As part of the 11th Edition of the Women Talent Pool (WTP) programme, WIL Europe welcomed Board Member Pinuccia Contino, Deputy Director for Equality and Head of Unit for Gender Equality at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commission, to lead the first workshop of the “Leading with Wholeness and Purpose” module on 16 September 2026. The session invited Talents to reflect on self-awareness, authenticity and the role of purpose in leadership, combining personal reflection with practical exercises around breathing, mindfulness and group discussion.

Through these activities, participants explored how their experiences and emotions shape their leadership style and discussed the importance of fully embracing themselves to lead with confidence and navigate unexpected situations with clarity and kindness. Compassion and resilience also emerged as key elements in building deeper connections and developing authentic leadership.

As part of the 11th Edition of the Women Talent Pool (WTP) programme, WIL Europe welcomed back our Board Member Marina Niforos, President of the Climate Governance Initiative Greece, to lead a Workshop on “Leading in the Age of AI”. Drawing on her expertise and industry know-how as both an Academic and a Board Director, Marina offered a highly up-to-date discussion on how to exercise leadership in response to structural shifts and uncertainty of the business landscape in the age of AI.

The session introduced Talents to the concept of situational leadership as a framework to manage uncertainty and build resilience.

As part of the 11th Edition of the Women Talent Pool (WTP) programme, WIL Europe hosted a workshop on “Building Your Leadership and Personal Brand” led by Catherine Ladousse, Member of the French High Council for Equality between Women and Men, and Co-founder & Honorary President of Cercle InterElles.

With wide-ranging expertise from Catherine, the workshop offered a guide for Talents create a personal brand that reflect their authentic self and communicate their values with confidence.

The 11th Edition of the Women Talent Pool (WTP) programme started off with the first workshop on “Networking Skills for Impact” led by WIL Member Despina Anastasiou, Former Global Business Development Director – Corporate Strategy at Dow. Returning for the sixth year, Despina drew on her 30-year wealth of industry experience and encouraged our Talents to develop a strategic and purposeful approach to networking and building professional connections. Talents also had the opportunity to reflect on their own interpersonal skills and engage directly with Despina in a lively Q&A session. 

On the 3rd of March, WIL Europe officially launched the 11th edition of Women Talent Pool (WTP) leadership programme, with a special kick-off event. This year’s programme, under the patronage of EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy - Jessika Roswall, welcomes 61 women from 22 countries across 14 organisations in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. 

The event was also joined by three prominent speakers from the WIL community, including WIL President Thaima Samman, WIL Board Member Paulina Dejmek-Hack, Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Jessika Roswall, and WTP10 Fellow Hana Akaike, Senior Associate at Osborne Clarke.

For the final session of the 10th Women Talent Pool Programme, WIL Europe hosted the second workshop of the module on Developing Your Leadership Potential led by WIL Board Member Marina Niforos, President of Climate Governance Initiative Greece and former Affiliate Professor at HEC Business School. Marina led a lively discussion with real-life testimonials and interactive break-out sessions with Talents to examine how their perspectives and professional development have evolved.

The session was a timely opportunity for Talents to reflect upon key frameworks of situational leadership and look back on their WTP journey.

As part of the Women Talent Pool Programme, WIL Europe hosted a workshop on Balancing Risk and Opportunity led by Eléna Fourès, Founder & President of IDEM PER IDEM Consulting. The session explored key concepts for risk analysis and management, and exercising leadership with confidence to leverage professional opportunities. With over 30 years of experience in executive coaching, Eléna emphasised the importance of recognising and overcoming mental barriers in decision-making and risk management, and provided Talents with practical skills to advance their career.

As part of the Women Talent Pool Programme, Talents took part in an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with WIL Member Isabella De Michelis di Slonghello, CEO and Founder of Ernieapp Ltd and High Pulse GmbH, and Non-Executive Board Member at doValue S.p.A., creating an open space for candid dialogue with a leader bringing extensive cross-sector experience. Moderated by WTP Talent Laura Valojärvi, Learning and Development Manager at Konecranes, the session encouraged honest exchange on leadership choices, challenges, and career transitions. By sharing real-life insights and reflections, the conversation reinforced the value of authentic role models and left Talents with practical perspectives and renewed confidence to shape their own leadership journeys.

As part of the Women Talent Pool Programme, WIL Member Cristiana Falcone led a workshop on personal branding, inviting participants to explore how their values, strengths, and leadership identity shape the foundation of their professional presence. The session highlighted how clarity on one’s personal brand can deepen credibility, strengthen purpose, and support a more consistent and authentic leadership style. By reflecting on their leadership signature and engaging in practical exercises such as designing their own “leadership kite,” participants examined how greater self-awareness can guide meaningful impact and more intentional career choices.