On Wednesday 5th March, 80 scholars, alumni and faculty came together for Elevate 2025 at HEC UK House, in celebration of International Women’s Day under this year’s theme: Accelerate Action.
The day kicked off with an energising welcome from our CEO, Susanna Kempe, followed by a spirited game of ‘Dreams Bingo’, where attendees discovered each other’s big dreams. It was inspiring to see just how ambitious our scholars’ visions are!
Empowering Workshops to Drive Change
Throughout the day, participants engaged in dynamic parallel sessions, each designed to empower, inspire and equip them with the tools to drive change:
Creativity and Leadership workshop
Led by Anne-Valérie Corboz, co-author of Take the Lead: How Women Leaders are Driving Success through Innovation, this hands-on session used a custom-designed board game to explore how creativity can unlock more effective and innovative leadership.
LSV: Start-Up Success
Niall Santamaria’s high-demand workshop offered practical insights to transform ideas into viable businesses. Niall shared valuable strategies on how to get started, succeed, and key factors to consider as you take the leap. Some of his top tips for aspiring founders included:
- Speak to everybody who will listen
- Tap into your network for domain expertise
- Just start – even if it’s not perfect
Mentoring and Coaching
LBS Laidlaw Alumna Naveen Kler guided attendees through a dynamic session on the power and purpose of good mentors; helping them to find the right mentors to support their journeys. During the session, our Scholars reflected on both sides of mentorship: what they’re looking for in a mentor and what they can offer as a mentor. By exchanging post it notes, they explored potential mentor-mentee matches and got to work setting goals and forging connections!
Naveen’s top tips for finding a mentor outside of the Laidlaw network:
- Impress them in your current role or internship
- Ask a mutual contact for an introduction
- Reach out via email or LinkedIn – look for shared connections or interests
Circles of Reciprocity
Inspired by Adam Grant’s Give and Take, Susanna Kempe led an impactful session outlining the difference between ‘Takers’, ‘Matchers’ and ‘Givers. Through ‘Reciprocity Rings’, scholars offered support using their own knowledge, resources, and networks – helping each other move one step closer to their goals.
Royal Opera House Tour
In the afternoon, a group of scholars enjoyed an exclusive tour of the Royal Ballet and Opera House. Delphine Mourot – Haxaire, co-author of Take the Lead, drew fascinating connections between leadership and creativity.
Dream Big: A Celebration of Community
The day concluded with a celebratory dinner, where Naveen Kler gave an inspiring keynote on the power of dreaming big. Seeing our scholars connect, collaborate, and celebrate together was truly special!
A huge thank you to everyone who made Elevate 2025 possible. Your dedication and hard work created an unforgettable experience for our scholars!
Here’s to accelerating action together!
