‘Lift as you lead’ urges LBS’s Women in Business Club
Empowerment of others through authentic leadership is the focus of the 25th annual EQUALL conference
On 6 March, London Business School (LBS) welcomed 500 attendees to its Regent’s Park campus in London as the largest student-led equality conference in Europe celebrated 25 years of existence. EQUALL, which is organised by LBS’s Women in Business (WiB) student club, saw students and seasoned professionals come together to discuss the theme of the conference – Lift as You Lead: Empowering Others Through Authentic Leadership.
The conference, which was put together by a 30-strong organising committee with support from an additional 20 volunteers on the day, boasted 36 inspiring speakers who examined the challenges remaining in the DEI space, at a time diversity, equity and inclusion are front and centre of public consciousness.
Dean Sergei Guriev, who opened the conference, stressed the School’s continuing commitment to gender equality, highlighting the role the School plays in helping to educate future generations of leaders about the issues remaining and providing them with the skills and knowledge to address them head on. He emphasised the importance of business leaders knowing how to manage diverse teams from across the globe, and encouraged delegates to be role models for the next generation of women.
Inspirational keynote speeches by Baroness Dambisa Moyo, renowned economist and Member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords and Debbie Hewitt MBE, the first female Chair of The Football Association and Vice President of FIFA, bookended a packed day of panel sessions and workshops which brought the conference theme to life.
Panellists provided valuable insight into how women can help to build a new era of purpose-driven finance; overcome invisible barriers in the workplace; benefit from allies and pioneer innovation for a better world. A series of workshops gave attendees practical advice on a range of topics, including early-stage investing, building a start-up and women's health.
Baroness Moyo encouraged attendees to power past imposter syndrome and, reflecting on the release of her first best-selling book Dead Aid, to tell the world their ideas because they are ideas worth listening to. She stressed the benefit of learning how to package an idea and emphasised the importance of learning by doing. She also cautioned delegates to recognize that their personal choices significantly impact all aspects of their lives – career, health, financial wellbeing – encouraging them to make authentic decisions rather than yielding to societal pressure, as compromising on important life decisions often leads to a cascade of suboptimal outcomes.
Debbie Hewitt’s powerful closing keynote highlighted the benefits risk-taking and cross-industry leadership had brought to her career. She advised that resilience comes from remaining firmly grounded in personal values and maintaining authenticity, providing the foundation needed to withstand external pressures. She also cautioned that if you are not having influence, learning or loving your role, you should probably move on and find your next opportunity as life is too short.
7 key takeaways from the day:
Authenticity is a strength – embrace it and focus on elements within your control, such as your own performance and initiatives where you can drive meaningful impact
Invest in yourself to keep learning and stay relevant. Make conscious decisions about where you spend your time and who with. Choose mentors, role models, allies and peers who aren’t afraid to be totally honest with you
Embrace the strength of your intersecting identities. Use them as your superpowers to contribute distinct perspectives and identify overlooked opportunities
Cultivate your reputation, personal brand and networks as invaluable career assets. Establish your credibility by being the absolute best at what you do
Master the fundamentals of value creation – understand how money truly flows through organisations and how emerging technologies are reshaping business models and learning environments
Champion allyship through deliberate action – step outside your comfort zone, engage with diverse perspectives, and actively listen to others' lived experiences as the foundation for meaningful support and advocacy
Lift as you lead: To be a true trailblazer and make your mark, focus on empowering others. The greatest leaders build teams that surpass their own capabilities.
