ELC Board Members Julia M. Brown and Arlene Isaacs-Lowe, and ELC Member Erika Irish Brown joined an exclusive delegation of black executives invited to attend the 2018 Women of The World (WOW) Festival in London. Founded in 2010, WOW is the largest convener of women in the world with festivals in over 50 countries that provide a platform for the celebration of and conversation about the global condition of women and girls through artistic expression, introduction of thought leadership and rigorous debate.
Arlene recently completed a global leadership assignment in the UK for Moody’s Corporation. She is one of an increasing number of ELC members who are from or have resided in the UK as expats, and have helped to increase The ELC’s international presence. India Martin, WOW US ambassador and leadership expert, led the delegation and curated the week of events designed to promote global black women in leadership as part of International Women’s Week.
(l-r) Bershan Shaw, WOW US ambassador India Martin, Camille John Jenkins, Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, ELC Board Member Arlene Isaacs-Lowe (Moody’s Corporation), ELC Board Member Julia M. Brown (Carnival Corporation & plc), and WOW Festival founder Jude Kelly OBE.
On March 8, International Women’s Day, the delegation served on a feature panel at JPMorgan London entitled, “Women of Power.” The women led a powerful discussion about the widening focus on diversity in corporate cultures from one that has seen significant gender traction to more specific strategies around the inclusion, retention and promotion of black and ethnic minority talent. The delegation also attended an invitation-only VIP reception for women leaders from the worlds of business, the arts and government at Clarence House, the home of Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, who is also president of WOW Global.
ELC Member Erika Irish Brown (Bloomberg LP) with Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles.
In the following days, the delegation attended a Leadership Breakfast Summit sponsored by AT Kearney and Natwest. The women then participated on a feature plenary panel for WOW’s opening day chaired by India and Jude Kelly OBE, the founder of WOW. The panel was held on the Royal Festival Hall’s mainstage and was entitled, “The Real Lives of Business Sheroes.” The content explored the intersection of race and gender in the workplace, authenticity and the roles that intra-racial relationships play as part of global corporate culture. To close the week of activities, Coutts hosted “The Leading Lights,” a private dinner with senior business leaders from across the UK in honour of the delegation, and The ELC women hosted a reception at the Mandarin London for UK-based ELC members and special guests.
(l-r) WOW US ambassador India Martin, ELC Board Member Arlene Isaacs-Lowe (Moody’s Corporation), and ELC Board Member Julia M. Brown (Carnival Corporation & plc) with Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles.
There is an increasing appetite for interaction between African-American executives and their counterparts in Europe, Asia and Africa. This is the first of a series of executive delegations that India will lead to facilitate global conversations around the contributions of African-American talent to the global business economy. India is a former C-Suite executive who lived and worked in Europe and Asia with responsibility for Africa for more than 20 years.
