Celebrating International Women's Day in London

The 2025 International Women’s Day campaign theme, “Accelerate Action,” set the stage for a thought-provoking panel discussion organised by the EDHEC Alumni UK Board’s Career Committee on 6th March at the EDHEC London Campus.

We were privileged to have Elizabeth Beroud (EDHEC 1989) – Business Coach, Director, and Chair of EDHEC’s UK Foundation – moderate the panel. Believe it or not, it was her first time in this role! All our women panellists also shared that stepping onto the stage pushed them out of their comfort zones, demonstrating that accelerating action starts with ourselves. 😊

Our panel featured three EDHEC Alumni from different life stages and industries: Mathilde Bresson (EDHEC 2002), Global Sustainability Director at Haleon; Laura Cristina Granada Alape (EDHEC 2022), Manager, Investment Research at AlphaSights; and Bruno Vinel (EDHEC 1988), Executive & Life Transition Coach. We were also delighted to welcome an external guest: Francesca Di Donato, VP Private Equity at AlphaSights, who had recently been promoted to VP just before turning 30!

With three key topics – Women in Leadership, Allyship & the Role of Men, and Work-Life Balance – 90 minutes was hardly enough to explore them in depth. Similarly, a single article cannot capture all the insights, but we hope this event and summary will spark ongoing conversations on this important subject.

Women in Leadership: Progress and Challenges

The conversation began with rankings that highlighted both the progress made – especially in sustainability, where many women have reached the C-suite – and the ongoing need for greater female representation in leadership positions. The discussion explored how women can advocate for themselves and shift mindsets.

Bruno emphasized that women approach problems differently and excel in the workplace. He stressed the need to move beyond policies to real implementation, with both men and women leading by example.

Francesca and Laura highlighted that “confidence comes from competence” and encouraged women to recognize their achievements over the years to build self-assurance.

Mathilde addressed the impact of motherhood on women’s careers, noting that this is often when women lose ground. She also pointed out the “emotional burden” many women carry, with tasks like organising team events often falling on them without recognition.

Allyship and the Role of Men

As the discussion on allyship and the role of men started, Mathilde pointed out that while men’s support in the workplace is important, much also depends on “the man in your life” and how much he takes on at home.

Regarding mentorship, Francesca encouraged the audience to seek multiple mentors across different areas of expertise. Elizabeth emphasized the importance of asking specific questions about industry dynamics, stakeholder management, and decision-making. Bruno advised against taking one’s manager as a mentor.

Work-Life Balance: Finding Your Own Path

With the increasing blur between work and personal life, finding balance requires “turning the unintentional into intentional,” as Mathilde put it. To her eyes, “making choices and learning to delegate” are essential skills. “It’s not work or children,” said Mathilde, encouraging women to let go of perfectionism.

“At the end of the day, your identity is not just your job,” reminded Laura, stressing the importance of making time for friends and oneself.

Francesca offered a different perspective, comparing work to “a marathon with moments of sprints.” She acknowledged that intense periods of work are sometimes necessary but stressed the importance of maintaining balance.

Elizabeth reminded that setting boundaries isn’t just for parents. Child-free professionals also need to define their limits.

Bruno encouraged the audience to simplify their lives by sharing more openly about who they are.

The Power of Coaching

The session concluded on a powerful note about the benefits of coaching, ironically, not even brought up by our two coaches, Elizabeth and Bruno! Coaching offers a judgment-free space for women to explore who they are and take ownership of their careers with confidence.

Thanks again to our great speakers and to the EDHEC Alumni who came over to be part of the discussions. The conversation doesn’t stop here, let’s continue to accelerate action so that more women can make a positive impact in the workplace and in the world!