Retail Week’s Be Inspired conference champions female success in the world of retail

The event will be a full day of networking, shared learning and mentoring in the form of an interactive conference at the Fashion Retail Academy in London.

The conference will focus on strategic business and personal development goals, with a range of speakers and interactive discussions.

It will offer an insight into what drives the most successful female retail leaders with a packed schedule of masterclasses, panels and keynote speeches.

Whether you’re keen to learn more about how to jump the hurdles when aiming for a promotion or if you want to pick up tips on improving your confidence in the workplace, there will be a raft of campaign ambassadors and industry leaders on hand to help.

Among the impressive list of speakers already lined up to share their pearls of wisdom are Jacqueline Gold, chief executive officer of Ann Summers, and Wendy Hallett, chief executive of Hallett Retail.

“It’s important that retail is reflective of the wider world; retail is targeted at women – 85% of all purchases are made or influenced by women”

Cilla Snowball CBE, group chairman and group ceo of AMV BBDO will be speaking at the event, as will Genevieve Kunst, vice-president and managing director for Europe of Shopstyle and Amanda Cox, people and service director of Dunelm.

What is Be Inspired?

Be Inspired, which launched back in March this year, is Retail Week’s campaign to support, inspire and promote both female retail leaders and their successors. We believe diversity in the workplace is critical to business success, and in championing this initiative we hope to create a platform for wider change.

It’s important that retail is reflective of the wider world; retail is targeted at women – 85% of all purchases are made or influenced by women – but just 10% serve on executive boards. Evidently, so much more can be done.

With a focus on high-profile role models in the sector, the value of female leaders and the importance of engaging with future female leaders of tomorrow, this campaign is fundamental to the industry, in both delivering sustainable results and inspiring people to help achieve their goals, both now and in the future.

Who are the speakers?

There will be a wide range of inspirational individuals speaking in both panel sessions and keynotes during the course of the day. Those confirmed include:

Zia Zareem-Slade, customer experience director, Fortnum & Mason

Zia Zareem-Slade is responsible for creating and delivering the ideal customer experience across all channels.

Emma Watkinson, founder and ceo, SilkFred

Emma Watkinson launched SilkFred.com in 2012 – a website offering some of the world’s best independent fashion labels in one destination.

The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG

Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG is the Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, appointed on July 17. Previously she was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for BIS and DCMS, and the Minister for Intellectual Property.

“This campaign is fundamental to the industry, in both delivering sustainable results and inspiring people to help achieve their goals”