join our EVENT 7 March 2025


Mark will be the keynote speaker at Think Global Women’s celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday 7 March 2025 at the illustrious Pall Mall venue of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in London.


This will be a lively and interactive event bringing together top thought-leaders and experts for a full day of discussion, learning, networking and growth. Book now to hear Mark’s presentation and


THE ROLE OF MEN IN DEI & PERSONAL CAREER TRANSFORMATION Mark’s personal journey is one of recognising and challenging gender stereotypes. It is inspired by his wife and the desire to be a better father and husband. “I changed my working life 25 years ago to try to be


the type of father and husband I wanted to be,” he says. “At that time, the options for me in a corporate career were to travel all over the world, be away at weekends and see very little of my children.” He credits this decision to review his work-life balance


as having been transformational for him. “Having the courage to recognise the stereotypes that are holding you back as a man, and that these are often outdated, old- fashioned male stereotypes, were for me personally and for a lot of men that I talked to a genuine turning point in their lives,” he says. He says it is important to recognise how these


outdated stereotypes, which senior leaders often perpetuate, are holding back men and women. When men become part of the conversation, real progress can be made. A starting point is to acknowledge that men and women have different lived experiences, he says. “For example, we need to change the way we run


meetings to ensure that everyone is heard, that an idea is given credibility when a woman proposes it, and not just a man,” he says. “Let’s build the capacity to do that. It is about awareness, desire, understanding and capability.” What is really important then is to make sure


those principles and structures are embedded in the organisation. “We all know that when we have been on a training course we come out really motivated and with the appetite for change. Then we get back to our desk, and a day later, that training is finished and forgotten. The key is to ensure that the culture enables conversation and that lasting change can take place.”


workshop to explore how to press for action, encourage men to become part of the conversation around inclusion and equity and why this makes sense. Hear interviews with inspiring women leaders and participate in facilitated roundtable discussions on working in challenging locations. Bring your expertise, ideas and lived experience to our feedback sessions. Enjoy a delicious three- course meal in the IoD’s beautiful surroundings, catch up with colleagues and make new contacts. “The really effective message around inclusion


is that it enables us to really know and understand the people we work with and the people around us as individuals with their own strengths, weaknesses and cultural nuances,” he says. “That then creates an environment where we can all come together as people and operate with some agreed behaviours and language that we all commit to and abide by.”


EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE – 3 PART SERIES


Marianne Curphey interviewed Mark Freed ahead of his keynote at Think Global Women’s celebration of International Women’s Day, 7 March 2025, London.


READ THE SERIES:


Part 1: How to achieve true equality in the workplace – page 74


Part 2: How to tackle resistance to cultural change in the workplace – page 28


Part 3: How to create a diverse & inclusive workplace – page 36


77


AT OUR


GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUPPLEMENT


EDI


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