EquiLead wraps up its first annual conference, “Lead With Equity 2024,” – which builds an ecosystem for gender equity conversations and collaborations.

• The three-day conference was supported by five anchor partners, 21 ecosystem and knowledge partners, and was attended by over 250 participants

• Announces the soft launch of the EquiLead online platform, https://equilead.org, which aims to support women in the EquiLead network by providing valuable resources and job opportunities.

EquiLead, a Climate Asia and Arthan Foundation initiative, successfully hosted its first annual flagship Lead With Equity conference on the theme Building Pathways Towards Women’s Leadership from July 22-24, 2024. The event, aimed at accelerating women’s leadership in the social impact sector through advancing gender diversity, equity, and inclusion in institutions, saw enthusiastic participation and support from various partners and attendees.

The three-day conference, supported by five anchor partners and 21 ecosystem and knowledge partners, saw more than 40 thought leaders speak at the event and drew over 250 participants who engaged in in-depth discussions and workshops on key questions driving EquiLead’s mission. The event was structured around four primary themes:

1. Inclusive and Gender Equitable Leadership Pathways: Discussions centred on designing interventions to make women’s leadership journeys more inclusive, with a focus on networking and workplace dynamics.
2. Operationalising Gender-Intentional Workplaces: Participants explored creating workplace ecosystems that support women’s representation and leadership, addressing patriarchal and power dynamics.
3. Gender Lens Approach: The complexities of a gender lens approach were discussed, emphasizing the roles of various enablers in advocating for and implementing this perspective.
4. Impact of Women’s Leadership: Inspirational stories highlighted how institutions thrive when women lead, with insights from gender equity champions and institutional leaders.

The conference commenced with CommUnity Conversations on July 22, designed to build a community of women leaders and key actors committed to gender-equitable leadership pathways, and the day included the She the Change Brunch, co-hosted with The Asia Foundation and an Impact Connect meet-up focusing on the “Power of Human Connections.”

July 23, the flagship ConfHERence Day, featured thought leadership sessions, panels, and networking forums. Keynote speakers included Kanta Singh (UN Women India), Neeraj Jain (PATH), Shagun Sabharwal (Co-Impact), and Julia Middleton (Women Emerging), who shared insights on accelerating gender equitable leadership.

The day also marked the soft launch of the EquiLead online platform, https://equilead.org/, which currently hosts job vacancies and information about ecosystem events and gender equity resources. The platform aims to support women in the EquiLead network by providing valuable resources and opportunities.

Panel discussions on July 23 covered various topics under the larger theme of women’s leadership, including the strategic role of gender lens giving principles in philanthropy, the power dynamics in leadership, the importance of women’s participation in social impact leadership, and diversification of boards in the sector. The discussions emphasised the need for comprehensive support systems and inclusive workplace behaviours. A special segment called EquiLead Showcase spotlighted women-led organisations including India Development Review, Chambal Media and Perkins School for the Blind that are redefining leadership through their gender intentional practices and policies.

The final day, July 24, was dedicated to the EquiLead Lab, which hosted knowledge sessions and workshops. Notable 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 discussion on Accelerating Women’s Leadership in Climate Action, co-hosted by Climate Asia and EquiLead. The discussion focused on placing women at the centre 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 solidarity and a network of committed leaders. The movement has begun, and EquiLead invites everyone to join this transformative journey.

Our partners for the event include 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.