Join us for “Leadership Unplugged: A Personal Journey”, as we delve into what it takes to navigate the ever-changing landscape of today’s job scene. We’ll discuss personal journeys, offering insights on how to showcase your strengths and create the right team around you.

We'll kick off the discussion with authentic insights into what makes a leader tick. From mastering communication and thinking on your feet, to staying cool under pressure, we’ll cover it all. We're not going to shy away from what it takes to truly succeed. Drawing on personal experiences and industry secrets, we’ll share practical tips for breaking barriers and confidently owning your seat at the table.

Plus, we'll chat about why having a mix of voices, backgrounds, and ideas is the secret sauce for a successful organization.

This session will offer straightforward advice on developing a leader's mindset, bouncing back from setbacks, and transforming your quirks into strengths. And of course, we'll talk about the invaluable impact of making allies across the organization through networking, mentorship, and sponsorship to propel your career.

If you're ready for an interactive discussion about leadership in today's workplaces with a shifting mindset on diversity, this session is for you. Let’s have some fun and help get you going on your own adventure.

The world of retail is changing. Bricks and mortar versus ecommerce. Ways to pay versus the cost of payments. Technological advances mean that consumers expect a seamless experience, and retailers need to be ready. Today, we’ll be sharing some insights and thought stimulus, then asking you to bring your industry expertise to bring to life a high street retailer of the future. What will these stores and experiences look and feel like, what will the expectations be on the payment journey and what will the opportunity cost to be future ready now.

Our wellbeing drives our decision-making and thinking, yet too often it takes a back seat. Menopause is one example of women’s health that we tend not to talk about, yet it affects most women in their lifetime, and with a growing number of mid-life women in the workforce, it’s imperative employers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to support employees through the transition. Join us to discuss how employers can raise awareness of women’s health and lift the stigma associated with it, and the benefits to employees, employers and the economy as whole.

Discover the power of positive relationships at our Networking Session. The forum will serve as a platform where women can unite, foster connections, and appreciate the significance of industry networking. The session will feature an interactive Ambition Board Workshop, that is designed to empower and inspire through the sharing of personal ambitions. The aim is to foster self-belief and a sense of belonging, as attendees connect deeply with other women who might share their aspirations. This supportive network is intended to extend beyond the workshop. By exchanging contact details with each other, participants can maintain connections, building a lasting community of empowered and uplifting women. Join us in an atmosphere of camaraderie, empowerment, and inspiration. Together, we can inspire change, foster inclusion, and empower each other to reach new heights.

Gender-diverse companies are 25% more likely to achieve higher profitability* yet businesses struggle to retain women. Reproductive Health is often overlooked in the workplace, and it has a profound impact on many women’s careers. From periods, to babies, to menopause, women face unspoken barriers that have left even the most successful women struggling at work. This workshop is a frank and honest look at why reproductive health should be a key part of a DEI strategy and how we can dismantle these barriers to create tangible change for women.

In this entertaining, engaging and informative talk Em will share why Laughing more, Thinking More with Kindness and Play can help you in your career and your business thrive in ways you cannot imagine.

Payment providers hold a unique position in the financial ecosystem connecting merchant’s consumers, tech partners and more. Organizations are leveraging this position to enable change by connecting non-profit organizations with this ecosystem and enabling merchants to accept donations at checkout. Hear how organizations are combining a social mission with a commercial ambition. This leads to a stronger corporate culture, more satisfied employee base, and improved business results while creating value for the community.

Data is key and at the center of payments innovation. ISO 20022, a new global standard adopted by the payments industry provides a vehicle for rich and structured data to be used for payments. Instant payment systems, ISO20022 and the introduction of CBDC’s and AI cause operational friction in many organizations. This session will explore some of the key payment innovation opportunities that are enabled by 'the New Frontier' of ISO 20022 and the challenges of operationalizing them. Learn from this panel of experts how they are navigating these business challenges.

This panel will bring together industry leaders and policy makers to debate the impact both positive and negative of regulation in payments from the revision of the Second Payment Services Directive to the move from Open Banking to Open Finance, how are companies and governments shaping the future direction of payments. The UK is also pursuing several initiatives such as commercial API’s, variable recurring payments, authorized push payment fraud reimbursement and Open Finance. Are the proposed measures an evolution or a revolution? Will they support Europe to continue to lead the way in payments innovation?

