A virtual 5-day complementary summit for women in leadership.
Join the WLA's Team for the Inspirational Women's Week Virtual Summit, a vibrant and empowering event dedicated to celebrating International Women's Day and showcasing the remarkable achievements of women leaders.
Designed to inspire, educate, and connect, the summit brings together an exceptional lineup of thought leaders, trailblazers, and industry pioneers to explore topics critical to women’s personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, an emerging leader, or simply passionate about supporting women in leadership, this summit offers invaluable insights and inspiration.
What to Expect:
About the Women Leaders Association
A community committed to the development and inspiration of women who work in leadership roles.
www.TheWLA.com
Sandra Pinnington, Founder of the WLA
Executive Coach, Speaker, Author
Sandra has spent over 30 years in the field of personal development. Initially in corporate and then establishing her business back in 2005. In addition to her executive consultancy business, Sandra leads the Women Leaders Association, an organisation focused on inspiring women to live their best lives through coaching, membership, online programmes and retreats. She is skilled at helping women see their brilliant selves and live their best life.
Patty Aubrey - Permission Granted
14-time New York Times Best Selling Author
Patty Aubrey is a 14-time New York Times best-selling author and the billion-dollar brand builder behind Chicken Soup for the Soul. As President of The Canfield Training Group, she has spent decades helping entrepreneurs, speakers, and authors turn their dreams into thriving businesses.
Through her best-selling book Permission Granted, online programs, coaching, and luxury retreats, she helps individuals break through barriers and build the life they’ve always wanted.
Dr Kelli Harding, The Rabbit Effect
Kelli Harding, MD, MPH, is dedicated to promoting a kinder and healthier world for all. An expert in mental health, medicine, and public health, she teaches at Columbia University in New York City. Dr. Harding authored The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness. She’s appeared on Today, Good Morning America, BBC, and other media. Dr. Harding has spoken at the UN and World Happiness Summits. She lives in NYC with her husband, three sons, and rescue dog, Athena.
Angela Samata
Angela presented the BBC1 BAFTA nominated and winner of the Mind Media Award for Best Factual TV documentary, ‘Life After Suicide’. The film encouraged discussion and exploration of mental health issues, challenging the stigma of suicide. Describing her own experience and that of her children after her partner took his own life 15 years ago, Angela travelled the length and breadth of the UK talking to others who had experienced the same loss.
Lucy Evans
Performance Athlete
As a former international athlete and business professional, Lucy is passionate about success. Whether in the office, on the sports field, or helping others to reach their goals, Lucy never gives anything less than 100%. When speaking, Lucy passionately shares her unique insights from elite sport and business with her audience, so they can take away actions to improve their everyday performance and achieve outstanding results of their own.
Kirsten Hughes – UK Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Counsellors
From her original role as travel consultant in 1995, Kirsten was promoted to commercial director in 2004, progressing to Chief commercial officer and onto the role of UK managing director in 2016. Her career trajectory through the business is testament to the palpable passion and dedication she shows to the Travel Counsellors community.
Kirsten has built an outstanding commercial portfolio, enabling the company’s agents to have access to the most beneficial supplier relationships. Championing the company’s growing tour operator offering, Kirsten supports TC business owners to create evermore personalised, bespoke travel itineraries for their customers.
Kirsten’s progression through the business and her leadership of the commercial division is highly regarded within the travel industry. Her hands-on approach ensures the company achieves its mission to create inspiring journeys for people – its customers, business owners, support teams and commercial partners.
Carol Rogers, MBE
Founder of House of Memories
In January 2015, Carol was acknowledged by HRH Queen Elizabeth II and awarded an MBE (Member of The British Empire), for her role in leading National Museums Liverpool’s multi-award-winning House of Memories programme. The House of Memories is making a difference to people living with dementia, their carers, families and communities across the UK and internationally.
