From representation to power: Reflections from the FT Women in Business Summit

The Financial Times Women in Business Summit brought together senior leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and changemakers to explore one of the defining challenges facing organisations today: how can we continue driving equality and inclusion in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world?

Representing Women in Banking and Finance UK (WIBF), CEO Vicky Soden, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Nicky King, Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships Ras Gohil and volunteer Christina Stavrou and joined delegates for a day of thought-provoking discussions spanning leadership, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, education, community engagement and the future of work. While the agenda covered a wide range of topics, one message emerged time and again: the conversation around gender equality is evolving. Representation remains essential, but the focus is increasingly shifting towards influence, decision-making and who ultimately holds power within organisations.

Looking beyond representation

One of the most thought-provoking moments of the day came during a discussion featuring Debbie Crosbie DBE, which explored the progress women have made in reaching senior leadership positions. Women now occupy a growing proportion of board seats, yet only around eight per cent of CEOs are women. It prompted an important question: have we spent the past decade measuring representation when perhaps we should also have been measuring power?

Reflecting on the summit afterwards, Vicky shared:

“Women occupy a growing proportion of board seats, yet only around 8% of CEOs are women. Have we spent the last decade measuring representation when we should have been measuring power?”

She went on to question who owns the P&L, controls capital allocation, leads technology transformation and shapes public policy, suggesting that while organisations have become increasingly good at counting women in leadership positions, they are less likely to ask whether those women have the authority to influence the decisions that shape businesses and society.

As Vicky observed:

“We’ve become very good at counting women in rooms. We’re less good at asking whether they have the authority to change what happens in them.”

It was a powerful reflection that echoed throughout the day. Across multiple sessions, speakers challenged delegates to think beyond visibility and consider where influence truly lies. Representation has opened doors, but the next phase of progress will depend on ensuring women are helping to shape strategy, investment, innovation and policy at the highest levels.

Leadership, confidence and unlocking potential

The summit featured an inspiring conversation with entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Deborah Meaden, whose career has been defined as much by resilience as success. Sharing stories from her early business ventures, she spoke candidly about failure, adaptability and the importance of understanding both personal strengths and weaknesses. Her message was refreshingly practical: confidence is not about pretending to know everything, but about recognising the value you bring and having the courage to speak up.

She also highlighted the persistent challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Despite evidence that female-led businesses often generate strong returns, women continue to receive a disproportionately small share of investment funding. Improving financial literacy, encouraging women to invest and supporting female founders to grow and scale their businesses were all identified as essential if this imbalance is to change.

In typically humorous style, Deborah suggested that perhaps the event should simply have been called the “Talented People Doing Great Things in Business Summit” – a remark that drew laughter from the audience while neatly capturing the calibre of speakers and delegates gathered throughout the day.

The discussion around confidence continued in sessions examining talent, career progression and organisational culture. Panellists reflected on the structural barriers that continue to limit opportunities for many women, alongside the tendency for capable individuals to underestimate their achievements or wait to be recognised rather than advocating for themselves.

There was strong agreement that organisations have an important role to play in identifying hidden talent, creating visible pathways for progression and ensuring people have access to sponsorship, mentoring and professional networks. Several speakers also highlighted the importance of male allies in creating genuinely inclusive workplaces, recognising that lasting cultural change requires leadership from everyone, not just women.

AI, digital change and shaping the future

Artificial intelligence was another recurring theme throughout the summit, not simply as a technological challenge but as a leadership issue.

Kathryn Britten FCA of AlixPartners shared research suggesting that women leaders are, in fact, more optimistic about AI than their male counterparts. Yet despite that optimism, women continue to lag behind men in adopting and using AI technologies. The discussion suggested that the challenge is not simply one of access, but of confidence, opportunity and influence.

As organisations increasingly embed AI into decision-making, products and services, ensuring women play a central role in shaping how these technologies are developed and governed will be essential. Without diverse voices around the table, there is a risk that existing inequalities will simply be replicated through new technologies.

The wider conversation about digital transformation extended beyond AI to consider how organisations communicate with communities and build trust in an increasingly online world. Speakers emphasised the importance of meaningful consultation rather than superficial engagement, encouraging organisations to genuinely listen to the communities they serve and respond to real concerns rather than simply meeting expectations on paper.

Partnerships also featured strongly, with examples demonstrating the impact that collaboration between businesses, charities and community organisations can have. From promoting children’s online safety and supporting mental health to encouraging healthier digital habits, the discussions reinforced the growing responsibility organisations have to create safe, inclusive digital environments while recognising the influence that online platforms and algorithms have on society.

Rethinking talent for the future

The future workforce was another important area of discussion, with speakers questioning whether university should continue to be viewed as the default route into a successful career.

As automation and AI reshape many traditional entry-level roles, businesses were encouraged to broaden their thinking about talent. Apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and vocational pathways all offer valuable routes into rewarding careers and deserve greater recognition alongside higher education.

Speakers stressed that employers also have a responsibility to recruit for potential as well as experience, creating environments where different backgrounds, perspectives and career journeys are valued. Building stronger partnerships between businesses, schools, colleges, universities and third-sector organisations will be essential in helping young people understand the wide range of opportunities available to them and ensuring organisations can access the diverse talent they need for the future.

A conversation that continues

For WIBF, the summit reinforced many of the conversations already taking place across our own community. Whether discussing leadership, entrepreneurship, AI or future talent, the same underlying question surfaced repeatedly: how do we ensure women are not simply represented, but empowered to shape the decisions that matter?

As financial services and the wider business landscape continue to evolve, increasing representation alone will not be enough. The next stage of progress will depend on creating environments where women influence investment decisions, technological innovation, organisational strategy and public policy, helping to shape the future of work for the generations that follow.

The FT Women in Business Summit provided valuable insights, fresh perspectives and an opportunity to connect with leaders committed to driving meaningful change. It also served as a timely reminder that while significant progress has been made, there is still important work to do. At WIBF, we remain committed to championing women at every stage of their careers, creating opportunities to learn, connect and lead, and ensuring that the conversation continues long after the summit has ended.