The digital landscape is evolving as customers search for simplification. New technologies on the digital landscape such as open banking, big data and the rapid rise of account 2 account payments in real time for merchants. Settlement is instant and it helps companies simplify back- office reconciliation. What does the perfect payment rail look like? What operational changes are necessary to adopt these new capabilities into an organization? This panel will share their expert knowledge on these topics.

Consumers are demanding more, spending differently, moving on from ideas quickly and expecting changes to happen overnight. What does the future of shopping look like? Can retailers keep pace with marketplace innovation? Faster payments, mobile wallets and customer centric ecosystems are emerging. How will the financial world delight their customers with new ways to facilitate payments? This panel will look at how consumers are playing a part in shaping banks and FinTech’s and guiding them to create customer centric products and services.

Generative AI is more than a buzz phrase, it will unlock the next chapter in payments. Getting consumers and merchants to trust the technology will be a test for PSP’s. One click transactions are not new; think Apple Pay, Uber or Deliveroo. The payments evolution will see zero click transactions to AI. Pre-set preferences with agreed parameters to make automatic purchases without hitting a button. This panel of experts will explore the latest in payments innovation.

In this new hybrid multigenerational working world have leaders changed their approach to how they are supporting their teams. Are leaders finding common ground across the generations and individual work styles to provide support and career advice? Are workers able to find what they are seeking from their leaders/allies and mentors and are they able to find common ground? Learn from our expert panel what challenges exist when seeking allyship and how to find the ideal match so that your professional career will thrive.

Banks and businesses are trying to re-imagine the new world. Innovation is moving at a pace faster than ever before and all financial institutions are seeking a common path forward. How will the introduction of instant payments, BNPL, Open Banking, CBDC’s and the entry of Digital Banks change how the financial system operates today? Will regulatory control oversight and privacy standards be able to keep pace with the speed of change and will the customer satisfaction index improve? Come and hear from our panel of experts how they view the evolution and the path forward.

Step into a captivating cross-generational journey of discovery in our "Do You Know What This Is?" session, where the past meets the present in a delightful game show of recognition, reminiscence, and discovery of tools that have transformed, and are currently transforming, the payments industry. This session promises to be a fascinating blend of nostalgia, innovation, and collaborative learning, offering participants a fresh perspective on the rich tapestry of payment technology. Join us for an interactive experience that transcends generations, fostering connection through the simple joy of exploring the past and present together.

Never too Young to Lead – Empowering women in payments to embrace early leadership. Learn strategies for defying age biases, making impactful decisions and fostering growth. The future of work is ambiguous and unpredictable. Being prepared for only one future is no longer enough. As Darwin said: ‘The one who survives is not the most intelligent, but the most agile.’ The younger generations can teach us how to step out of our comfort zones and thrive. What skills do we need to develop to be ‘Future Ready Now’, and how can these young leaders help us get there.

Neurodiversity is a concept that all humans vary in terms of our neurocognitive ability. Diversity is normal and natural, and it can be a source of great strength for individuals and organizations as a whole. Diverse workforces may include individuals with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Ethnic backgrounds, and multigenerational workforces add to the diversity matrix and create a delightful mix of creativity and innovation. Hear how organizations with diverse workforces are creating equitable opportunities for their teams and setting themselves up to better serve their diverse customers.

Too often we sit comfortably waiting for the perfect time, the perfect boss. In order to be future fit we must aspire to be uneasy. Making 'adaptability' your superpower, will pave the way for personal growth. Taking stock of what you’ve achieved and what others around you have achieved promotes a ‘healthy vulnerability’. Once we get comfortable with vulnerability, we can push to stretch ourselves, adapt and naturally lean in with confidence. It’s also ok to not know it all when we reach for the stars. Regardless of seniority, if we empower each other to talk about the career knocks along the way, we will fundamentally change our culture by making the reality of not getting that promotion or job at that specific time ‘okay’. A knock is just an opportunity to reset that slingshot. Thinking smarter about how we grow will have illuminating effects, we just need the confidence to push ourselves in directions we had not planned for.