessions to be the highlight for me. I’m really looking forward to hearing from Ian Elliott and Dame Sharon White. Ian is the Chief People Officer at PwC UK. He is passionate about cultivating a fair culture which embraces different, and about leading people as they grow in a way that allows them to flourish, and not just because it’s morally the right thing to do, but because it’s economically essential. His message is: that when women thrive, your business will too. 

Dame Sharon is a trained economist with an incredible career to date, via stints as CEO at the Treasury and Ofcom. She's now the sixth Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership. Who better to talk about role modelling in 2023?

Late morning hones in a little more on the health aspects. I’ve been on my own journey of discovery for the past two years to better understand how I’ve been affected by hormonal changes in my body, how it’s affected my life at work as well as at home. Dr Nighat Arif will interview Kate Ryder who is Founder and CEO of the The Maven Clinic, a headline sponsor of the event. The Maven Clinic is a hidden gem for women (and families) in the workplace. They work with employers to deliver personalised support for women and families in all life stages. They support fertility, pregnancy, parenting, paediatrics and menopause, which are delivering better health outcomes, ability to return to work, and consequently game-changing results.

Their recent research shows that less than a quarter of women go back to full time work after having children, and of that 24%, 79% ended up leaving anyway due to not being able to maintain a full time role. Kate Ryder claims 90% of their members return to work following parental leave, and I can’t wait to hear how this is made possible, and how they are planning to support future generations. 

Just before lunch the big guns take to the floor. These two sessions put the C-suite in the spotlight. Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, followed by the incredibly wise Mark Read share their thoughts and experiences on what the boss can do to embed a top down culture that embraces equity. It’s said that culture eats everything else for breakfast, and a policy in document form means nothing unless it is championed right from the very top, and not seen as a tick box or after-thought. We will hear the valuable lived experience from Alex on how her organisation moved from education to implementation, and engagement to build a culture of true inclusivity. 

I expect the interview with Mark Read to echo and build on Alex’s session. It’s said ‘the culture of any organisation is shaped by the work behaviour the leader is willing to tolerate’ (Gruener & Whitaker). What can business leaders do to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. We will hear from Mark how organisations should join up what they put in place internally, with external action. 

There are plenty of breakout opportunities throughout the day, including a networking lunch to look forward to, leading into an afternoon that really brings some more strong male voices to the fore. 

At 2pm Lori Meakin, author of the excellent No More Menemies will host a panel discussion bringing some leading male allies. This super high-quality panel including Paul Pester (TSB, Virgin Money), Varun Chandra (Hakluyt), and Ryan Mendy(Zilch) will explore the male C-suite perspective, where we’ll hear some very candid perspectives and personal experiences from senior men in business, and get their advice on how to cultivate workforces that truly support all genders. 

The debate around fathers and shared parental leave remains a hot topic. Significantly more education is required to help senior leaders understand how this can benefit women’s careers and ultimately business outcomes. Elliott Rae, Founder of MusicFootballFatherhood promises a lively talk on shared parental leave systems and especially why they continue to have a very low take up, how this exacerbates gender inequality, and what can be done about it. 

The day will end with lots of health related facts and figures to ponder on. Research findings and practical measurements, inputs and outcomes. The peerless Dame Lesley Regan - Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College - will accessibly break down the key stages in a woman’s life where we need to adapt and make workplaces more hospitable, to maximise productivity and performance. She will also highlight when biology is as much of a productivity driver as a potential barrier. 

The WiW Summit promises a stimulating and insightful day, with some powerful messages (and practical tips) to take away.  Improving the experience for women in the workplace is not just good for women, it's good for business, and it will take a lot of focus and energy to get us there.

But the views aired and discussions to be had at the WiW Summit are doing a lot more than just getting the ball rolling, they will make us all part of something special, a real movement that will undoubtedly improve the lot of future generations. 

I hope to see you there!

Still time to join us..