• What does the leadership landscape look like for women in 2025?
• The dangers of tokenism and the impact on women’s careers
• Progress made so far, and priorities for the near future

• Evolution of women’s career blockers in recent years
• Taking a closer look at the glass ceiling – what does it look like for you?
• Painting a collective picture of the barriers faced by women in 2025

• Common challenges that women face in male-dominated spaces
• Dealing with isolation when managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• Building mental resilience

This panel aims to define and understand how privilege shapes women’s work experiences in modern workplace.

• Can you identify your own privilege, as well as the lack of one? Understanding how it impacts your career
• The impact of role models and representation
• How can women with certain privileges use them to advocate for others without speaking over them?
• Questions and Answers

Speakers:

• Amy Kohl, Founder of The Female Founder, Mentor, Women in Business Advocate
• Aline Miller, Director of the University Innovation Academy, Associate Dean for Business Engagement & Innovation in FSE, Director of the NW Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M, University of Manchester
• Carol Ann Whitehead, CMI Chair - West Midlands and North West Board at Chartered Management Institute, and Co-Founder of Zebra Partnership

• How race, ethnicity, culture, religion, or immigration status intersect with gender in shaping career paths
• The value of storytelling and bringing lived experiences into leadership conversations
• The power of cultural intuition, multilingualism, and diverse worldviews in leadership

• Defining effective and practical allyship
• Can you be an ally without calling yourself one?
• Building a culture of allyship instead of focusing on individual efforts

• The role of humility in allyship: listening without centering yourself
• What are some examples of meaningful allyship that you have witnessed, received, or given?
• Examples of performative allyship
• How can men become active allies?

Speakers:

• Cllr Hilaria Asumu, Councillor at Walkden South, Salford City Council; Fairer Health for All Fellow at Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
  
• Wayne Bennett, Tech Recruitment Partner, Northern Power Women Advocate and EDI & ADHD Advocate
• Lee Chambers, Director at Male Allies UK, Gender Equity and Menopause Advocate, UN Women Changemaker Awardee, Board Member at CMI Women's Institute

This is a practical exercise that aims to help you identify microaggressions and biases, and help you formulate strategies and responses that effectively tackle them.

• How has the perception of flexible working evolved—especially post-pandemic?
• Broadening perspectives about who flexible working is for, and who should be entitled to it
• Challenging assumptions about commitment, availability, or leader potential when working flexibly or juggling multiple demands/life roles

• What exactly is imposter syndrome, and how does it manifest in different women’s experiences?
• The impact of imposter syndrome on decision-making and leadership potential, including common behaviours
• Practical techniques to challenge self-doubt and reframe negative thoughts

Become a mentor – brainstorm solutions to leadership challenges presented at your table!

• How conventional leadership frameworks exclude those who lead differently 
• The impact of bias, masking and double standards experienced by neurodivergent women in leadership
• The double shift: leading others while unpacking your own late-diagnosed neurodivergence 
• Practical strategies to shift the focus from fixing the individual to redesigning the system

• Understanding gender-specific health issues that impact women’s career progression and leadership potential
• The importance of health-centric workplace policies
• How can female leaders prioritise tailored self-care?