CEO TALK: FACING THE DEI BACKLASH WITH WISDOM AND GRACE

There is no doubt that the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has taken a serious hit this year. But should we back away when the going gets tough? If not, how can we continue moving the needle in DEI with intention, wisdom, and grace—and for the greater good of everyone involved?

These are the tough questions we will open this September.

Welcome to a really special CEO TALK, this time with Hedwige Nuyens, CEO of the International Banking Federation and Chair of European Women on Boards, a global organization supporting women to grow into executive and non-executive board roles on their own terms and timeline..

Join us for a much needed dialogue and space for self-reflection on a topic that impacts all of us.

 

OUR SPEAKER:

Hedwige Nuyens is an influential leader in finance. As CEO of the International Banking Federation, she represents the industry worldwide. She is also the Chair of E3G, a climate change think tank working on solutions worldwide to transition to net zero.

A longstanding advocate for gender diversity, Hedwige is serving pro bono as Chair of European Women on Boards. She was instrumental in getting the Women on Boards Directive approved at European level and is relentless in her efforts to get more women in decision making positions. Hedwige embodies EWOB’s motto: Rise to the top, and open the door to other women.

Hedwige holds a Faculty of Law and a master’s in financial sciences and a master’s in business administration and finance. She followed courses on Digital Transformation at INSEAD, on Sustainable Finance at Cambridge, on Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at MIT and on Cyber Security at Harvard.

She has been married for nearly 40 years and has 3 children.

 

WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS:

Some of the topics on our CEO TALK agenda include:

1. The real root causes of the DEI backlash and how we can take a stance and continue doing what’s right for our people, companies, and the world.
2. The role of DEI leaders in this new environment and how under-resourced DEI teams can still influence and impact their organizations.
3. What each of us can do to continue the effort of creating teams, companies, and communities where everyone can thrive.
4. Upcoming EU legislation – the Women on Boards Directive and the salary transparency directive – and how we can turn these developments into opportunities for our work, careers, and lives.
5. How Hedwige is personally coping in the new DEI environment—and her advice for us. And more.

 

AT THE END OF OUR CEO TALK, YOU WILL LEAVE WITH:

1. A clear understanding of the pressures faced by DEI professionals today.
2. Insights on the shaping of new EU legislation supporting more diversity in corporate senior leadership.
3. Practical advice you can apply immediately to continue standing tall, doing the right thing, and creating safe, inclusive environments for everyone.
4. A renewed sense of hope—and so much more. 

 

WHO SHOULD JOIN OUR CEO TALK?

This event is open to members of THE CEO ELEVATION CIRCLE and our extended network. Any senior woman leader interested in the current state of DEI and in contributing to inclusion, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace is welcome to join us.

 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT DURING OUR CEO TALK?

Here is the plan for the event:

1. 17.45 – 18.00: Informal welcome and warm-up.  
2. 18.00 – 18.45: Guided discussion on the tensions experienced by DEI professionals in practice today and advice on how to handle them.
3. 18.45 – 19.20: Q&A with the audience.
4. 19.20 – 19.30: Wrap-up and invitations to upcoming events. 

 

LOGISTICS

• Our CEO TALK takes place virtually, on Zoom.
• You’ll need the app installed on your computer. Using Zoom on a mobile device will significantly reduce your participation experience.
• The virtual doors open at 17:45 CET for informal chit-chat and warm-up.
• The session is recorded. Provided that you register for this event, you’ll have access to the video and audio recording afterward.
• Your full mental and emotional presence is required during the whole event. We invite you to have your camera on throughout to avoid interruptions or multitasking. This is an investment in yourself—respect your time.
• Photos of the virtual room will be taken during the event. By registering, you consent to photography being used later for marketing purposes.  

 

QUESTIONS?

We look forward to meeting you online on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 18.00 CEST!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cristina directly via WhatsApp at +420 776 574 925 or email her at cristina.muntean@vornica.com.

See you at our CEO TALK – FACING THE DEI BACKLASH WITH WISDOM AND GRACE!