She Means Business to explore where gender equality meets sustainability

“The industry is 70% women-powered, but only 20% women-led, meaning that clearly more work around equality of opportunity is needed,” says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, sharing the guiding principle of She Means Business, a series of learning sessions dedicated to diversity, gender equality and female empowerment taking place at IMEX Frankfurt, 23-25 May. “The events industry needs to collaborate and engage in open dialogue to ensure opportunities for everyone regardless of gender. We’re delighted to introduce a really supportive and well-informed She Means Business programme packed with honest discussion and women who are leading the way to a more equitable future,” Bauer added. She Means Business  will invite women and men from across the global events sector to share their views, experiences and current diversity and gender equality challenges. The programme begins on the first day of IMEX Frankfurt, Tuesday 23 May, with a practical guide on the role of women in helping to achieve net zero by 2050. In Road to net zero: Women as change makers (supported by CCH Hamburg), speakers including Kathleen Warden from the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), host venue of COP26, will discuss the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative and the role of women in powering sustainable business. Challenges around gender parity persist according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022 of the World Economic Forum which states it will take 132 years to close the existing global gender gap. While the events industry is female-dominated in terms of numbers, its glass ceiling inhibits female representation at senior leadership levels. Kerstin Wünsch from tw tagungswirtschaft – dfv Media Group and co-founder of She Means Business said: “Diversity and gender equality are not only an answer to the staff shortages in our industry. With the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), corporations in the European Union are now required to report on sustainability in all its dimensions, including the social dimension. She Means Business is doing its part.” Sessions taking place throughout the three days of the show cover future skillsets, building connections and mentoring practices that best support women’s career development. Find out more and register here.