The first annual Women & Leadership (W & L) Conference will be held at the University of Bern, Switzerland on 12 November, 2026. This is an international event open to all academics and the general public interested in learning more about the specific demands that women, as a minority group, as well as individuals who identify as cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary have in various leadership roles across a wide range of institutional contexts.

The conference will feature successful leaders from the public and private sectors, including academia, the corporate world, and contexts of entrepreneurship. These female leaders will share their insights into their career journeys and reflect on the challenges and victories they have experienced in leadership positions, particularly in the context of gender stratification and equality.

Participants will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge about their professional trajectories, roles, and experiences, while also gaining insight into other professional traditions and paradigms. In addition, the event will foster meaningful networking and mentorship opportunities for the next generation of scholars interested in pursuing a leadership role in academia or in the private sector.