EQUALL 2025: 25 Years of Breaking Barriers & Inspiring Ambition

In 2000, London Business School hosted its first EQUALL Conference to raise awareness of the underrepresentation of women enrolled in LBS’s MBA program – a mere 22%, which fell below peer school averages (30%). Since then, LBS’ MBA program is almost at parity, with women comprising 46% of this year’s cohort, and EQUALL has evolved from an advocacy forum to a multi-day exhibition of women’s excellence in business leadership.

The success of the conference, which is organised by LBS’s Women in Business (WiB) student club, can be stated in numbers – 580 participants, three days of programming, and 36 high-level speakers, who are leading figures in their industries. In many ways, the success of the conference can be more adequately expressed though stories of connection and learning.’

As a prospective student, I attended EQUALL in 2023. It was in listening to Angela Cretu, Global CEO of Avon, that I realized I had never envisioned myself as a CEO – despite having applied to multiple MBA programs! In these conversations with other ambitious participants, I felt I was welcomed and belonged at a top 10 global MBA program. For me and many others, EQUALL has created insightful and cathartic experiences for students and professionals that require us to pause from the daily bustle and envision something greater for ourselves and the communities to which we contribute. EQUALL has produced many interesting on-stage conversations, but it has also spurred business ideas, relationships, new skills, and given volume to those internal thoughts for aspiring female business leaders to think bigger.

A STRONG START

For EQUALL’s 25th year, we aimed to honour this legacy with conversations that had not been held before at this forum. Even more, we decided to double down on the skills-building and relational aspects of the conference by planning a record number of workshops. This year’s theme, “Lift As You Lead: Empowering Others Through Authentic Leadership”, focused on celebrating women’s ambition and leadership, focusing on how we can uplift others while achieving our own success.

The festivities began with a kick-off event hosted by BCG London, where we heard from Aline Santos, former Chief Brand Officer and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of Unilever, in a keynote address on having difficult conversations. The audience then broke out into groups to role-play difficult scenarios we may face in our own careers. The night wrapped up with an insightful panel of experts from Unilever, BCG, and Morgan Stanley who left us in no doubt that “difficult conversations are not fights to be won, but bridges to be built”. Beyond the in-depth learning, I was struck by the sight of 100+ women quite literally leaning into learn from each other through the break-out sessions and saw firsthand that for women in business, we are often our own best assets.

The main conference day on March 6th included two incredible keynote discussions with Baroness Dambisa Moyo and Debbie Hewitt, MBE. We also heard from women leading in the arenas of politics, sports, finance, consumer goods, media, health, and the military during four panels and eight breakout workshops. Across these conversations, I came away with five key takeaways:

1. The best response to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) backsliding is being the absolute best at what we do

This year’s EQUALL took place among the backdrop of companies scaling back or eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Invisible Barriers panel emphasized the importance of focusing on what is within our control – our own performance and identifying the areas where we can drive the most impact. Speakers asserted that excelling in our respective fields will create undeniable value and open doors for others. The Beyond the Bottom Line financing panel had similar takeaways – that while recognizing very real bias in the investing ecosystem, female founders and venture capitalists must still prove themselves and be the absolute best at what they do.

In the fireside chat with Debbie Hewitt MBE, we learned that seizing opportunities that others may hesitate to take is a great way to showcase your excellence and leadership ability. With 17 roles in 11 industries, she made a case for a new method of leadership development beyond deep sectoral knowledge – understanding people, business, and how you can best add value.

2. It is all of our responsibilities to be better allies

This year, a key focus was on intersectionality, acknowledging that women are not a monolith and identifying how women can be better allies to each other. As we know from the diversity of women at LBS, it is imperative that we be mindful of our different lived experiences in and outside of the workplace. The panel Intersectional, International, Interconnected encouraged participants to use their intersecting identities as their superpowers rather than working to conform. The panel also highlighted how we can be better allies to each other – the first step being to step outside our own experiences, be comfortable as outsiders, and sit down with someone to learn about their unique journey.

