Leadership Rewired: Women Shaping Systems for Impact

Reykjavik Global Forum and the Gates Foundation will convene senior leaders to discuss women’s leadership in challenging times.

In a world under pressure, where progress on gender equality is backsliding and both institutions and financing are under strain, rethinking leadership is not optional. It is overdue. This high-level UNGA side event brings together bold, cross-sector leaders to ask: What if the systems we are trying to fix are missing some the people best equipped to lead them forward?

Leadership Rewired is a call to action and a look at what is possible when women have the power to shape how decisions are made, how money moves, and how women's time and work are valued. From former heads of state to grassroots innovators, speakers will challenge outdated models and show how women are leading differently and why that difference delivers.

Women’s leadership is not only about representation. It is about results. When leadership is equitable, systems become more responsive, resources are allocated more effectively, and solutions are grounded in lived experience. This session will surface practical insights and bold ideas for building smarter, more inclusive systems that work better for all.

Doors will open at 08.30, with programme starting at 09.00.

Opening Remarks by Katrin Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland (2017-2024), will be followed by a panel discussion with Amy Hepburn, CEO, Investor Leadership Network & Blessing Oyeleye Adesiyan, Founder/ CEO, Caring Africa.

A Networking Reception will follow the formal programme.

After the event, attendees will receive a follow-up email with the main takeaways of the conversation.