WACL

One day on from WACL Festival of Talent 2026, and we’re still taking it all in. 650 women. 3 cities. 1 shared ambition: helping more women lead and thrive through change. For the first time in the Festival’s 30-year history, we ran simultaneously across London, Manchester and Edinburgh. And honestly? The energy across all three venues was something else. There were conversations about confidence, influence, resilience, career pivots, leadership, creativity, money, burnout, ambition and what it really takes to keep progressing in industries that don’t always make it easy. There was honesty. There was generosity. There was a lot of note-taking. And there were plenty of new connections made and circles broadened, although the collective consensus seems to be that we should stop calling it “networking” and start calling it “business friendships” instead. Congratulations to our fabulous committee Kerry Chilvers; Katrina Lowes; Juliet Simpson; Sue Benson, Nadya Powell; Emily Somers; Kathryn Merriot; Joanna Lawrence; Lucy Gugas and all the incredible team who supported - you really excelled yourselves! A huge thank you again to our incredible speakers, mentors, sponsors and volunteers who made the day possible, especially @lloydsbankinggroup , @dove , @youtube , @global , @mailmetromedia and @groupm_uk WPP Media. for backing this community and helping us grow the Festival to its biggest scale yet. Most of all, thank you to every woman who showed up. Asked questions. Shared experiences. Supported each other. Started new conversations. That’s the bit that matters most. See you next year. We’ve set the bar annoyingly high now. #WACLFestivalofTalent #ChangeTheStats #NextGenLeadership #WomenInLeadership Pictures by Bronac McNeill

And that’s a wrap on WACL’s Festival of Talent 2026. 30 years in, and this incredible event is even more amazing than ever - so much energy, generosity and determination to push things forward. Today, across London, Manchester and Edinburgh, more than 650 women came together to learn, challenge themselves, build connections and remind each other that leadership does not come in one neat little box. Thank God. How dull would that be?! To all our amazing speakers and speed mentors across all three venues: thank you. Thank you for the honesty. Thank you for the practical advice. Thank you for sharing the messy bits as well as the polished bits. And thank you for giving your time, your stories and your experience so generously. You helped create conversations that will continue long after today. Career shifts. Confidence boosts. New networks. New ideas. Likely a few moments of self-reflection on the train home. A huge thank you to our brilliant sponsors, @lloydsbankinggroup , @dove , @youtube , @global , @mailmetromedia and @groupm_uk WPP Media. Your support helped make the UK’s largest women’s leadership conference possible across all three cities, and we’re hugely grateful. And finally, thank you to our incredible committee Kerry Chilvers; Katrina Lowes; Juliet Simpson; Sue Benson, Nadya Powell; Emily Somers; Kathryn Marriott; Joanna Lawrence; Lucy Gugas as well as everyone behind the scenes who made today happen. Pulling off an event of this scale takes a huge amount of hard work, collaboration and resilience - and all alongside the day jobs! Most importantly, thank you to every single person who joined us today. You are the reason this matters. And you are exactly why we’ll do it all again next year. #WACLFestivalofTalent #ChangeTheStats #NextGenLeadership #WomenInLeadership Pictures by Bronac McNeill

WACL’s Festival of Talent 30th year is …. LIVE! And it’s going to be bigger, bolder and better than ever. Today, we open our doors to - more than 650 women - across 3 locations, in London, Manchester and Edinburgh - featuring 55 speakers - and 40 speed mentors Today’s WACL Festival of Talent is all about enabling women across creative, media, marketing and tech, to build the skills we need to lead and thrive through change. What content will we cover? Financial confidence? Oh yes. Understanding how to influence without authority? All over it. Shaping your next move? Got it. Resilience? Hell to the yes. Rumour has it we’re the UK’s largest women’s leadership conference (and who are we to challenge that?). More importantly, however, we’re here to drive positive and practical change. So, if you’re ‘here’ with us today, please come and say hello. And if you’re not? Please connect with us. Reach out on socials. Support our work. We would LOVE to see you here, next year. And every day. It’s going to take a village 4.0. / Big shout-out to our wonderful committee Kerry Chilvers, Nadya Powell, Juliet Simpson, Sue Benson, Emily Somers, Kathryn Marriott, Joanna Lawrence, Lucy Gugas Pictures by Bronac McNeill #WACLFestivalofTalent #ChangeTheStats #NextGenLeadership #WomenInLeadership