As always, EQUALL welcomed the participation of male allies. This year, the Women in Business Allies Team hosted their own workshop on unconscious bias. Armed with flipcharts and a desire for action, participants outlined strategies for success, such as rejecting the usual practice of mentorship and avoiding affinity bias by seeking out mentorship from those you have less in common with.

3. Stop overthinking and get started!

Many speakers addressed the challenge of self-doubt, urging women to push past imposter syndrome and express their ideas confidently. A key message was to “just start” – whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, launching a business, or investing in new opportunities. In the keynote conversation with Baroness Dambisa Moyo, she discussed the process of working past mental roadblocks to get your ideas out into the world, and taking criticism in stride as it comes.

The Angel Investing workshop reinforced this principle, highlighting that small-scale investments can be an accessible way to enter the field and build financial confidence. In other words, simply getting started with the intention to learn rather than making a huge return on investment is an important first step. Through this workshop, participants heard a pitch from a founder and responded with the questions they would ask if they were angel investors, then were critiqued by angel investors on their questions. The importance of asking good and clear questions to “just get started” was also a key takeaway for me!

4. Professional fulfilment cannot be separated from personal well-being

Success isn’t just about career milestones – it’s about designing a life that supports long-term fulfillment. Baroness Moyo challenged the idea that women must find a life partner early, emphasizing that the wrong partner can hinder career growth by sapping your energy or generally affecting your well-being.

The theme of making personal choices that align with personal ambitions rather than societal expectations was further underscored in the Invisible Barriers panel. Panelists emphasized that success is about defining your own leadership style and making choices that align with your ambitions. Rather than chasing short-term validation, women should focus on delivering results, building credibility, and ensuring their value is recognized. This includes securing sponsors who advocate for growth and making career decisions with a long-term perspective. Ultimately, empowerment comes from shaping a career that aligns with your values and strengths.

5. Increasing the depth and quality of your relationships will pay dividends

Networking is more than just collecting contacts – it’s about cultivating genuine relationships that open doors and create coalitions for lasting impact. The Beyond the Bottom Line panel emphasized the importance of looking “up and out” beyond immediate tasks and building strong and deep networks with intention. Success isn’t just about individual effort; strategic connections often determine access to opportunities, even when we’re not in the room.

This idea was further reinforced in the Women Pioneering Innovation panel, where speakers highlighted that true innovation isn’t just about having a great idea – it’s about execution, securing funding, and demonstrating resilience. The most effective leaders don’t just make their mark on the world – they make way for those coming next. Developing relationships not just with those who may be helpful in your career progression – but also peers and those in different life stages than you – will be fruitful in the long run.

There was only one way to end EQUALL’s 25th iteration – with a gala celebration that fitted the milestone year. The day after the conference, 200+ participants headed to downtown London to dance the night away and raise money for the LBS Women in Business’s new advocacy fund, which will cover LBS application costs for aspiring female applicants from underserved backgrounds. My key takeaway from this event? Women are breaking glass ceilings in the DJing industry!

I would be remiss not to call out the incredible organizing team of 30+ women and men dedicated to the delivery of excellent content and seamless logistics, along with Co-Chairs Francesca Pinto and Vittoria Golfarini and our fearless club Presidents – who will have both brought new life into this world and become first-time mothers by the time their tenure is over.

For 25 years, EQUALL has challenged and inspired its attendees, while shaping conversations that drive change. I’m excited to see how the next 25 years push boundaries even further.

Bio: Deb Carey is a second-year MBA candidate at London Business School and Co-Chair of the 2025 EQUALL Conference. Prior to LBS, Deb worked in U.S.-Africa trade relations covering the East Africa portfolio at the U.S. Department of Commerce, later working in the Secretary’s office as a Policy Advisor. Before entering government service, Deb built the data & analytics function within FirstWave Group’s companies in Zambia. Originally from Satellite Beach, Florida, Deb holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Masters of Arts in International Economic Relations from American University in Washington, D.C.

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