Inspiring keynotes, practical advice and open roundtable discussions.
Our event series offers learning and networking opportunities.
Maintaining a sustained focus on equal opportunity in practice—and on strengthening gender balance in senior leadership—has required real persistence. Economic pressure, political turbulence and competing priorities have intensified, and while many organisations are slowing their efforts, some are stepping back altogether. It is precisely in moments like this that discipline, resilience, innovation and committed leadership matter most. Real leadership is demonstrated by those who stay the course when it would be easier to move on.
Now is the moment to join forces, share what we have learned, and align around a consolidated and practical path forward.
The aim of the Balance in Business Initiative is to engage and inspire current and future leaders on why balance in business matters, how to implement it, and the value it can create. Our focus is on gender balance.
In partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group, we are convening a small group of CEOs and Chairs from organisations at the leading edge of gender balance for an open and candid roundtable discussion on best practices and the challenges faced in achieving them. The session will be moderated by Professor Stanislav Shekshnia (INSEAD), who will guide the conversation and draw out practical insights and lived experience. We will also invite a small number of expert voices to enrich the discussion, including perspectives on:
You will be joined by members of the Balance in Business Board of Directors.
Numbers are limited. To book your place, please RSVP to: info@balanceinbusiness.org
Join us for the 4th Annual Balance in Business Awards Gala Cocktail Reception and Networking Event. This is an opportunity to celebrate businesses driving real change and improving gender representation in the workplace. At the event, we recognise the leaders shaping a fairer, more inclusive future for business.
This event presented the results of a ground-breaking research project in which Professor Stanislav Shekshnia (INSEAD) and Florence Hamilton (INSEAD Alumni Balance in Business Founder) interviewed 30 female CEOs from the FTSE 350 and top 50 UK private companies, as well as executive search leaders and key decision makers.
Research goals:
In partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD), the Balance in Business Awards 2025 Gala Dinner was held on 4th June at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.
For the 3rd year in succession, the Gala Dinner was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of top FTSE350 and UK top 50 private companies driving gender balance in business, network with industry leaders, gaining insights, and connecting with professionals passionate about creating a more inclusive business landscape and enjoy an inspiring evening of collaboration, recognition, and progress.
Read more about some Standout Initiatives recognised in 2025
A quiet room at the London Stock Exchange early in the last month of 2024 saw a gathering of CEOs from a range of sectors and company sizes. They were gathering to share some thoughts on the future of gender balance in the midst of a complicated geopolitical context, laced with a degree of backlash.
The conversation was under Chatham House rules, and the sharing was honest and stark. For anyone running businesses with operations in the US, their DEI departments and efforts were under threat, if not directly in the line of fire. That would be likely to impact Europe and the UK too.
Yet they acknowledged that, for the people in the room, not much would change. They’d never been gender balancing because of compliance. These CEOs were convinced that balance was beneficial for their bottom lines, and their job was to build the culture to let it blossom. Most of them were recipients of BIB Awards, so they were already recognised for past progress.
However, several CEOs admitted they might be adjusting how they go about it. Some of the ideas that resonated and were repeated by several different companies around the room:
Several companies shared that their young recruits are absolutely attached to visible proof of efforts on representation and culture. That the talent pipeline of women is now so strong that it will be impossible to ignore, except in tech and start-ups. There, where the future is being designed, is overwhelmingly male.
So there remains much to do, and the context to work on gender balance has gotten more complex. This may allow, noted some, a clearer return to prioritising gender balance, rather than bundling it up in much broader diversity envelopes.
All found the conversation enlightening and honest. We hope it will be only the first of many. Learning from each other, and becoming ever more skilled at gender balancing business will remain a relevant leadership edge.
That’s what BIB is hoping to support. See you next time?
In partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD), the Balance in Business Awards 2024 Gala Dinner was held on 9th May 2024 at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.
The Gala Dinner was an opportunity to learn from the FTSE350 & top 50 private organisations who are leading the way in levelling the gender-balance playing field in business.
We’re just starting but we’re starting strong! This is the first organically grown initiative out of the BiB Awards 2023. A collaboration between FTSE Women Leaders Review, Law Debentures and INSEAD Alumni Balance in Business.
Listen to 3 great leaders, sharing their stories of how they balanced their organisations:
Marks and Spencer Winner BiB Awards Best Strategy
Lloyds Banking Group, Winner BiB Awards Most Impact
The Law Debenture Group, FTSE250 Trailblazer runner-up
What we learned:
The panel was moderated by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox – who sits on the INSEAD Alumni Balance in Business board.
She is an expert in gender and generational balance – and its overlaps. Speaker, Author, Coach, Thinkers50, CEO 20-First.
The INSEAD Alumni Balance in Business Initiative in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD) held its inaugural Awards dinner on 9th May 2023 at the Institute of Directors in London.
Keynote Speakers:
– Denise Wilson OBE, CEO, FTSE Women Leaders Review;
– Pedro Pina, Vice President of YouTube EMEA;
– Danuta Gray, Chair of Direct Line plc.
Click on the below images for information on previous events!
Supporters
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Looking for a job during the pandemic
Keith Kruger, KpK Associates, Expertise in assessing and developing Management Skills
Wednesday 29 July, 12pm (noon)
Once you register you will be sent a confirmation email. Please check your email before trying to apply again! Thank you.
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Once you register you will be sent a confirmation email. Please check your email before trying to apply again! Thank you.
