Women in Retail & FMCG Leadership Summit 2024

Join Liquid Learning for this kick-off session as we prepare for two days of incredible speakers, senior leaders, expert deep-dives and unmissable panel discussions!

Your values are the compass that guides your career decisions, as well as your personal life. They form the cornerstone of your identity and influence your leadership style. When you align your actions with these core values, not only does it enhance your happiness, it also empowers you to become a more effective leader with a defined purpose. Join Vesna as she shares her leadership journey, and how she is driven by purpose and values.

- Define your values and purpose

- How being a values-driven leader can boost team engagement

- Build your career around your passions

Change is inevitable, it's part of our everyday lives. As a leader you need to navigate change yourself, while also guiding your team and department, but sometimes the resistance to change may be harder to lead through than the actual change itself. Lorna shares insights from her experience, and the strategies she uses to successfully lead change while being mindful of your team's unique culture.  

- Lead through transformational change

- Guide your team through departmental changes

- Learn practical skills to support your role in leading change

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

You might think that career progress can only mean moving forwards and upwards, but sometimes your next best step could be a sideways one. Every new opportunity offers news skills and understanding, even if you don't always know where it may be leading, so long as you learn to follow your curiosity and trust your instincts. Join Amanda as she discusses her leadership pathway, including the detours, and discover the importance of staying curious in your career.

- Embrace all opportunities

- Innovative thinking to break perceived barriers

- Why shifting sideways puts you ahead

Communication skills remain one of the most important capabilities to develop as a leader, especially when it comes to influencing others, negotiating effectively, and finding win-win scenarios. In this session Fiona shares how effective negotiation empowers leaders to navigate complexities, forge alliances, and drive organisational success.

- Active listening is key to grasp others' perspectives 

- Maintain a flexible and adaptable mindset

- Achieving win-win outcomes

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Taking the step into leadership often involves a significant shift in responsibilities, as the change from subject matter expert to managing people taps into your interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. This exclusive panel deep-dives into the attributes of effective leadership, unpacking the key qualities that define successful leaders. Discover the traits that empower leaders to inspire and innovate in their organisation, and how build your own strengths to unlock your leadership potential.

- Leadership is an ongoing learning process

- Understand your strengths

- Explore the abilities of experienced leaders

We often find ourselves hesitating, uncertain about reaching out for guidance as we navigate the next steps in our careers. Join Sam in this session as she delves into the transformative power of mentorship. Discover firsthand how a mentor can serve as your guide and ignite the flames of inspiration within you to reach new heights. Explore the invaluable benefits of learning from someone who has walked the path before you, providing valuable experience. 

- Build your confidence find your mentor

- Identify what a mentor means to you

- Learn the benefits of reverse mentoring 

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing day one.

We live in a world of information overload, where constant competing demands on our attention has made burnout an increasingly widespread issue, leading to mental exhaustion, emotional strain, and even physical symptoms. Recognising the signs of burnout is crucial, but it's also important to learn strategies to reduce the cognitive load and prevent burnout from taking over. Join Karen as she shares practical tips for identifying and managing your cognitive load

- Monitoring your mental energy levels

- Practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress

- Understand how burnout can impact your cognitive function and overall well-being

Join us for our end of day one networking. Enjoy canapés and drinks whilst getting to know your peers further, build ongoing relationships, and share your highlights of the day.

Welcome back for Day Two - there's a lot to digest from our amazing speakers and action modules so far!

Recap the key learnings and takeaways from Day One, and prep an action plan to maximise your event experience over our jam-packed second day!

Taking a career break can feel like stepping off a moving train, especially in a world where momentum is often equated with success. Whether it's taking time off for family or to travel, how can you navigate the return to work and overcome potential roadblocks to career progression? In this session, Susan shares how she not only returned to work but has progressed her career.

- Finding a flexible style that works for you

- Reflect on your career goals

- Reconnect with your professional network

Some of the most fulfilling career milestones happen when we dare to step into the unknown, taking on new responsibilities that might seem daunting at first. But remember, you're the one who knows when it's time to take that leap! In this session, Sally will share her journey, offering insights from her successful career and what helped her seize new opportunities.

- Seize the right moments to for you

- Believe in yourself and your ambitions

- Discovering your leadership style and vision

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Ever heard the saying, 'People don't remember what you say; they remember how you make them feel'? Well, when it comes to leadership, it's all about creating an environment where your team feels valued and supported. In this session, Erika shares her wisdom on creating a workplace that's a hub of inspiration and growth.

- Lead your team with a people focused approach

- Learn effective ways to communicate your company's culture

- Define your vision for an ideal workplace

Communication is absolutely critical for any manager or leader, whether it’s tackling difficult conversations, running effective meetings, or just having the confidence to speak up. Building your skills will often push you outside your comfort zone, and there can be a lot of self-talk, or the whispers of imposter syndrome, holding you back. But with the right tools, you can step up, build your confidence and ensure your input is valuable, and valued.

- Identify the tools you need to self-manage and overcome imposter syndrome

- Be prepared to engage with various audiences, personalities and perspectives

- Take charge of building your confidence as a leader to communicate with impact

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Diversity and inclusion is not something that benefits a few - it serves all of us. But how can we inspire inclusion? We all know that diverse teams bring together varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, encouraging creativity and innovation. In this panel, we delve into the elements shared by workplaces committed to equity investment, and listen to voices spearheading this transformative shift.

- Encourage shared responsibility for men and women to fix the gender gap

- Facilitating change across an organisation

- Engagement and collaboration to drive positive change

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders.

Building high performance teams involves defining clear goals, recruiting diverse talent and building trusting relationships. But what makes a team high performing? In this session, Brooke who has over 22 years experience working for Australia’s premium department stores shares her strategies to motivate and develop people into high performing individuals and teams. 

- Gain strategies for maintaining success with large teams

- A culture of collaboration rather than competition

- Managing diverse personalities in big teams

We wrap up our inspirational and jam packed two days with this interactive action planning session. This is your chance to table any topic or trend for a final group discussion. Reflecting on the inspiring stories that have been shared, discussing your key learnings with your peers, and creating your action plan for moving forward.

- Reflect on your key learnings from the Summit

- Identify opportunities for career progression and growth

- Create an action plan for your leadership journey