2027 Agenda

Designed for current and emerging technology leaders, transformation professionals and anyone responsible for influencing change, this practical masterclass explores how to build support, maintain trust and help people move through uncertainty.

Participants will examine the human and organisational dynamics that determine whether change succeeds or stalls. They will learn how to diagnose the change in front of them, understand stakeholder interests and resistance, communicate direction clearly, and use the expertise and feedback of others to strengthen decisions. The masterclass will apply these skills to real initiatives involving shifting priorities, new technology and changing operating conditions.

Learning outcomes

•    Diagnose the change in front of you, including what is shifting, who will be affected and what needs to be true for the change to land
•    Map key stakeholders, their interests, influence and likely sources of support or resistance
•    Build support for change before a formal decision is made or implementation begins
•    Communicate a clear and credible direction when the final destination or implementation path is still evolving
•    Use questions, feedback and team expertise to improve decisions without creating confusion about accountability
•    Recognise and respond to the human factors that influence whether people engage with, resist or disengage from change
•    Maintain trust and psychological safety while continuing to hold people accountable for delivery
•    Adapt communication and engagement approaches to different stakeholders, priorities and levels of readiness
•    Sustain momentum when technology, organisational priorities or operating conditions continue to shift
•    Design a practical communication and stakeholder engagement plan for a current initiative
•    Test your approach through structured peer feedback and identify potential gaps before implementation
•    Develop a 90-day action plan for a change you are currently leading or influencing

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to influence change beyond formal authority, communicate effectively through uncertainty and bring people with them without losing momentum or accountability. They will also leave with a stakeholder map, engagement plan and practical 90-day roadmap for an initiative they are working on now.

Designed for professionals at every career stage, this practical masterclass develops the emotional intelligence, self-awareness and communication skills needed to work effectively with others, navigate pressure and influence workplace outcomes.

Participants will examine how emotions, relationships, personalities and workplace dynamics shape conversations and decisions. They will learn how to recognise their own triggers, read the room, adapt their communication and respond constructively when challenged. The masterclass is relevant to both leaders and individual contributors, including anyone who needs to build credibility, handle difficult conversations or influence without relying on seniority or formal authority.

Learning outcomes

•    Understand how emotional intelligence influences communication, relationships, credibility and workplace outcomes
•    Recognise the emotional signals, underlying interests and interpersonal dynamics shaping a conversation or decision
•    Read the room more accurately without making assumptions about what other people are thinking or feeling
•    Identify your own triggers, default responses and communication habits under pressure
•    Apply practical techniques to pause, reset and choose a more constructive response in the moment
•    Maintain clarity and credibility when facing challenge, disagreement or emotionally charged situations
•    Adapt your communication to different personalities, priorities and working styles without losing authenticity
•    Express ideas and concerns with greater confidence, clarity and authority
•    Influence decisions and gain support without relying on job title, seniority or formal leadership responsibility
•    Prepare for and navigate difficult conversations while protecting the working relationship
•    Recognise when to listen, question, challenge, reframe or hold your position
•    Rehearse a real workplace conversation in a supportive environment using structured peer feedback
•    Develop a personal plan for strengthening presence, self-management and influence at work

Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how they respond under pressure, how others may experience their communication and how to adapt without becoming inauthentic. They will gain practical approaches for reading workplace dynamics, managing difficult moments and making themselves heard, whether they are leading a team, contributing specialist expertise or influencing across an organisation.

• The strategic-detour mindset: why a move that looks like a step backwards can sometimes take your career furthest forward
• Knowing when to move recognising when you have outgrown a role, pathway or definition of success
• Take away practical lessons for making bold career decisions and stepping into the leader you want to become 

• How is AI changing leadership, and which human capabilities will become more valuable as technology takes on more of the work?
• Which skills will the next generation of executives need to demonstrate strategic and commercial value beyond technical credibility?
• How can leaders foster collaboration, constructive conflict, and adaptable teams?

