Griselda Togobo In Conversation With...

Ann Cairns role as Executive Vice Chair, involves her representing Mastercard around the world, focusing on inclusion, diversity and innovation. She plays the important role of senior ambassador and executive leader and sits as part of the company’s global management committee.

Prior to her current appointment, Ann was President of International Markets responsible for the management of all Mastercard customer-related activities in over 200 countries. Ann brings more than 20 years’ experience working in senior management positions across Europe and the U.S. Prior to joining Mastercard in 2011, Ann was head of the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal, CEO of Transaction Banking at ABNAMRO and held senior positions at Citigroup.

Ann is currently chair of ICE Clear Europe, owned by the Fortune 500 company Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). She is also global chair of the 30% Club and the chair of the Financial Alliance for Women. In addition, Ann is the lead non-executive board member for the UK government’s department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is a member of the UK government’s AI Council.

She has a Pure Mathematics degree and honorary doctorate from Sheffield University and a M.Sc. with research into medical statistics and honorary doctorate from Newcastle University.

Charlotte Carroll is an English actress, producer, screenwriter and director. Best known for her work in the films, Red Crayon (2017) and A Youth (2020) and as notably, her theatrical portrayal of the Princess in We Must Throw The Cows Down The Ravine (2020).

Charlotte made her directorial debut with Red Crayon (2017), a powerful short film depicting the effects of war on young children. Since its world premiere, Red Crayon has won 11 awards on the international film festival circuit, including ‘Best Original Screenplay’, ‘Best Foreign Film and ‘One to Watch’. In addition, the film was chosen to be featured in the United Nation’s global showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and appeared on ITV’s News segment about Female Film Makers. In 2017, Charlotte was the first female director to open the shorts segment at the El-Gouna Film Festival.

Subsequently, Charlotte went on to produce A Youth (2020) alongside BAFTA-winning Afolabi Kuti. Having competed at top tier film festivals including HotDocs 2020 and The Huesca International Film Festival, A Youth won the ‘Best Documentary’ award at Aspen ShortFest 2020 and Woodstock Film Festival 2020. ‘A Youth’ is currently in the running for the BAFTAs 2021 and Oscars 2021.

Further to her film-making duties, Charlotte began her screen career in the film Burnt (2015) alongside Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. In 2019, Charlotte also received critical acclaim for her lead role in ‘We Must Throw The Cows Down The Ravine’, garnering a four-star review on The Evening Standard for her poignant theatrical performance. Charlotte was set to perform the lead role in Mehmet Bozkurt’s A Room For Rent at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe which has now been postponed.

Passionately involved in humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives, Charlotte works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and sits on the Next Gen Board of the Humans Right Watch and UNICEF Committee. She is also a proud ambassador for the Elephant Family.

Recently, Charlotte released a short film she wrote, produced and stars in, titled, The Topic which was featured on The Evening Standard, Glamour and Wonderland. The film captures a raw and unfiltered account of the emotional turmoil caused by an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage and endometriosis.

Renee will discuss the key attributes of effective digital leadership to achieve large-scale digital transformation, drawing on the vital importance of having a diverse range of leaders.   

You will also find out what does it take to survive, thrive and lead in these tough times.   This uplifting thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.   

About Renee Hunt: Renee Hunt is the Director of Group Digital Platforms for Sky. The senior leader for Sky in Leeds, directly responsible for 200 digital engineers based at Sky Leeds Dock, building and supporting mobile, web and other digital products for all of Sky’s territories in Europe and beyond.   Renee has over 30 years of experience in technology, starting her career in the US Army Signal Corp, then moving into the private sector after getting her MBA from the University of Texas, with a specialism in IT.   

She has delivered technology programmes all over the world in a variety of industries, including: Media, Telecoms, Finance, Defence and the Public Sector. She is mad for: Fashion, Boston Terriers, ballet, cinema, code-breaking & WWII, memorising song lyrics and world travel.   

She is very active in Sky’s Women in Tech initiative and is committed to helping to bring more women ‘back into tech’ and making the industry to more inclusive overall. An active developer of people, prides herself having led and/or mentored some of the finest people in the business.

Carmen will discuss the key attributes of effective digital leadership to achieve large-scale digital transformation, drawing on the vital importance of having a diverse range of leaders.   You will also find out what does it take to survive, thrive and lead in these tough times.   

This uplifting thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.  

About Your Host Carmen Guzman:  Carmen has been a noteworthy leader in the HR space. Having initially studied Law in Spain and then pursuing a successful career in the USA and across Europe working for multi-conglomerates in all forms of industries, Carmen has held a number of managerial positions at both the local and international level. Prior to joining HSBC, Carmen worked for Barclays in Europe, Lloyds Bank in the UK and since 2019, has been leading as the HR Head of Commerce Banking with HSBC Ring-Fence bank in the UK. Carmen’s entrepreneurial mindset and ambition has driven her to also start her own business in the Education sector in China by creating a programme for European graduates to work for 12 months to develop leadership skills. Carmen is married, with three beautiful children and currently resides in Wimbledon.

"If we are to thrive in our digital future, all our voices must be heard when designing technology. If not, we risk creating a world for the few and not for the many."  

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE is a President, techUK; President, digileaders; Co-Chair, Institute of Coding  Non-Exec: Rightmove plc | Costain Group plc | FDM Group plc | Business Advisor & Mentor at Merryck  Jacqueline is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Passionate about redressing the gender balance via advisory positions at @TheYouthGroupHQ, @accelerate-Her and the @girlguiding association.  In 2016 she entered the @Computerweekly Hall of Fame after being voted Computer Weekly's Most Influential Woman in IT 2015; she was listed on Debretts 2016 500 People of Influence and named in Europe’s Inspiring Fifty most inspiring female role models for 2017. Presented the 2017 Catherine Variety Award for Science & Technology.  2018 Women in Tech Award for Advocate of the Year acknowledging her contribution to diversity and #IB100 – Most influential BAME leaders in tech. Awarded the Digital & Technology Award at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2019. Included in World’s 100 most influential people in digital government 2019. Woman of the Year awarded by Women in IT Excellence 2019: 2020 Asian Tech Pioneer. Jacqueline was honoured as CBE for Services to International Trade in Technology in the Queen's New Year Honours list 2018.