Janette Bell, Managing Director
Janette became Managing Director of First Bus in October 2020. Prior to joining First Bus Janette was Chief Executive Officer of P&O Ferries Sales & Marketing Director for Hammerson plc, the property development and investment company. She also held senior executive positions within Centrica, including Director of Sales & Growth for British Gas. Her career began at Tesco, where she was a graduate trainee, before becoming a consultant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Vickie Menendez, Author & Motivational Speaker - Learning to LIVE Again
Vickie Menendez’s journey to becoming a Transformational Coach was deeply influenced by her own profound experiences of loss and healing. In 1980, Vickie faced the heart-breaking tragedy of losing a full-term stillborn child. Then, in 2017, she experienced the devastating loss of her son. These profound losses forced her to confront past traumas—childhood bullying and sexual trauma as a teen, which she had kept hidden. Seeking guidance, Vickie shifted her perspective on life and began exploring her personal timeline.
An author, transformational coach and motivational speaker, Vickie will be sharing her journey with us.
Meta Mehling, Award-Winning Executive Leadership Consultant and Coach
Through working with Meta, clients increase their high-impact leadership, build stronger teams, grow revenues, elevate their personal brand and advance in their career.
Meta has worked with innovative leaders, and successful Fortune 100 and start-up executives.
Michelle Mahdon, Executive Director and Founder of TEXL, Exeter University
🔹 What an effective workplace network really looks like for wellbeing, performance, and career progression
🔹 Common pitfalls women need to look out for in their networks
🔹 How to reframe our thinking around ‘networking’ so we want to make time for it
🔹 Practical steps that successful women do to ensure their networks work for them to be a healthier, more connected, and high-performing in the workplace
Please note the speaker slots are subject to change and will be confirmed by email.
Day One, Monday 3rd March
12:00pm: Welcome to the Summit!
Founder of the WLA, Sandra Pinnington
13:00: Janette Bell
Managing Director, First Bus
Janette has had a fascinating and hugely successful leadership career. Join to hear her top tips for managing your career successfully.
14:00
Virtual Networking
Join a virtual table and connect with other leaders for sharing and insights
15:00 BREAK!
16:00: Patty Aubery
Workshop: Permission Granted
Billion-Dollar Brand Builder &
Best-Selling Author
Day Two, Tuesday 4th March
Resilience & Bouncing Back
12:00
Angela Samata, Mental Health Advocate and Documentary Presenter
Angela is a TEDx Speaker and presenter of BBC1 BAFTA nominated documentary ‘Life After Suicide’
13:00
Kirsten Hughes, MD Travel Counsellors
Kirtsen has worked for TC for 30 years and will tell her personal story of resilience and determination as well as sharing life in travel through the Covid years.
16:00
Vickie Menendez, Author and Speaker -
Overcoming Immeasurable Loss. Bring some tissues to this one. Vickie has overcome immense personal tragedy and will share her incredible uplifting story.
Day Three, Wed 5th March
Confidence & Strategies for Success
12:00
Lucy Evans - Performance Mindset
Lucy will be sharing her experience of being on the track as a World Championship Athlete and how she has been successful in her career since retiring.
13:00
Meta Mehling - Personal Brand for Female Leaders
Meta is a Strengths Scope expert and will be sharing how you can create a strong personal brand based upon your strengths.
16:00
Dr Kelli Harding - Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier
Dr Harding is a practicing physician and spoken all over the world about the importance of Kindness and Happiness.
Day Four, Thurs 6th March
Managing Career Transitions
1200
Carol Rogers, MBE - House of Memories
Tune in to find out how Carol established a successful global brand - House of Memories for people suffering with dementia.
1400
Michelle Mahon, Exeter University
Leveraging Networks for Career Success
Day Five, Friday 7th March
10am to 12pm
Now is Your Time To Shine Workshop
Sandra Pinnington
What does it mean to fully step into your leadership?
Let's identify your next big BOLD move
Shifting The Gunk
Accountability and WLA Community
We know you're active. You likely have others you're leading right now, counting on your presence—and you can't be in two places at once.
Good news.
You have TWO options to reserve the session recordings and access them whenever you like.
Whether you can't make it to a few (or any) of the incredible sessions…
Or you just want to save a transformative session to review.
Anyone who joins our judgement-free community of like-minded professional women, who share and encourage each other, will get the recordings as a gift—just for trying The WLA
It's completely FREE to attend!
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