Envision female vision
✩
Envision female vision ✩
Empower is back!
What is the Empower Conference?
The Empower Conference is one of the largest student-led conferences in Europe, organised by the Leeds University Women in Leadership Society. This flagship event celebrates the achievements of women across various industries and fosters meaningful dialogue about leadership, diversity, and empowerment.
Our previous conferences have had over 370 attendees from 27 European universities, 15+ UK university societies, and 20+ companies. This year, we aim to take it even further with inspiring keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities with professionals from various sectors.
Our society, with 1500+ members, is proudly focused on empowering female students by providing them with opportunities to network with inspiring female leaders and learn about career opportunities in leading organisations.
Monday, March 2nd 2026 | Pyramid Theatre & Pyramid Canteen
Announced Keynote Speakers
-
![]()
Ellen Nguyen
Director in Payments for Mastercard
Ellen Nguyen moved to London as an international student from Vietnam and has since built a growing career in London as a Director in Payments for Mastercard.
Beyond the corporate world, Ellen is a content creator with a community of over 40,000 followers across social platforms where she shares stories and insights about relationships, personal growth and the immigrant journey, helping people thrive and build a life they love.
-
![]()
Jenn Mejía
Founder of Latina Rising
Jenn Mejía is a corporate leader and community builder dedicated to helping women step into leadership with confidence. She is a Manager at Gartner, leading international teams across EMEA, and the Founder of Latina Rising, a non‑profit advancing visibility and opportunities for Latin American founders in the UK. Jenn also collaborates with organisations like Google on skills and inclusion initiatives and has been recognised by Forbes Under 30. Drawing from lived experiences of migration, neurodivergence, and rising into leadership at a young age, she brings an honest, empowering perspective on confidence, challenging limitations, and creating your own path.
-
![]()
Roxanne and Joana
Co-founders of TechTalk
Roxanne and Joana are the co-founders of TechTalk, a fast-growing career community helping people break into and grow careers in tech. After navigating layoffs, visa challenges, and repeated rejections while building their own international careers in the UK, they launched TechTalk to make hiring more transparent and accessible, especially for women, immigrants, and underrepresented talent. In under two years, TechTalk has grown from 5,000 to over 300,000 community members and has helped 300+ people land roles at companies including Salesforce, Adobe, Mastercard, and American Express.
-
![]()
Mariam Gogidze
Authority Building Expert & Personal Branding Strategist
Mariam Gogidze is a leading personal branding strategist helping founders and executives generate inbound opportunities and build authority online. With 70,000+ followers and 30M+ reach, she is one of the UK’s top voices in B2B authority marketing and has coached over 120 professionals worldwide. She leads LinkedIn strategy for the UK‑GCC Private Capital Alliance, teaches at Hult International Business School, and has been recognised as Top 1% Sales & Marketing UK by Favikon and featured in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Social Media Panelists
-
DR. LYDIE KITENGE AND DR. HAZAL TURUNC
Doctors and co‑founders of Journey2Med
Dr. Lydie Kitenge and Dr. Hazal Turunc are medical doctors, content creators, and co‑founders of Journey2Med, supporting aspiring students from underrepresented backgrounds. With an audience of over 130,000, they create inspiring educational content and host Boldly Ambitious, a podcast for big‑dreamers forging their own path. Their mission is to empower and equip ambitious individuals with clear, practical guidance. Their impact across medicine, media, and social change has earned awards and collaborations with global brands.
-
COURTNEY DANIELLA JESSE -BOATENG
Co-founder of To My Sisters
Courtney Daniella Jesse-Boateng is a multi-award-winning creator, author, and community builder with a focus on leadership, purpose, and cultural engagement. A Cambridge graduate, she is the co-founder of To My Sisters, a global platform and podcast supporting women's wellness, growth, and development. She dynamically works across digital media, strategy consultancy, and faith-led ministry to help individuals and organisations communicate with clarity, integrity, and impact, and she has been recognised by The Times, Forbes, HSBC, and several other global institutions for her work as an entrepreneur and thought leader.
-
TATI KAPAYA
Content Creator & Influencer
Tati Kapaya is an experienced content creator who has worked with global brands including YouTube, Samsung and Adidas, earning a 2024 bCreator Awards nomination for Lifestyle Creator of the Year. She is also the Co‑Executive Producer and Co‑Founder of Creators on Creators, a show featuring candid conversations between creators about their craft. With an MSc in Digital Marketing and a BSc in TV & Broadcasting, Tati combines creative storytelling with strategic marketing expertise.
