Businesswomen reveal secrets to success

Sally Tennant, CEO of Kleinwort Benson and Gillian Channer, Senior Director of Business Operations at Oracle were among those who spoke at the event. The event was designed to explore how women can best manage career change and development.

The theme of the School's Women in Business Conference which took place on 1 March, a week before International Women’s Day, was navigating the channels of change.  Students, alumni, staff, corporate partners and members of the public heard from a diverse range of speakers and two candid panel discussions debated the changing role of women in business and how to manage career change.  

Wendy Alexander, Associate Dean, Degree Programmes and Career Services, London Business School, remarked on the changing role of women in business: “Women’s leadership is coming of age.  Women typically “do” teams, thrive on collaboration and prize diversity. So as global economic activity shifts relentlessly east, global businesses have to identify those leaders most able to harness highly diverse, global teams.  

“Business leaders are increasingly recognising that women are at the heart of those high performing global teams delivering growth. The “Old boys club” is not only past its sell by date, it is fundamentally ill-suited to delivering global growth.”

The conference gave attendees the chance to hear from successful businesswomen, who each revealed the secrets to their success and offered priceless advice.  It involved talks from women who have successfully started up their own businesses, switched industries and managed changes in their family lives before going on to enjoy impressive careers.

Other speakers included: Sophie Turner-Laing, Managing Director of Entertainment, News and Broadcast Operations at Sky and Demetra Pinsent, ex-McKinsey Partner and CEO of Beauty Start-Up.

Those attending the conference were also given tips on weighing up tough career decisions and meeting other ambitious women ready to take on future career change.  

Source: London Business School