Women who lead, transform and inspire

One stage. Four women. At the front of a packed auditorium, one clear, shared mission: create meaningful impact through collaboration, access to education, mentorship, and strong networks.

At the Esade-Forté event, the University celebrated International Women’s Day in collaboration with the Forté Foundation, by bringing together a united front and a main theme: “When women invest in women, society moves forward faster.” A crowd that gathered to recognize the journey of women who lead, transform and inspire, and to reaffirm the commitment of Esade to equity and opportunity.

Esade Business School is a member of the Forté Foundation, a nonprofit consortium of leading companies and top business schools dedicated to empowering future women leaders. At our MBA and MSc programs, we are committed to empowering Women with Impact-leaders who are ready to challenge norms, drive innovation, and inspire change in their heir industries and communities.

Opening a shared commitment

The evening began with welcoming remarks by Joan Rodon, Deputy General Director of Esade, and Krystal Brooks, Senior Director of Development at Forté Foundation, who set the tone for the event. Their message underscored a long-standing institutional commitment: advancing gender equity is not an isolated initiative, but a responsibility embedded in Esade’s history and mission.

Together, they highlighted the importance of partnerships like the one between Esade and Forté—alliances that work to expand access to education, strengthen leadership pathways, and build global communities of support for women in business.

A conversation shaped by experience

The panel discussion, “Give to Gain: The Power of Women’s Networks,” brought together a diverse group of leaders: Lisa Hehenberger, Dean of Esade Business School; Elissa Sangster, CEO of Forté Foundation; and Elena Liquete, Senior Consultant at Carrington Crisp, moderated by Pollyanna Nethersole, Director of Esade International Recruitment & Admissions.

Through a dynamic and candid exchange, the speakers explored the realities behind leadership journeys, highlighting both structural challenges and personal turning points. Their perspectives revealed a common thread: success is rarely achieved alone, but built through networks of support, advocacy, and shared opportunity.

Networks that open doors

At the heart of the discussion was a powerful idea: while education builds competence, networks build access.

Professional networks—often informal, sometimes invisible—shape opportunities, influence decisions, and determine who gets a seat at the table. For many women, these spaces remain partially closed. The panel emphasized the importance of intentional communities that foster inclusion, visibility, and trust.

Mentorship emerged as a key pillar, but the conversation went further. Sponsorship—the act of advocating for someone in decision-making spaces—was identified as a decisive factor in career advancement. It is not only about guidance, but about opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.

Breaking patterns, reshaping leadership

Through personal stories, the speakers shared moments that defined their paths: navigating bias, balancing expectations, and challenging traditional norms. From early career experiences to leadership roles, their reflections illustrated how barriers—both visible and invisible—continue to shape professional trajectories.

Yet beyond individual experiences, a deeper reflection surfaced: the need to rethink leadership itself. Rather than adapting to traditionally male-coded behaviors, the conversation pointed toward expanding leadership models—valuing empathy, collaboration, and relational intelligence as essential strengths.

Because the question is no longer how women can fit into existing systems, but how those systems must evolve.

The power of intentional change

If there was one recurring theme, it was intentionality. Change does not happen organically—it requires effort, measurement, and accountability.

From recruitment strategies to workplace policies, organizations must actively design environments where diversity can thrive. Data, transparency, and clear targets were highlighted as essential tools to move from aspiration to action.

At the same time, responsibility is shared. Women are encouraged to be more strategic in their career decisions, to advocate for their own advancement, and to build financial independence—not as individual burdens, but as part of a broader ecosystem that must support and enable them.

From reflection to action

Following the panel, the conversation extended beyond the stage into a space for reflection and dialogue among attendees. Ideas were exchanged, experiences shared, and connections strengthened—bringing to life the very principle at the core of the event: networks grow through participation.

The session concluded with closing remarks by Hehenberger, who invited the audience to see the evening not as a standalone moment, but as part of a broader movement—one that calls for sustained commitment, collective responsibility, and continuous action.

A collective movement

As the evening came to an end, one idea resonated above all: progress is collective.

Gender equity is not a women’s issue—it is a societal one. When women advance, organizations perform better, economies grow, and opportunities expand for everyone.

The call was clear: to invest in others, to build networks with intention, and to create pathways for those who come next. Because every career opened, every voice amplified, and every barrier removed contributes to something larger than individual success.

A movement—quietly persistent, deliberately inclusive, and undeniably transformative.