Did you miss it?
The first Women In Change Networking Summit was held in November 2023, and featured over 100 changemakers from across sectors and industries coming together for a day of connection, learning and inspiration. Check out the highlights video below and don’t miss out next event!
What is The Networking Summit?
The Networking Summit by Women In Change was an exclusive in-person gathering curated for women shaping change and transformation across sectors and industries. Our 2023 summit was proudly sponsored by Gate One Consulting, and delivered a day of invaluable connections, inspiration, and insights.
Venue: HKX Building, 3 Pancras Square, London
Date: 22nd November 2023
Timings: 8.30 arrivals, finishing with networking drinks from 5pm
2023 Agenda & Speakers
Make sure you're with us in plenty of time, start networking early and pick up a cup of tea or coffee to get the day started!
Arrivals & Networking
8.30 am
Sarah Bar-Lev
Founder & CEO, Women In Change
Katerina Pettitt, Gate One Consulting
Welcome Address
9.00 am
The main event kicked off in the auditorium with a warm welcome from Sarah Bar-Lev, founder and CEO of Women In Change. Our wonderful event sponsors also gave a short welcome and safety briefing to the venue building.
9.15am
Making Connections: A Networking Primer
Rebecca Moore
Director, Deepen Ltd & COO/CMO, Women In Change
We began with warm up to a day of in-person networking, our first session was less of a talk, and more of a facilitated experience diving into what it really means to connect. We had the opportunity to learn the secrets to having meaningful, trust-building conversations with others. The kind of conversations that we rarely have, but often crave.
9.45am
Expert Panel: Lessons in Driving Change
Host: Lou Robey, Lead Change Manager, BBC
Director & Head of Growth, Women In Change
Our panel of top experts shared what they have learned about driving change through their careers, the advice they’d have for those leading change today and what they wish they’d done differently, among other questions and topics.
Our expert panel:
Tendai Wileman, Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust
Deborah McCann, Director of Change and Engagement, Terumo Aortic
Alex Nicolaus, Chief People Officer, Paysend and Virgin Startup Mentor & Advisor
Emma Dagnes, CEO, Alexandra Palace and Park
10.45 am
A chance to stretch your legs, grab a drink and mingle with other delegates to form great connections that may one day change your career, or even your life!
Break & Networking
11.15am
Putting the Human Back Into Change
Laura Bache, Occupational Psychologist, Behaviour-Lab Consulting
Too often organisations focus on the business outcomes of a change and what needs to be different, with the engagement of the humans taking an oversimplistic, top down approach. Human behaviour change can be complex and messy. Our role as change agents is to enable organisations to understand this, lean into and navigate a path through it. Laura Bache, Occupational Psychologist and former Chief People Officer of Purplebricks, will share insights into what drives human behaviour, and mechanisms to develop a change approach that embraces and leverages these.
11.45 am
Keynote: Change and AI: our next frontier for the digital (and still human) workforce
Caro Ruttledge, Gate One Partner
Umbar Shakir, Gate One Partner
We’re at an inflection point, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just digital transformation – organisations are re-thinking work as we know it. As Change Practitioners, we are at the frontline, supporting leadership to harness the benefits of this rapidly evolving technology. In this session, Caro and Umbar will explore what it means to dream big and deliver pragmatically when it comes to the people implications of AI, equipping you to stride confidently into the era of AI.
12.30 pm
Lunchtime and more chances to meet some exciting movers and shakers in the Change & Transformation field.
Lunch & Networking
1.15 pm
Breakout Sessions: Equipping
You to Lead Change
We had three exciting breakout sessions all focussed around a different skill or ability that will set you up to create successful transformation and impact in your role. Women were able to attend one breakout during the hour.
Breakout 1: Embodied Resilience and Adaptability Through Change
Facilitator: Kate Avery, Director, Revitalise Integrative Health Ltd
Breakout 2: Unlocking Secret Strengths
Facilitators: Tamara Judge, Director, Keystone Coaching & Erica Hodgson, Consultant, Marjolo Solutions
Breakout 3: Mastering the Art of Feedback to Drive Change
Facilitator: Julie Smith, Director, JCS Global Partners
CLICK HERE to learn more about our breakout sessions so you can select your preference.
Comfort Break & Regather in Auditorium
2.15 pm
Quick comfort break and some time to regroup in the main auditorium ready for our next exciting speaker.
2.30 pm
Keynote: Amanda Scott, CEO of Next Beauty
Amanda Scott, CEO of Next Beauty, shared her lessons and insights from driving change in the disruptive retail sector in her keynote talk for Women In Change. She has fantastic experience across fashion and beauty with many years working for leading UK retailers, specialising in the premium and luxury sectors. Amanda has held senior commercial positions in a range of UK retailers including John Lewis, Ocado and Debenhams, leading change and transformation programmes, organisational restructures, brand acquisition and private label development.
3.15 pm
MORE time to create connections and mix with other summit participants, whilst picking up an afternoon snack and refreshment.
Break & Informal Networking
3.45 pm
In this inspiring panel session, we heard from 3 women who have purposeful missions driving societal impact, of benefit to people and the planet. Hear about their hopes for the future, the challenges they’ve faced and the change they’re aiming to create in the world.
Our women driving impact panel:
Claire Preston, Power of Women / The Halo Project
Jayne Manley, Earth Trust
Bianca Robinson, CEO Sleepout
Panel: Women Driving Impact
Panel Host: Jo Goldberg, Change Delivery Lead, Abbeyfield
4.30 pm
What’s Next for Women In Change
Sarah Bar-Lev, Lou Robey & Rebecca Moore
Directors, Women In Change
Closing the summit, the directors of Women In Change took to the stage and shared what’s coming up for the network and our plans for the future. It was a chance for you to input ideas and suggestions, thank all our amazing speakers, before we closed the main event and hand over to our sponsors for post-summit drinks.
5.00 pm - 6.00pm
Networking Drinks Evening
Host: Gate One Consulting, Event Sponsors
Our fantastic event sponsors are graciously hosting a drinks reception to continue conversations and networking after the main day has closed. Stay to grab a glass, and enjoy a couple of hours of relaxed connecting after a day full of learning.