Law Panelists
-
ALICE MORGAN
Ashurst
Alice is a Senior Associate at Ashurst specialising in restructuring and special situations, with over a decade of experience in complex cross‑border matters. She has advised debtors, creditors, insolvency practitioners and distressed‑asset purchasers across insolvency, corporate reorganisation and turnaround work. After 13 years at Sidley Austin LLP, she spent time as an Organisational Psychologist, developing deep expertise in leadership, identity and workplace culture. She now brings this behavioural insight back into legal practice and is committed to fostering inclusive, high‑performing workplaces.
-
GEMMA SHOHET
Linklaters
Gemma is an Associate in Linklaters’ Litigation, Investigations and Arbitration Group, specialising in complex, high‑value commercial litigation, cybersecurity, business crime and restructuring. She represents both claimants and defendants in major disputes, including matters that have reached the Supreme Court, and advises on a wide range of contentious issues. Before qualifying, Gemma completed seats in Litigation, Corporate and Real Estate, and undertook a secondment with HSBC’s Global Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement team.
-
SARA GILMORE
Addleshaw Goddard
Sara is a Partner in Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester office with over 20 years’ experience advising public and private sector clients in the UK and internationally. She specialises in innovative infrastructure and services contracts across regulated sectors. Her recent work includes advising the DHSC on its Neighbourhood Health Centre PPP Programme, TfGM on integrating rail into the Bee Network, and the National Wealth Fund on debt financing for the Sizewell C nuclear project.
-
TAMZIN BOND
Covington & Burling
Tamzin Bond is an associate in the Life Sciences Regulatory team, advising pharmaceutical, biotech, food, medical device and diagnostics clients on a wide range of regulatory matters. She has worked in the firm’s London and Dubai offices and spent time in‑house as a secondee to a major international pharmaceutical company. Tamzin holds a PhD in Chemistry focused on targeted molecular imaging probes and previously worked at a clinical‑phase biotech company. She also contributes to the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts and co‑leads the London office’s Social Mobility Resource Group.
Finance Panelists
-
Angela Roberts
Grant Thornton
Angela is an Associate Director in the Forensic & Investigation Services team at Grant Thornton. With over 15 years of experience as a forensic accountant, she now specialises in investigating fraud and money laundering, with a focus on asset tracing and complex offshore trust structures.
-
Eleanor Forshaw
KPMG
Eleanor is a Tax Assistant Manager at KPMG. After joining through the Summer Vacation Scheme during her International History and Politics degree at the University of Leeds, she secured a place on the Graduate Scheme and recently completed her ACA qualification. She has been active in KPMG’s culture, serving as Chair of the Network of Women in the North and volunteering with TaxAid. Eleanor recently returned from a 3‑month secondment in Uganda and is now preparing for a 6‑month career break to travel.
-
Abigail Lamptey
Deutsche Bank
Abigail Lamptey is a Financial Analyst at Deutsche Bank in London, where she supports senior leadership with performance analysis and strategic planning. She holds a B.A. in Economics from NYU Abu Dhabi and is pursuing her ACA qualification. She is also the founder of LF Consultancy, helping students and early‑career professionals build confidence and access global opportunities. Having lived across Ghana, Abu Dhabi, and the UK, Abigail brings a global perspective to diversity, leadership, and inclusion, championing the belief that when women have the right tools and mindset, they lead boldly.
-
TBC!
BNY
Confirmed Representatives of Companies Attending
AlphaSights
•
Enterprise Mobility
•
BBC
•
A&O Sherman
•
Dentons
•
DLA Piper
•
EY
•
Alpine F1 Team
•
Micro2
•
KPMG
•
ReedSmith
•
AlphaSights • Enterprise Mobility • BBC • A&O Sherman • Dentons • DLA Piper • EY • Alpine F1 Team • Micro2 • KPMG • ReedSmith •
Itinerary for the Day (subject to changes)
Times Pyramid Theatre + Pyramid Canteen
8:30 - 9:15 am Registration Opens
9:30am - 9:50am Welcome by President and Conference Director
9:50am - 10:20am 1st Keynote Speaker
10:30am - 11:30am 1st Panel: Social Media
11:35am - 12:05pm 2nd Keynote Speaker
12:15pm - 1:15pm 2nd Panel: Law
1:15pm - 2:15pm Executive Lunch
2:15pm - 2:55pm Mini Event
3:05pm - 4:05pm 3rd Panel: Finance
4:10pm - 4:30pm Break
4:30 - 5:00pm 3rd Virtual Keynote Speaker
5:05 - 5:20pm Closing Ceremony
5:30pm onwards Networking
