Entrepreneurship, Corporate Culture, and the Gender Agenda

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s IWD theme called on individuals and organisations to #ChooseToChallenge inequality, call out bias, question stereotypes, and help forge an inclusive world. K&L Gates brought together four inspiring entrepreneurs to exchange insights and experiences on how individually and collectively we can:

• #ChooseToChallenge the values that make a “successful” business
• #ChooseToChallenge outmoded corporate cultures, and explore approaches entrepreneurs take when given the opportunity to define their own cultures
• #ChooseToChallenge traditional models of leadership and decision-making

Our guests included:

• Malene Birger, who co-founded two of Denmark's most iconic international fashion brands DAY Birger et Mikkelsenand By Malene Birger and has since turned her attentions to her other passions, interior design, and painting
• Margaret Dabbs, who pioneered a new category in the cosmetics sector with leading luxury foot care brand Margaret Dabbs London and has led its global expansion plans including a sale of a stake to Singapore beauty group BWI
• Asaf Navot, a former army captain, and founder and CEO of Home Made, the property-tech startup aimed at fixing a broken lettings industry and making the process of home rental simple, fair, transparent, and more affordable for renters and landlords
• Samantha Woodham, barrister and co-founder of The Divorce Surgery, whose unique “One Couple One Lawyer” service has attracted awards, backing, and a high profile advisory board for its ethical proposition aimed at minimising conflict and cost in separations