As organisations prepare for IWD 2026, many senior HR leaders are asking tougher questions:

Group coaching is increasingly being adopted by HR, L&D and EDI leaders as a scalable, inclusive development solution - but many still question what makes it truly effective.

Why are women still underrepresented in leadership despite decades of progress? Because of the systemic barriers that continue to hold them back.

Join Rachel Schofield in conversation with Sharon Peake, CPsychol (Founder & CEO, Shape Talent) and Dr Priscila Pereira Law PhD FCIPD (Director of Research & Innovation, Shape Talent) for the launch of the 3rd Edition of the landmark Three Barriers® Report.

Drawing on 7,500+ voices, 95+ references, and fresh global data, this new edition explores:

🔹 The Three Barriers® to women’s career progression

🔹 Sub-barriers like stereotypes, sponsorship gaps, and the likeability penalty.

🔹 Why personal barriers aren’t about women “lacking confidence,” but about workplaces penalising ambition.

🔹 What good looks like when organisations dismantle barriers systemically.

Hear from leaders at Beiersdorf and Shape Talent as they share:

This is a must-attend for HR leaders, DEI professionals, and anyone shaping workplace wellbeing.

Are women’s development programmes a thing of the past – or ripe for reinvention?

Coaching is everywhere – but what actually has real career impact?

Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of intentional, well-designed systems. As many organisations struggle to maintain momentum on EDI, talent strategy can be a powerful lever to protect progress, embed equity into decision-making, and ensure that inclusion is built in, not bolted on.

In this session, we explore how to:

As organisations navigate a rapidly shifting landscape, EDI strategies are being tested like never before. Regulatory pressures, budget constraints, and shifting stakeholder expectations are forcing business leaders to make difficult choices.

This raises the question: how do we sustain meaningful progress on EDI and navigate these challenges with confidence?

Rising costs of living, bill increases, high childcare costs and limited support means it’s increasingly challenging to be a working parent or carer. It can feel that the barriers facing those with caring responsibilities are too tough to break through.

As external pressures and political shifts continue to challenge corporate EDI strategies, many organisations are finding themselves at a crossroads. Do they stay the course, or do they quietly roll-back their efforts to protect key business contracts?