IWD #PressForProgress: Women-Centered Innovation
Women are the largest disruptive economic force on the planet; proven to hold the majority of purchasing power and using their influence to create a ripple-effect of financial and social progress, not just for themselves but for everyone around them.
The past years have seen a big shift towards more female-led enterprises and innovation, yet we are still facing inequality on a large, global scale.
This IWD, we’re taking the discussion beyond the question of gender inequality, however. Instead, this event is looking to the future of leadership, business and societal impact.
It's #PressForProgress with a twist; highlighting the inspiring stories, innovative solutions and delving into questions that will help take us all forward.
In collaboration with WeWork, on March 8th between 6-8pm, we will celebrate by bringing together a stellar and diverse panel of three female leaders, breaking new ground in their respective fields.
Hear from our speakers on why they choose their particular career path, the experiences and perspectives that continue to shape their leadership and vision for the future, and what motivates them to keep #pressingforprogress in life and business.
Whether it’s through enabling more confident women leaders, advocating for Human Rights or creating jobs and supporting economic development through entrepreneurship or non-profit initiatives, our panel of speakers are all contributing to more female-led initiatives in business becoming the new norm.
Join us for an open and genuine conversation where we explore topics and questions including:
- How can we bring more ‘female values’ into business, to positively change the leadership landscape?
- How can we enable, support and invest in the next generation of female-led innovations?
- How do you drive change as a professional female in a notoriously challenging environment - criminal defense and Human Rights?
- The rise of social impact ventures, and how you can be part of the movement
- We’ve heard about the importance of EQ in business, but what difference does your Presence Quota do in propelling you forward as a confident and mindful leader?
- How can you use your voice, leadership and most of all your ideas, to #PressForProgress?
Networking starts at 6pm. Drinks + lighter food provided.
We hope to see you there!
Speakers:
Megan Wright is the co-founder and COO of Impactful Ventures, a purpose-driven consultancy focused on the role of data, AI and measurement in social impact. Impactful Ventures came about after Megan spent several years researching & developing social-impact tech startups with specific interest and focus on harnessing emerging technologies (such as VR, AR & AI) for social good. Megan also heads up the Social Innovation Network, an Association designed to support social entrepreneurs in the growth and development of their business ventures.
Megan is a passionate Social Entrepreneur, Facilitator and Speaker on a mission to stimulate and nurture a global social innovation movement.
Jessie is a Human Rights lawyer and the founder of SEW Tanzania, a social enterprise that employs HIV + women in Tanzania. As a solicitor, Jessie works within criminal defense, and have previously prepared major terrorism matters before the Supreme Court, Victorian Court of Appeal and High Court of Australia. She has also previously undertaken several roles on the defence team of former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic, at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
In 2008, Jessie set up SEW Tanzania, a social enterprise that employs HIV+ women to manufacture fair-trade conference bags. Clients include Oxfam, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations and the World Food Program.
Melissa Lewis is a Personal Branding and Executive Presence specialist who works with high-performing, driven women working in male-dominated environments elevate their personal brand and executive presence. Melissa’s speciality and passion lies in uncovering the blind spots for her clients, or their missing 'X factor' which most often is not their IQ or EQ but rather as Melissa has found, their PQTM, their presence quotient.
Using the Bates ExPI™ assessment tool (the world's first science-based measure of executive presence which Melissa brought to Australia) and her own Principles of PresenceTM framework, Melissa is able to educate and inspire women to commercialise their talents by taking their professional brand, commercial demeanour and executive style to the next level, achieving greater influence and business outcomes.
Carina is a Senior Engagement Partner at ANZ Bank, Communications pro and serial people connector with over 15 years’ experience across industry. Her current focus at ANZ Bank is to build innovation capability and shape a digital partner ecosystem, comprised of strategic alliances, startups and universities to deliver value for customers and community through programs and events. Carina was recently recognised as Finalist for Thought Leader of the Year in the Inaugural Women in Finance Awards for her efforts in advocating diversity, inclusion and innovation and she has represented ANZ on a global stage for various events including Festivals, Hackathons and Open Innovation Programs. Her expertise and passion for storytelling, diversity, innovation and future of work, also sees her holding a number of advisor roles incl. for SheStarts and Thankyou.