What happens when some of Europe’s most fascinating and provocative women leaders gather in the same room to swap ideas, insights and roadmaps to life at the top? You’ll find out June 15-16 at this year’s Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in London.
Four years ago, Fortune decided to go international with the same recipe that made its MPW Summit in the U.S. the preeminent annual gathering for influential women in business and other fields such as government, philanthropy, media and sports. London was Fortune‘s first international stop. This year, the MPW International Summit will be the most star-studded yet, with a mix of prominent names and topics tied to Fortune‘s 2015 MPW theme “Leading With Purpose.”
In one of her first interviews since taking the helm of Santander Group from her late father, Spain’s Ana Botín will reveal how she’s shaking up a staid institution—and moving the banking empire to the forefront of digital innovation. Former Thomas Cook CEO Harriet Green — described by one wag as “the Gucci-loving blonde with a tattoo (and a temper) who saved [her company] — will be back again, this time offering pointed advice to current and would-be board members.
Fortune MPW International will also explore: How was it that Anne Richards evolved from being a scientist studying the universe to managing billions as chief investment officer at Aberdeen Asset Management? And what prompted Federica Marchionni to leave luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana to run mass retailer Land’s End?
The personal stories of the women on stage are meant to be as inspirational as they are impressive. Helena Morrissey — dubbed “City Supermum” for raising nine children while managing £50 billion in assets as CEO of Newton Investment Management — will share her success formula and talk about her latest venture, the 30 Percent Club, dedicated to the fight to get more women on company boards.
Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, had no aviation experience when she took the job, yet her company has been able to deliver astronomical financial results. And Martha Lane Fox, who rose from Internet entrepreneur to the youngest woman in the House of Lords, has built a remarkable life while coping with injuries from a car accident in Morocco that almost killed her.
The 2015 Fortune MPW International Summit also features the so-called Queen of Provocation: advertising exec-turned-entrepreneur Cindy Gallop, whose ventures include IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn. Plus: Roz Savage, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
Fortune MPW Internationals’ opening gala dinner at the Rosewood London hotel will feature my interview with former Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the first woman to hold that job. The Wales-born redhead (her hair color was the topic of friendly national jokes) will talk about everything from steering a nation through turbulent economic times to the thinking behind her world-famous 2012 “misogyny speech.”
We’ll also cross the globe to talk with former Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, fresh off elections that surprised the world with the victory of her political rival, Benjamin Netanyahu. She’ll give an insider’s perspective on the twin futures of Israel and the Palestinians — as well as insights on the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran that have left the Middle East, Europe and America on edge.
Also on hand to lend critical guidance on geopolitics, the global economy and careers: Ingredion CEO Ilene Gordon, former FDIC chair Sheila Bair; MIT’s Kristin Forbes (adviser to the Bank of England), former SAREB bank chair Belén Romana, London School of Economics professor Keyu Jin and HSBC India chairman Naina Lal Kidwai.