• Build trust and credibility by being honest about what you do not know
• Guide teams through unfamiliar technology by asking strong questions, drawing on their expertise and setting a clear direction
• Model curiosity and visible learning so your team feels confident to learn alongside you

• Decision-making under pressure: staying calm, communicating clearly and protecting trust when the stakes are high
• Understand how to build team habits that reduce risk before things go wrong, from better preparation and escalation to clearer accountability
• Discover how to lead through mistakes, outages or incidents in a way that protects confidence, supports learning and avoids a blame culture 

• Identify when to use critical thinking, negotiation and courageous conversation skills to increase your influence and impact in tech
• Apply practical techniques to advocate for your ideas, negotiate for better outcomes and navigate difficult workplace dynamics
• Build habits and create the conditions for continuous learning, so you can adapt your skills as technology and expectations change
  

• Stepping outside your role to build expertise, visibility and career momentum
• Learn how to spot, say yes to and make the most of stretch opportunities, even when you don't feel fully ready
• Discover practical ways to manage the discomfort and self-doubt that come with new challenges. 

• Understand how skills built in one role, team or function can translate into new opportunities across tech
• Learn how to identify the capabilities you already have, from stakeholder management and problem solving to delivery, systems thinking and judgement
• Discover how to articulate your transferable skills with confidence when applying for roles, moving sideways or stepping into unfamiliar territory 

Compare current challenges and implementation experiences with peers in small, facilitated discussions, while building relationships across organisations you might not otherwise have access to. Choose three of the below to attend, with each roundtable running concurrently over three time slots:

Round 1: 15.50 - 16.20
Round 2: 16.20 to 16.50
Round 3: 16.50 to 17.20

• Where in the pathway are women most likely to stall, step away or be overlooked, and why?
• How do access to strategic work, sponsorship and visibility change the path to executive leadership?
• What can leaders and organisations change now to make progression more achievable?

• What is the difference between a mentor, a sponsor and an ally, and which relationships have made the biggest impact on each panellist's career?
• How do you find, approach and build a relationship with a sponsor or mentor, and what makes it work for both sides?
• What does effective allyship look like in practice, and what can everyone in the audience do this week to advance another woman's career?

A networking opportunity designed to pair mentors and mentees over shared development goals.

• Understand how communities, networks and workplace policies help women stay, grow and lead in tech
• Learn how to find, join or build support systems that strengthen career progression
• Use cross-functional networks to solve problems, identify opportunities, build influence and advocate for more inclusive workplaces

• How do life-stage experiences; including maternity, fertility, menopause, caregiving and mental health, affect careers and progression in tech?
• How can leaders address workplace barriers and psychosocial risks while creating psychological safety and respecting privacy?
• What practical changes to policies, flexibility and team culture can help women stay, perform, lead and thrive at work?

• Understand how the disappearance of traditional entry-level work is reshaping the way young people build experience, confidence and capability
• Learn what leaders can do to create meaningful early-career pathways, even as junior roles and training opportunities change
• Discover practical ways to give young people the stretch, mentoring and exposure they need to grow into future leaders

• Understand why women can feel stalled or pushed out of tech, and what makes the decision to stay or return so difficult
• Learn what support, choices and turning points help women stay, return and keep progressing in their careers
• Discover practical steps for rebuilding momentum, finding support and progressing again when a tech career feels stuck

• How can we establish strong networks and communities to share experiences, resources, and support women in tech?
• How can we promote policies that address gender disparities, such as equal pay, parental leave, and flexible working conditions, to help women advance their careers?
• What can we do to inspire and provide opportunities for girls at a young age to explore STEM fields through outreach programs, hands-on activities, and mentorship? 

Bring one real challenge from your tech career or team and work through it with peers who have faced similar hurdles and turn shared experience into clear next steps that you can apply.

• Understand the forces reshaping technology, work and leadership, and what they will mean for careers, teams and organisations over the next decade
• Identify the leadership choices needed to balance emerging technology, changing employee expectations, productivity and human connection
• Identify how leaders can build adaptable teams, cultures and ways of working that are ready for continuous change