EquiLead has successfully concluded its first annual conference, "Lead With Equity 2024," which established a platform for gender equity dialogues and collaborations. The conference also featured the soft launch of the EquiLead online platform, designed to support women within the EquiLead network by offering valuable resources and job opportunities.
As an initiative by Climate Asia and the Arthan Foundation, EquiLead hosted its inaugural "Lead with Equity" conference from July 22–24, 2024, under the theme "Building Pathways Towards Women's Leadership." The conference aimed to accelerate women’s leadership in the social impact sector by promoting gender diversity, equity, and inclusion within institutions. The event garnered enthusiastic participation and robust support from various partners and attendees.
The three-day conference, supported by five anchor partners and 21 ecosystem and knowledge partners, featured over 40 thought leaders and engaged more than 250 participants in comprehensive discussions and workshops focused on EquiLead's mission. The event was organised around four core themes:
- Inclusive and gender equitable leadership pathways: Conversations revolved around creating more inclusive leadership journeys for women, with an emphasis on networking and workplace dynamics.
- Operationalising gender-intentional workplaces: Participants explored ways to build workplace ecosystems that support women's representation and leadership, tackling patriarchal and power dynamics.
- Gender lens approach: The complexities of applying a gender lens were discussed, highlighting the role of various enablers in promoting and implementing this perspective.
- Impact of women’s leadership: Inspirational narratives showcased how institutions thrive under women's leadership, with insights from gender equity advocates and institutional leaders.
The conference opened with "CommUnity Conversations" on July 22, aimed at fostering a community of women leaders and key stakeholders committed to gender-equitable leadership pathways. The day featured the "She the Change Brunch," co-hosted with The Asia Foundation, and an "Impact Connect" meet-up emphasising the "Power of Human Connections."
The flagship "ConfHERence Day" on July 23 offered thought leadership sessions, panels, and networking opportunities. Notable keynote speakers included Kanta Singh (UN Women India), Neeraj Jain (PATH), Shagun Sabharwal (Co-Impact), and Julia Middleton (Women Emerging), who provided insights on advancing gender-equitable leadership.
On this day, EquiLead also announced the soft launch of its online platform, https://equilead.org/, which currently features job listings, information about ecosystem events, and gender equity resources. The platform is designed to support women in the EquiLead network by providing essential resources and opportunities.
Panel discussions on July 23 addressed various aspects of women’s leadership, including the strategic role of gender lens giving principles in philanthropy, leadership power dynamics, the significance of women’s involvement in social impact leadership, and the diversification of boards in the sector. These discussions underscored the importance of comprehensive support systems and inclusive workplace practices. The "EquiLead Showcase" segment highlighted women-led organisations like India Development Review, Chambal Media, and Perkins School for the Blind, which are redefining leadership through gender-intentional practices and policies.
The final day, July 24, was dedicated to the "EquiLead Lab," which featured knowledge sessions and workshops. Key sessions included "Making Motherhood Work: Policies and Pitfalls in Professional Settings," "Power Up—Boost Your Personal Brand Presence," and "Empowering Women in Climate Careers: Building Green Skills and Leadership."
The conference concluded with a roundtable on "Accelerating Women’s Leadership in Climate Action," co-hosted by Climate Asia and EquiLead. This discussion focused on placing women at the forefront of climate initiatives and addressing barriers to their participation.
EquiLead’s "Lead with Equity" conference embodied its mission to create gender-equitable leadership pathways, offering a network of dedicated leaders and solidarity. The movement has begun, and EquiLead invites everyone to join this transformative journey.
Event partners included MegaDelta Capital, Climate Asia, The Asia Foundation, HT Parekh Foundation, Arthan Foundation, WomenLift Health, Treelife, Perkins India, Co-Impact, AVPN, Arthan, Parenthesis India, Greenr, Chambal Media, Quest Alliance, Aikyam Fellow, PATH, Avendus, Good Business Labs, Urja Trust, ACT Grants, Dasra, WomenLead Alliance, JustJobs Network, and Purpose.
About EquiLead
EquiLead, an initiative supported by Climate Asia Inc. and Arthan Foundation, envisions an ecosystem where women’s leadership empowers social impact-focused institutions to evolve into gender-just organisations of the future, where workplaces, leadership pathways, and institutional structures are gender-intentional, inclusive, and equitable.
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