This International Women’s Day, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the incredible women who make the magic happen behind the scenes! From setting the stage and calling the cues to running the show and stealing the spotlight, their talent, creativity and leadership keep the industry thriving. 

We recently worked with the inspiring Dr Sam Collins to provide technical event production for her London event, Phoenix 2025: Leadership for Transforming Self, Business and Society. After her successful two-day event came to a close, we asked Dr Collins a few questions about her work. 

What inspired you to create the Aspire movement?

The desire to be a social entrepreneur, make a difference, have flexibility over my time and do something true to my values of equality, fairness and justice for women. 

What do you think are the biggest obstacles still holding women back today, and how can they be overcome?

Organisational cultures, especially at the most senior levels need to be inclusive of women and be an environment which is appealing for women to aspire to. Social expectations and the backwards slide in diversity and inclusion globally.

You’ve worked with women across different cultures and industries. Have you noticed any common threads in the challenges they face, and how do solutions need to be adapted to different contexts?

Yes many common threads. At the heart of it, we all have same challenges around our confidence, exclusion from networks, lack of opportunity, motherhood penalty, menopause and more. Different cultures (national), religious beliefs and politics have a massive impact on the severity of these issues and therefore some areas of the world, these challenges are much more acute.

What is your vision for women’s equality in the next 10 years, and what role do you believe businesses and individuals need to play in making it a reality?

The vision is that it’s a non issue, all genders have equal opportunity and lead social change. Everyone can have a role in everyday actions every day. Male allyship is going to be critical.

In your experience, what is the unique impact that events have in fostering connection, driving change and advancing equality for women?

At Aspire, our programmes are our way of creating a safe and inspirational space for changemakers (women and male allies) to create their visions and plans, overcome obstacles and achieve results for their careers, lives and world at large.  

We hope you’ve found Dr Collins’ perspectives as interesting and inspiring as we did. To learn more about Dr Sam Collins, visit her two websites: www.aspireforequality.com and www.drsamcollins.com

At Conference Craft, we believe in an inclusive line-up, where every woman gets a front-row seat to success. Let’s turn up the volume on their achievements and make sure their impact is felt centre stage!