Tomorrow’s the day. And you’ll forgive us for starting to feel just a little bit excited (ok, very excited). The WACL Festival of Talent is, remarkably, in its 30th year this year! Thirty years of bringing brilliant women together to learn, challenge themselves, build confidence and back each other. For the first time ever, this year we’re running across three locations simultaneously: London, Manchester and Edinburgh, with 650 attendees joining us across the UK. And we've sold out! The UK’s largest female leadership conference. And a line-up that is genuinely something special. Huge thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket, supported, sponsored, organised and helped make this happen. Events at this scale don’t come together by magic. (But it may well be a bit magical). Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. #WACLFestivalofTalent #Changethestats #InspiringFutureTalent #WomenInLeadership Photographer Bronac McNeill

This is your final warning! The WACL Festival of Talent 2026 is almost here, and we only have a very limited number of tickets remaining for our Manchester event. Join us on May 13th from 9am to 6pm to build your career in times of change through creativity, financial management, and resilience. You will not want to miss out on this day of unparalleled support and expertise. Hurry! Secure your spot now before we sell out completely! Virtual tickets still available too, secure your spot NOW before it's too late! Sign up here: /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 #FestivalOfTalent2026 #LeadThroughChange #WomenWhoLead #WACL

On 13 May, the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 will take place simultaneously across London, Manchester and Edinburgh, bringing together women from across our industry for a day focused on leadership, resilience, creativity, confidence and career growth. A big thank you to our sponsors, @lloydsbankinggroup , @dove , @youtube , @global , @mailmetromedia and @wpp Media, whose support has helped make this event possible across all three cities for the first time. London is now sold out, with only a handful of in-person tickets remaining in Manchester and Edinburgh. Virtual tickets are still available. The programme is practical, honest and built to help people take control of what comes next, rather than simply react to it. Don’t miss out. /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 #FestivalOfTalent2026 #LeadThroughChange #WomenWhoLead #WACL

On 13th May, join us in Manchester at the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 At the heart of the WACL (Women in Advertising & Communications Leadership ) Festival of Talent 2026 programme is a focus on community, as by supporting each other we can thrive no matter what our workplaces and the wonder world throw at us. We are incredibly proud to announce our "Building your community" panel, featuring an outstanding group of community leaders discussing the immense power of connection. Swipe to meet the speakers! Hear from inspiring female leaders, grow your network, and get honest guidance on your next career move. Sign up here: /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 Selling fast! Only select tickets remain for the Manchester live event. Book yours before they are completely gone! #FestivalOfTalent2026 #LeadThroughChange #WomenWhoLead #WACL

On 13th May, join us in Manchester at the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 At the heart of the WACL (Women in Advertising & Communications Leadership ) Festival of Talent 2026 programme is a focus on community, as by supporting each other we can thrive no matter what our workplaces and the wonder world throw at us. We are incredibly proud to announce our "Building your community" panel, featuring an outstanding group of community leaders discussing the immense power of connection. Swipe to meet the speakers! Hear from inspiring female leaders, grow your network, and get honest guidance on your next career move. Sign up here: /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 Selling fast! Only select tickets remain for the Manchester live event. Book yours before they are completely gone! #FestivalOfTalent2026 #LeadThroughChange #WomenWhoLead #WACL

