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How generosity, sponsorship and shared responsibility are shaping the next generation of leaders and why it matters now more than ever. As International Women’s Day 2026 embraces the theme Give To Gain, we spoke with Judy Wagner, co-founder of FWB, to reflect on four decades of progress in women’s leadership and the work still required to build a more equitable future. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of FWB’s Executive Women in Leadership (EWIL) programme, a milestone that reinforces the firm’s long-standing commitment to developing diverse leadership talent. In preparation for this conversation, Judy spoke to several EWIL alumnae, as well as some of the experienced female Chairs and NXDs in our network, to gather candid reflections on what has changed, what hasn’t, and what leaders must now “give” to ensure the next generation can “gain.”

The recent event hosted by the Executive Women in Leadership Network (EWIL) was a refreshing departure from the usual “doom and gloom” narrative around Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI). Instead, it was a gathering of leaders focused on finding solutions to encourage diversity without increasing polarisation. Morag Hutchison, an Employment Lawyer and Partner at Shepherd & Wedderburn, co-hosted the session and posted a critical question: “Where are we with DEI? Have we gone too far? What is the pushback, and how can we solutionise our response to this?”.