It’s just over two weeks to go until our third annual International Women’s Day event, and we’re excited to reveal more details about our content programme for the day, which is aligned with the global IWD 2024 theme #InspireInclusion.

There are still tickets available, and in keeping with the theme of inclusion, this year’s event is open to everyone who is interested in advocating inclusivity and empowering women in the events industry (not just women).

So, what are you waiting for? Join us for a day of personal and professional development, featuring engaging discussions around female leadership, the role of men in elevating women in the workplace, mastering difficult conversations, juggling, confidence, women’s health and more! The day will be co-hosted by Neil Hudson-Basing, event manager at We Create Space and conference EMCEE with The Attendee Experience Company (atex) and micebook editor Susie Harwood.

Here’s a little teaser of some of the thought-provoking sessions and newly confirmed speakers we have lined up…

Plenary sessions

Women’s Hour is an illuminating session designed to bridge perspectives and accelerate progress towards gender equality in the workplace. Moderated by James Coombe, an advocate for cultural change and effective leadership, this session will feature two industry women interviewing two industry men.

Through candid discussions and insightful exchanges, we’ll explore the pivotal question: How can men actively contribute to the elevation of women in the workplace? Panellists for this session include Felicia Asiedu, marketing director, Cvent, Martin Fullard, mentor from FastForward 15 and Haley Nicolson, mentee from FastForward 15.

Our keynote session in partnership with Speakers Corner, will see Professor Elaine Kasket, leading psychologist, cyberpsychologist and author, share insights into Reclaiming Your Life in a Tech-Obsessed World.

The world of modern technology is full of paradoxes. You need your tech but may feel trapped or controlled by it. You may use your devices in ways that both connect and divide you; that makes you feel both more and less in control; more and less overwhelmed.

Elaine offers a nuanced perspective, one that doesn’t demonise tech but that helps you maximise its benefits while minimising its harms. The session will help you identify which of your values are being served and which undermined by the tech in your life and commit to at least one values-aligned action involving technology to implement in the coming weeks.

Workshop sessions

The day will feature a series of smaller workshops, with guests invited to choose to attend up to three sessions. Here’s some of the highlights:

Join Carina Filek from Elevate in a thought-provoking fireside chat around Demystifying Resistance to Change in 2024 (to Unleash Female Potential).

From fear of failure to the comfort of familiarity, we’ll identify common reasons for resistance and discuss practical strategies to mitigate them, with a specific focus on the challenges women encounter as they ascend the career ladder. Participants will gain valuable insights and practical advice on how managers and leaders can actively contribute to creating a workforce that fully harnesses female potential.

Leadership coach James Coombe will hold a workshop on Building trust through difficult conversations. Studies indicate that nearly 69% of us feel a twinge of unease when approaching team discussions.

In this workshop James shares his unique performance management model ensuring that challenging conversations are approached in an empathetic and supportive way with clarity and structure whilst building trust among team members. This workshop promises to produce great outcomes for anyone who feels uncomfortable having difficult conversations.

Executive coach and workplace culture consultant (and co-host of micebook IWD last year), Zoe Tuffs will also be delivering a session on values-based leadership, and Annabella Zeiddar, Growth Mindset Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Master NLP Coach at Mamma Wellbeing, will host a group session on mindset, sharing invaluable insights and practical strategies to elevate your mindset in various areas.

Plus, we’ll cover the topic of Access and Inclusion for Everyone in a transformative discussion led by Jade Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Special Projects at Jade Green Productions, and Rachel Belliere-Wilson, Access & Inclusion Educator.

Together, we’ll explore the nuances of language and interaction, dismantling barriers and fostering understanding. We’ll uncover practical strategies to make events more accessible and welcoming for everyone.

Other workshop topics include menopause, juggling and burnout, and there will also some wellbeing and energiser sessions after lunch, from tapping and breathwork to self-defence.