The speaker line-up is out and it's as strong as ever. On 13 May, the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 brings together people who don’t just talk about change, they’ve built careers through it. This is a full day of practical sessions to help you lead, adapt and make smarter moves when things shift. Here’s just some of what's in store: - Movement and Reflection with Neelam Keshwala Curator, Host, DJ, Culture Change expert - Future-Proof Your Finances with clear practical advice from our panel of experts: Jacquie Duckworth Founder of Visible Start Ltd; Bola Sol Financial Adviser, Financial Educator; Victoria Cable, Financial Adviser, Advanced Wealth Management; Taj Randhawa Head of Consumer Marketing, Affluent, Savings & Investments, Lloyds Banking Group hosted by Alison Lomax, Director, YouTube - Amplify Your Impact and Influence with Selicia R., Brand Strategist and Founder of The Shift - Building your Community - Because who you surround yourself with matters more than most admit. A panel, led by Katie Lee, featuring Alessandra Lariu, Co-founder, SheSays; Bronac McNeill, Chair, Bloom; Charmaine Tavassoly Moss, London Board Lead, The Women in Programmatic Network; Tash Beecher, Co-Creative Director, Outvertising - Boost Your Resilience - learn smart tactics to bounce back stronger and protect your energy, no matter what comes your way. With Asad Dhunna, CEO and Founder of Unmistakables - Create Your Own Path - Honest conversation on identity, confidence and doing things your way, with Charlie Craggs and Liv Little, hosted by Kerry Chilvers - Unleash Your Creativity - a workshop showing how your identity fuels original ideas. Led by Inua Ellams, writer and curator. If you’re thinking about what comes next, this is where you figure it out. Step forward – the future is yours to shape. Book your tickets here : /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide – yet women’s symptoms are still too often dismissed or misdiagnosed. This week, WACL members and president Claire Sadler joined a conversation chaired by Dame Cilla Snowball, WACL member and Wellcome Governor, and featuring British Heart Foundation Chief Executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths to discuss how we move from raising awareness to raising expectations. This is why global research programmes like VISIBLE by Wellcome Leap – with funding from Pivotal and support from the British Heart Foundation – matter. They’re designed to close the gaps that have been overlooked for far too long. If you’re a woman, take a moment to read British Heart Foundation’s guidance on heart attack symptoms (link below) – and take them seriously. Share this with a woman you love. It could make a difference. .uk/informationsupport/conditions/heart-attack/signs-and-symptoms-of-heart-attacks-in-women #BeAWomensHealthHero, #wacl

Get ready for a full day of inspiration, connection, and actionable advice at the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 in Manchester! This year, our theme is Building your Career in times of Change. At the Festival of Talent 2026, we’re dedicating a full day to helping women strengthen the practical skills that drive long term leadership success. From decision making and communication to resilience and adaptability, you’ll gain tools you can use immediately. Swipe through to see our incredible Manchester highlights. From exploring how to build your financial future to engaging in fireside chats on being true to your artistry, this is a one-day leadership accelerator you cannot miss. Join us on 13 May in Manchester Selling fast! Only a select number of tickets remain for the Manchester event. Hurry, grab those last few tickets now! /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 #FestivalOfTalent2026, #LeadThroughChange, #WomenWhoLead #WACL

On 13th May, join us in Manchester at the WACL Festival of Talent 2026 as we focus on the skills that actually make a difference when things shift. We are thrilled to announce that Suzy McCafferty, Founder of Radical Joy and Positive Psychology Practitioner, will be leading the resilience workshop. In this session, we’ll explore widely accepted definitions of resilience, taking the opportunity to think beyond the idea of 'pushing through' or 'bouncing back' in favour of a more sustainable and compassionate approach. We’ll also take a look at the conflicting messages we hear about rest in a culture that prioritises hustle and how this impacts our ability to practice sustainable resilience. This session will be a chance to exhale, to connect with others and to learn new approaches that you can add to your wellbeing toolkit. Hurry, last few tickets for the Manchester event! Sign up here: /e/wacl-festival-of-talent-2026-tickets-1981002536915 @FestivalOfTalent2026 @LeadThroughChange @WomenWhoLead @WACL