Join us to inspire personal change, by accessing the connections, community and content that will help you keep breaking through your personal barriers.  Together, we will keep pushing the boundaries, challenging the status quo and supporting other women as we achieve our own goals.

Lara Morgan is a British entrepreneur with a track record of delivering exceptional accelerated growth. Her investment strategy in wellbeing products primarily is pinned to improving life’s journey. Investing as a family office she has a portfolio of seven consumer services businesses which she works to drive sales, leadership and innovation. She is an inspirational leader with a legacy of building world-class teams and aligning organisations behind a clear strategy. She practices the art of selling and creating win-win customer partnerships for her brands 24/7. Her specific expertise is in sales strategy, customer insight and brand development, multichannel and multisite management plus organic or M&A / partnership-driven expansion.   Lara founded her first business, Pacific Direct, in 1991 at the age of just 23. Having arrived in the UK from Hong Kong with little or no hotel experience, Lara quickly grew Pacific Direct into a specialist global supplier of luxury high-end brands for five-star hotels. Seventeen years later, she sold Pacific Direct for £20 million. At Pacific Direct she was involved in multiple disciplines from luxury brand licensing, marketing, retail operations to commercial and private label development. She has also managed and owned factories in Czech and China.   Working with extremely large organisations as well as small start-ups, she acquired valuable sector experience in speciality retail, brand merchandising, consumer health, education, wellbeing travel, leisure and hospitality.   Lara is a proud mother of three girls and a committed volunteer and philanthropist. She is actively engaged with various global non-profits as a board member or advisor. She is a world-class engaging speaker only on subjects where she can bring direct experience and shared lessons. She has also commented live on current affairs and business issues with Sky and BBC News; has been a finalist in Ernst Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award three times and a finalist in the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year Award. In 2009 Lara received the much-coveted Cranfield University Entrepreneur Alumna Award. She is a published author of the Amazon best-selling business book “More Balls Than Most” and is a co-founder of Start Up Britain. Taking all this in her stride, she also manages to train for charity bike rides and triathlon and came 10th in the 2011 World Triathlon Championships in Beijing.

This thought-provoking discussion is hosted by Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL.  About  Shaa Wasmund MBE, is the author of the number one bestsellers How To Fix Your SH*T, Do Less, Get More and Stop Talking, Start Doing. She has been a lifelong supporter of encouraging more women into business.  In 2015 Shaa received an MBE for her services to business and entrepreneurship.  She was recently named one of the Top 20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in the UK by the Sunday Times.  Today she runs one of the biggest and most active business Facebook Groups in the UK, The Freedom Collective, and has built a multi-million-pound online business from her back garden.  Over the last five years Shaa has completely revolutionized how she works, and today she is proudly able to take seventeen weeks' holiday a year. Shaa inspires positive action with her no-nonsense, no-excuse advice and has made it her mission to help as many women as possible to create a life and business on their terms.

Griselda Togobo (@GriseldaTogobo) from FL sits down with Sheree Atcheson who has been listed as one of the UK's Top Most Influential Women in Tech & an international multi-award winner for her services to Diversity & Inclusion in industry, Sheree is the Global Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Peakon; Advisory Board Member, Women Who Code; Contributor, Forbes.  They chat imposter syndrome, being a senior leader as a woman of colour and so much more.

Griselda Togobo - CEO of FL sits down with Dr Sharon Watson to discuss her career and leadership lessons and the importance of creativity.  : In May 2020 Sharon was appointed CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to, Sharon Watson was the 7th and longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre from 2009 – 2020. Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award-winning Phoenix Dance Company. Having left Phoenix to pursue a number of other ventures including setting up her own company ABCD, Sharon returned in 2009 as the new Artistic Director. Since then Sharon has choreographed Fast Lane, Melt, Never 2 Still, Repetition of Change, TearFall and Windrush: Movement of the People. In addition to proscenium arch creations, Sharon choreographed Ghost Peloton, the cultural highlight to the Tour De Yorkshire 2014. Choreographer for Frankenstein’s Wedding Live on BBC and presented at Kirkstall Abby. Also the choreographer of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, BBC six-part series.  In addition to her AD role, Sharon also lectured at NSCD and worked as Education Director for Northern Ballet. During her tenure at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Sharon has received a number of awards and accolades: In 2010, she was named as one of the Cultural Leadership Programme’s ‘Women to Watch’, a list of 50 influential women working in arts and culture in the UK. She was awarded The Sue Ryder ‘Yorkshire Women of Achievement in Business Award’ and named ‘Yorkshire Woman of the Year’ in 2016. She recently received the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts’ Companionship Award from Sir Paul McCartney and was recognised as one of ‘100 faces of a vibrant economy 2017’ by Grant Thornton. Acknowledged at the 2017 Northern Power Women Awards as part of the very first ‘Top 50 Power List’ and in 2018 Sharon won the First English Woman’s Award for Arts and Culture and was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Northern School of Contemporary Dance.  Sharon is a previous trustee of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and current trustee of Leeds Playhouse and Leeds 2023. She is committed to improving diversity within the arts by supporting the creative voices of women and black and ethnic minority artists.

Griselda Togobo from FL sits down with The Apprentice's finalist Scarlett Allen-Horton to discuss her business journey and her experience.