On Saturday 8th November, scholars, alumni and faculty came together for Elevate 2025 at HEC UK House, united under this year’s inspiring theme: Together We Rise. The day was dedicated to a powerful principle of women’s leadership: that by championing, connecting and celebrating each other, we create a community where women leaders rise together.
The morning began with warm welcomes and energising networking. For our Women in Business Scholars, the day started early with a special welcome from the Women in Business Board, followed by an insightful Q&A with MBA Scholar Alumni and an inspiring keynote from Alexandra Daly: When Women Back Women, sharing her story as a Banker, Founder and CEO.
Empowering Masterclasses to Drive Change
Throughout the day, our participants engaged in two rounds of dynamic parallel sessions, each designed to empower, inspire and equip them with the tools to drive change:
Mentoring and Coaching
Naveen Kler, Laidlaw LBS Alumna and Foundation Trustee, guided attendees through what makes for a successful mentoring relationship and the difference between mentoring and coaching.
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, looking for shared connections or interests
Her advice for being the mentee that mentors want to sponsor:
- Own the scheduling and show up prepared
- Act on advice and recognise the value you bring to the relationship
Finding Funding for Your Start-Up
Alexandra Daly, Founder and CEO of AA Advisors, shared her extensive expertise on the investment journey. From angel funding to Series A, Alexandra demystified what investors are really looking for and why so many start-ups fail, giving aspiring entrepreneurs the knowledge they need to secure funding and scale successfully.
Alexandra’s key advice for founders included:
- Know your “why”: investors back founders with a clear mission and authentic conviction
- Show your homework: evidence of market understanding, traction and a strong team matters more than a perfect deck
- Own your numbers: be ready to talk metrics, runway and risks with confidence
- Champion one another: women backing women remains a powerful catalyst for change
Personal Branding
Marie Lydie Tedom from the Laidlaw Women in Business Board led an essential session on building authentic personal brands. In today’s world, your personal brand is your greatest asset. Scholars discovered practical strategies to showcase their achievements with confidence, both online and in person, learning how to create a strong personal brand that opens doors and makes a lasting impression.
Marie’s top tips for building your personal brand:
- Start with your “why”: clarify what drives you and the impact you want to have
- Define your unique value: articulate your vision, mission, values and success indicators
- Know your audience: identify who you need to reach and tailor how you show up
- Apply P.I.E: Performance, Image, Exposure, and invest in being seen as someone who lifts others as they rise
Circles of Reciprocity
Inspired by Adam Grant’s Give and Take, CEO Susanna Kempe facilitated this impactful group exercise where scholars put the pay it forward principle into action. Through Reciprocity Rings, participants leveraged their collective knowledge, resources, and networks to help each other tackle specific challenges, from navigating career decisions to launching ventures.
Key insights from the session:
- Givers always outperform Takers and Matchers in the end (it might just take a little longer)
- Embed a culture of giving by making asking for help the norm, and protecting the most prolific givers from burnout
- Don’t have Takers in your team or organisation!
Building Community and Leading with Character
Following a group photograph and lunch at LABS House, the afternoon featured Speed Networking and Dream Sharing Bingo, followed by Career Circles where scholars connected across industries and aspirations.
A highlight came with Dr. Katy Granville-Chapman from The Oxford Character Project, whose session on Women Leaders: Leading with Purpose, Courage, Love, and Hope explored character-driven leadership and resonated deeply with scholars.
The formal programme concluded with Susanna Kempe’s practical session on Protecting Your Dreams: Stress Management and Resilience, equipping scholars with tools to sustain their ambitions while maintaining wellbeing.
Top tips included:
- Find your power anthem: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ML5vckG18x82Os2ociWfq?si=QNWiZG_gQb6SsU_ogAPYHw&pi=Ogrw1oQqS5SU7
- Break big goals into smaller, specific, actionable steps – keep the bar low and celebrate each success
- Reframe negative thinking by replacing it with positive constructs
- Maintain your sense of purpose
- Find your sisterhood, cherish it actively!
Dream Big: A Celebration of Community
The evening celebration continued at Gaucho Piccadilly, where scholars, alumni, and faculty gathered for dinner. Priyal Keni, Associate at McKinsey & Company and former member of the Indian Shooting Team, shared her inspiring journey from international sports to business consulting and her ongoing commitment to gender equality and youth empowerment through her nonprofit, the Play and Shine Foundation. Her story exemplified what happens when women leaders use their success to create opportunities for others.
Watching our scholars share with and give to each other throughout the day, connecting across generations and celebrating one another’s journeys, truly embodied this year’s theme. The energy and mutual support in the room demonstrated the power of women championing women. Together, we rise.
A huge thank you to everyone who made Elevate 2025 possible: our incredible speakers, the Women in Business Board, our facilitators, and every scholar and alumna who brought their energy and openness to the day.
Here’s to lifting each other as we lead!
