“Women Business Leaders of Tomorrow” conference
Lead Organisation : Reseau ESSEC au Féminin
Venue : Méridien Etoile
Date : 2007-02-06
The "ESSEC au féminin" network celebrated the School's Centenary in style in the form of an evening's debate on the issue of businesswomen in the next century, featuring a selection of prestigious guest speakers.
Organized in association with the ESSEC "Luxe" club and its Chairman Margitta Matthes, the event attracted over 500 people to the Méridien Hotel, comprising men and women from the ESSEC Alumni network and the networks of other major business schools (Sciences Po, ESCP-EAP), as well as representatives of the professional world.
After an opening speech by Pierre Tapie, Marie B. Lallemand (DG Louvres hôtels) addressed the audience on the subject of gender differences in the working world.
The roundtable session, chaired by Susan Bird (founder of WF360) who came over especially from New York for the occasion, was introduced via a video message from Christine Lagarde, the then Delegate Minister for Trade.
The other guest speakers were as follows: Nicolas Bordas, (alumnus and Chairman of TBWA France), Kate Grussing (founder of Sapphire Partners), Cathy Kopp (Executive Vice-President, Human Resources & Sustainable Development, ACCOR), Margaret Milan (founder of Eveil & Jeux, Chairman of EPWN), Cécile Bonnefond, (Chairman of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin) and Laurence Berman-Clément (alumna and President of Jet Tours).
The evening's proceedings closed with the screening of a film imagining the businesswoman in 2057, followed by the ceremonial blowing out of the Centenary candle.