March 9, 2018. Shanghai – The CEIBS MBA Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) Club partnered with Quest Conferences to organize the first Asian Women in Leadership Summit (AWLS) held in Shanghai today. The event brought together senior executives from various industries in China to share their experiences and insights on key issues Asian women face in the workplace today. Participants included CEIBS Assistant Professor of Management Emily David, Executive Director of Global Initiatives Dr. Annette Nijs and members of the CEIBS WLN Club, along with senior executives from companies such as Sodexo, 3M, GE, Reckitt Benckiser, Phillips, and IFC.

The Summit is one of many activities organized by the CEIBS WLN Club to celebrate International Women’s Month under the title “Drive Change Together #WeForShe!”. The March activities aim to promote women’s empowerment, career development, and societal change and are in line with the Club’s belief that men and women should collectively press for progress and support gender equality in all areas.

Today’s Asian Women Leadership Summit featured equal parts advice and inspiration for the female leaders of the future. It included thought-provoking and inspiring panel discussions which covered issues ranging from the role of sponsorship and mentorship in advancing women’s careers, to how to manage a two-career family. Many speakers emphasized the importance of creating an ecosystem that supports women by sharing responsibilities. These ecosystems enable women to ensure that their families are looked after while also giving them the freedom to focus on their professional growth.

In her speech, Dr. Annette Nijs shared research findings showing that women’s confidence tends to fall dramatically after a few years on the job compared to men. She also presented the results of a survey of working women in China which showed that fewer women take up senior roles while they pursue other responsibilities as caregivers. She concluded by sharing some leadership advice for women from the book Chinese Women Business Leaders: Seven Principles of Leadership written by CEIBS Professor of Management and Michelin Chair Professor in Leadership & HR Jean Lee, which profiles the careers of seven renowned Chinese female CEOs. Dr. Nijs told the audience that women must have faith and confidence in themselves, and never shy away from well-deserved opportunities.

Country President of Sodexo China Bruno Vaquette noted that women need to seize opportunities even when they don’t feel completely prepared. “As a manager, I can’t count how many times over the years men have come into my office and told me they were ready for a promotion when they were not,” he said. “I also can’t count the numerous women I’ve had to work hard to convince that they were ready [for promotion].”

Ms. Sandra Yu, Non-Executive Chairwoman of Reckitt Benckiser, suggested that women should pay close attention to their so-called “luck”, which is largely made up of the people around them. She said women should surround themselves with people who support and motivate them to reach and achieve their full potential, rather than those who drag them down and who do not believe in their abilities.

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Lan Ma (CEO of TaXiang) discussed what companies are doing to improve diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. One of the panellists, Sodexo HR Director Ms. Jane Yan, introduced the term “work-life integration”, which she argued was a more effective way for organizations to support women in the workplace.

After the panel discussions concluded, all those present (both men and women) pledged to be an ambassador for diversity in the workplace. The inspiring conversations continued late into the night as the panellists and attendees gathered for dinner and drinks at The Nest in Shanghai’s Bund district.