News & Annual Athena40 Event

News & Invitation – Athena40 IWD 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope my message finds you in good health and spirits wherever you are!

As International Women’s Month 2026 approaches, we note that this is not only a time to celebrate women’s achievements but also a time to consider our shared obligation to support women in their careers, ensure they rise to leadership positions, and protect the most vulnerable.

Amid a hurricane of revelations, with political and ethical implications, we are obliged to uphold our accountability, champion transparency, fairness, and equal participation in decision-making.

In that spirit, I’m pleased to announce our annual Athena40 gathering, which will focus on the important theme: “Women at the Helm of Change.”  Women make up almost half of the world’s population, but they hold only about 26% of parliamentary seats worldwide and less than 10% of CEO roles in major companies. The global gender pay gap is still around 20%. Pressure and activism for change must be continuous, systemic and structural, across society, the economy, legal systems, and of course the job market.

I look forward to seeing you on March 23, 2026, at the House of Lords at 8am for a seated breakfast and two panel discussions. Make sure to secure your space asap for this exclusive event.

We are also excited to announce the start of the 11th cycle of our mentoring programmes. Our pledge remains strong in helping young people and women worldwide build their futures with confidence, courage, and purpose. 

Our annual mentoring programme and our Athena40 annual event are deeply connected. Both serve the mission to promote accountability in leadership as the only way forward, to unlock opportunity, and to nurture connection.

Let’s stay alert, caring, and engaged.

I look forward to seeing you, fellow change-makers!

Warmest regards as ever,
Elizabeth

PS- Finally, our thoughts and solidarity to our Minnesota-based friends and Board members Lili Hall, CEO of KNOCK Inc. and Rebecca Thomley CEO of Headwaters Relief. I am sharing with you an open letter signed by 95 women leaders in Minnesota, at a time of collective trauma for the city of Minneapolis, inviting women in business to speak up and stand together. We stand with you.

SAVE THE DATE – London, UK

Monday March 23, 2026 | 8:00am GMT

Athena40 IWD 2026

Women at the Helm of Change

Athena40 in partnership with KNOCK Inc. and in association with WE JOB BOX is organising its annual International Women’s Month event under the theme ‘Women at the Helm of Change‘.

Join us for an engaging breakfast and two panel discussions on March 23, 2026 at the House of Lords, where thought leaders, policymakers and distinguished voices from across sectors will explore the vital role of women at the forefront of today’s most pressing challenges. This special gathering will highlight how women are steering meaningful change across business, innovation, policy, environment, and beyond.

• Panel 1: Women at the Helm of Change

Elizabeth Filippouli – Founder & CEO, Global Thinkers Forum & Athena40; Yasmin Alibhai-Brown – Journalist & Author, The i Paper; Vicky Pryce – Chief Economic Adviser, Centre for Economics & Business Research (CEBR)

• Panel 2: Turning Vision into Opportunity, Opening Doors for All

Lalita Taylor FRSA – Founder & CEO, We Job Box; Siu Mun Li – Director, Constructing Siu-lutions Ltd; Sharold Palmer FRSA – Founder & CVO, Seven Palms Consultancy; Dr Natasha Davendralingam – Co-Founder & CEO, Anubix; Philip Robinson – Head of Portfolio Performance, BBC Product Group & Co-Chair, BBC Embrace.

We Job Box­ We are proud to present the work of our partner We Job Box, founded by   Athena40 2025 award honouree the amazing Lalita Taylor! We Job Box is a tech-enabled platform democratising access to work experience for 14–25 year olds. By connecting young people to real employers through virtual placements, paid projects and mentorship, We Job Box is breaking systemic barriers and creating scalable, diverse talent pipelines for industries with urgent skills gaps. Delivering the second panel, titled “From Vision to Mission: Opening Doors for All,” Lalita will explore why the democratisation of opportunity is not simply an aspiration, but an operational necessity.­ Click for We Job Box Athena and Telemachus Mentoring Cycle 2026 We are delighted to present our 70 mentors and mentees from 36 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam.­ Knowledge-Transfer Webinars with our Experts ­ How to be Awesome in Interviews ­with Charles Crawford CMG – Diplomat, Author & Executive Communication Expert­ March 2nd, 2026 @ 14:00 GMT Charles Crawford will provide participants with tips and tricks for preparing for interviews and then presenting themselves successfully. By the end of the session, attendees will have a better understanding of how to showcase their skills and experience in a confident and engaging way.­ ­­ Part 1: Start-up Culture­with Raghupathy Narayanamurthy – Entrepreneur & Senior Executive in IT­April 30, 2026 @ 14:00 BST No magic wand turns a scrappy startup into a powerhouse. It’s gritty, nose-to-the-ground hustle—day after day. Markets shift. Tech evolves. Luck plays its part. But the one ingredient every winning company shares? The people — and the bold, unstoppable culture they build together. Fasten your seat belts and let’s embark on an entrepreneurial journey!­­ Part 2: Transition from Customer Support to Customer Success­May 21 @ 14:00 BST The Customer is King. Every company, big or small, exists because of their customers. Traditionally, companies designated specific departments, teams, and processes to ‘support’ their customers. Then came broader Customer Service — training, custom projects, roadmaps — a step up, but still mostly tied to your product, not their bigger picture.Enter the world of Customer Success. Let’s dive in and take a look at how this paradigm has transformed the way you look at your business and success thereof! ­­ From Experience to Expansion: Turning What You Know Into Success in New Fields­with Dr Maria Frangieh – Founder & CEO, Socialprise ­DATE TBA In this session, Dr Frangieh will share her journey of stepping into a completely new industry and transforming prior experience into a successful new venture. This webinar will offer practical insights on navigating uncertainty, leveraging previous experience in new fields, building credibility in a new market, and turning change into opportunity. It is designed for founders and professionals who are ready to expand beyond their comfort zones with clarity and confidence.­*Register your interest here: mentoring@globalthinkersforum.orgRegistered participants will receive access details 48 hours before each webinar. Moderated by Juliet Hall ­Our webinars are a superb opportunity to learn from global experts during live sessions that include Q & A.­­ Shout Out to our Mentors! Our Mentors are internationally established experts, who volunteer their time to support our mission to empower with knowledge women and youthfrom around the world. Our Mentors­ Join our global network of visionary changemakers. Become a Member of Global Thinkers Forum & Athena40 and support our mentoring programmes. Become a Member & Support­ Sponsors and Partners In Support of globalthinkersforum.org – globalthinkersmentors.org – athena40forum.com Copyright © 2026 Global Thinkers Forum, All Rights Reserved. Our mailing address is: contact@globalthinkersforum.org­­­­­­Unsubscribe