Why are women still underrepresented in leadership despite decades of progress? Because of the systemic barriers that continue to hold them back.

Join Rachel Schofield in conversation with Sharon Peake, CPsychol (Founder & CEO, Shape Talent) and Dr Priscila Pereira Law PhD FCIPD (Director of Research & Innovation, Shape Talent) for the launch of the 3rd Edition of the landmark Three Barriers® Report.

Drawing on 7,500+ voices, 95+ references, and fresh global data, this new edition explores:

🔹 The Three Barriers® to women’s career progression

🔹 Sub-barriers like stereotypes, sponsorship gaps, and the likeability penalty.

🔹 Why personal barriers aren’t about women “lacking confidence,” but about workplaces penalising ambition.

🔹 What good looks like when organisations dismantle barriers systemically.

Hear from leaders at Beiersdorf and Shape Talent as they share:

• Why menopause and perimenopause are workplace issues
• Practical steps for building supportive workplace cultures
• What meaningful support really looks like

This is a must-attend for HR leaders, DEI professionals, and anyone shaping workplace wellbeing. Featuring:

• Vidya Kumar, HR Director Northern Europe, Beiersdorf
• Amy Chapman, Country Manager, Beiersdorf
• Jess Lazarczyk, Managing Consultant, Shape Talent

Are women’s development programmes a thing of the past – or ripe for reinvention? Join our Founder & CEO, Sharon Peake, CPsychol, as she explores how organisations can accelerate talent inclusively and sustainably. What we’ll cover: - Are women’s development programmes outdated – or due a reinvention? - The 5 critical ingredients for accelerating internal talent - Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work in talent acceleration - How to ensure programmes deliver real, lasting talent mobility and retention If you’re an HR or Talent leader committed to equity in your leadership pipelines, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Coaching is everywhere – but what actually has real career impact? Led by Professor Rebecca Jones, we dive into: - Why evidence-based coaching delivers deeper, measurable outcomes - How specialist expertise, like gender equity and industry knowledge, transforms impact - What separates good coaching from game-changing coaching Rebecca is a leading expert in coaching effectiveness, with a PhD in Work & Organisational Psychology. A Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Professor in Coaching and Behavioural Change, who specialises in evidence-based coaching, inclusive leadership, and lasting behaviour change.

Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of intentional, well-designed systems. As many organisations struggle to maintain momentum on EDI, talent strategy can be a powerful lever to protect progress, embed equity into decision-making, and ensure that inclusion is built in, not bolted on.

In this session, we explore how to: - Design inclusive talent systems that safeguard EDI gains - Evaluate how policies and programmes impact different genders and identities - Use workforce segmentation to better meet diverse needs - with real-world examples

As organisations navigate a rapidly shifting landscape, EDI strategies are being tested like never before. Regulatory pressures, budget constraints, and shifting stakeholder expectations are forcing business leaders to make difficult choices.

This raises the question: how do we sustain meaningful progress on EDI and navigate these challenges with confidence?

Rising costs of living, bill increases, high childcare costs and limited support means it’s increasingly challenging to be a working parent or carer. It can feel that the barriers facing those with caring responsibilities are too tough to break through. There are organisations, such as Working Families, that are championing working families and working to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace. Working Families CEO, Jane van Zyl, joined us to explore developments in UK policy and what they might mean for working families.

As external pressures and political shifts continue to challenge corporate EDI strategies, many organisations are finding themselves at a crossroads. Do they stay the course, or do they quietly roll-back their efforts to protect key business contracts? For multinational companies, the complexity grows — balancing the expectations of UK and European markets with the constraints facing their US operations. Shape Talent is excited for this upcoming thought-provoking LinkedIn Live event aimed to help decision makers and EDI leaders navigate the complex world of EDI today