Breaking barriers: surviving and thriving in the corporate world

Key note speeches, workshops and debates, focusing on embracing the opportunities and challenges that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace brings, with insights from Leaders from all intersections of society.

Join our face-to-face event at Warwick Business School, to hear from Vanessa Vallely OBE, one of the UK’s most prominent figures in gender equality. From living in a council estate, to becoming Chief Operating Officer for a major bank, Vanessa will be sharing her career story, and how she overcame many social barriers in the corporate world.

Delving into topics like imposter syndrome, Vanessa will share advice on how to be your own cheer leader and realising the importance of mentors and sponsors early in your career. You can also learn Vanessa’s top tips on climbing the career ladder, networking, building a personal brand and giving back. Vanessa will also share her thoughts on inclusion and the importance of allies and role models.
 

Food and drink will be provided during this event, along with the opportunity to network.

Speakers
 
Vanessa Vallely OBE

Vanessa is one of the UK’s most well-networked women and has provided keynotes on a variety of career related topics for over 500 companies worldwide. Vanessa is also one of the UK’s most prominent figures in gender equality and often provides guidance and consultancy to both government and corporate organisations who are seeking to attract, develop and retain their female talent.  

Vanessa was awarded her OBE in June2018 for her services to women and the economy. At the height of her successful 25-year career in the financial services, Vanessa launched the award winning WeAreTheCity.com in 2008 as a vehicle to help women progress in their careers. WeAreTheCity.com now has over120,000members and provides resources/conferences/awards/jobs to women across the UK. Vanessa is also the-founder of UK wide diversity forum Gender Networks. Gender Networks (formerly The Network of Networks) brings together diversity leaders from 85 cross sector firms to share best practice on a quarterly basis. 

Vanessa is also the author of the book "Heels of Steel: Surviving and Thriving in the Corporate World" which tracks her career and shares 13 chapters of tips to succeed in the workplace. Over the past twelve years, she has accumulated over 20 industry awards, including Women in Banking & Finance’s Champion for Women, Financial News Top100 Rising Star, The International Alliance for WomenTop100 Women globally & Brummells Top 30 London Entrepreneurs. In 2015Vanessa was in GQ UK’sTop100 Connected Women and the Evening Standard’s1000 Most Influential Londoners. Vanessa is a regular guest on TV and radio and also sits on the Government Digital Services advisory board. Vanessa is also the Pearly Queen of The City of London, a tradition that has been in her family for over 100 years. She is an avid charity worker and sits on the board for Cancer Research UK as one of its Women of Influence. Vanessa also sits on the Centenary Action Group founded by Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE.