TMA NOW Connect and Elevate – 9 July 2024

On 9 July 2024, NOW held its second NOW Connect & Elevate in London following the success of the event in Bristol in March 2023. NOW Connect & Elevate is an initiative focussed on introducing our NextGen to experienced female professionals in the industry to start building meaningful and long-lasting relationships in an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring forum.

The aims are to:

• provide our NextGen with a facilitated platform to engage with more senior women to support and elevate all of our careers; and
• foster and embed allyship throughout our NextGen.

The event was kindly hosted and sponsored by AlixPartners with support from the TMA NextGen committee.

Fiona Siddall, an Associate at Stephenson Harwood LLP, introduced the event by asking the audience some interactive Slido questions:

• How does business development make you feel?
• What is your biggest barrier to career progression?
• What makes you stand out to your clients?

We displayed everyone’s (anonymous) answers on the screen and we used these answers as a useful reference point throughout the event.

We were joined by Clare Kennedy, Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners, who had a conversation with Livi Peacock, Vice President at AlixPartners, from the NextGen committee, which focussed on Clare's career journey, her mentors and allies, her brand, her approach to winning work and how she manages work life balance.

After Livi’s thought-provoking conversation with Clare, the audience participated in 3 breakout discussion groups that each lasted for 15 minutes. Each group had at least one more senior woman to help facilitate discussion, if needed, and the following conversation starters were provided:

• How have you been building your personal brand?
• Work-winning – how can we help and elevate each other?
• How do you find the right balance between life and work?

Following the breakout discussion groups everyone was encouraged to stay on for some additional networking over drinks and canapés. There was a real buzz in the room as people continued their conversations.